Livewire Vol 9 Issue 3 March 2018

Issue 3 | March 2018 | Volume 9

Livewire.

CONTENTS

3 Bent but Not Broken 4 Mason Goes Massive on Twitter 5 An Unprecedented Prom 6 A Unique Theme for a Special Night SPORTS: 7 Pre-season Progression 8 Cheering on the Chargers 9 It’s Called Madness for a Reason 11 Starting Up America’s Pastime ACADEMICS: 12 Early Onset Senioritis 13 Get a Running Start on College 14 Tips to Get You Started 15 It’s Time to Apply 16 Stepping Into Success POLITICAL: 17 The Truth Behind Planned Parenthood 19 Bacon Selected as New Superintendent 21 Create Your Own Voice OPINION: 23 Global Warming: Is It Real?

24 Too Early for Prom 25 Size is Just a Number 26 Illuminati Confirmed THEME: 27 Fitness Routines and How to Stick to Them 30 Two Wrongs Do Not Make a Right

STUDENT LIFE:

Issue Theme: Fitness

Something that every person thinks about time and time again is to lose weight. Forming a fitness routine and sticking to it is one of the biggest obstacles to face when trying to lose weight.

Our cover idea was chosen to highlight various types of fitness routines and just how beneficial they can be.

Read more at belivewire.com

Response To “Fake Debate” Comment

adviser Larry Steinmetz editor-in-chief Kim Houchin executive editor Sarah Allen website editor Ainsley Gordon website editor Zach Combest creative editor Haylie Jenkins junior creative editor Cassidy Cardwell sports editor Tyler Mozingo photo editor Morgan Harbolt business editor Meredith Bass social media editor Olivia Coke copy editor Lilly Whitley copy editor Olivia Armstrong copy editor Jaydrien Jarrett copy editor Ryley Ortega copy editor Haley Grether staff writers Tyler Steinmetz Nick Jackson Morgan Renneisen Carissa Kimball Kelsi Sego Hunter Brogan Ahna Cates Katie Huffman Isaiah Jenner Bryant Miles Ethan Neutz Montrell Page Emmy Ralph T.C. Etherton

Linda Belcher’s Forum with Students

Bacon Selected As New Superintendent Scan this with Snapchat to check out what else we’re covering.

Livewire was re-founded in 2001 by journalism teacher, Larry Steinmetz. In the past, the Livewire has been a weekly newspaper, and a traditional newspaper, but recently moved to a newsmagazine published four times a year. The staff remains committed to bringing the Bullitt East community the most up to date news in a quality format and timely manner.

The staff appreciates your patronage and, as a public forum, encourages any feedback you care to offer.

Letters to the editor must be typed and submitted via e-mail, to Mr. Steinmetz’s mailbox, or directly to room 324 within one week of the publication to which you are responding. Letters will not be censored, but must be deemed appropriate by the editor and adviser in order to be published. In order to be eligible to appear in the paper, all letters must be signed and verifiable. Names can be withheld upon request, but must be submitted with the original letter.

Livewire is published by the students and for the students of Bullitt East High School. The Livewire is printed by aPrintis Printing Company.

Bullitt East High School 11450 Highway 44 East, Mount Washington, Kentucky, 40047.

(502) 869-6400.

Bent but Not Broken

by Olivia Coke

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Unlike Dattilo, sophomore Emily Ezell’s parents have been together for 24 years and counting. Ezell’s parents have raised her, her twin sister Sarah, and her brothers Luke and Garrett.

They are a close family. They love to be adventurous and enjoy watching each other compete in their sports. Ezell plays basketball and soccer. Her parents are always there cheering her on. “If my family ever split, I would be devastated. I’m so lucky that my parent’s relationship is so strong and stable,” said Ezell.

Approximately 50 percent of American children will witness the breakup of a parent’s marriage. Every year, over 800,000 families will divorce. Kentucky is ranked eighth for the highest divorce rates in the United States. These are some major statistics that show the likelihood of divorce in our area.

Students who witness other divorces should comfort their classmates in their hardships. Counselors and psychologist often help kids cope with the break up and develop an understanding that things will work out. Most of those who help the kids assure them that their parents love them no matter what happen. Kids are young, and they need a firm understanding of their surroundings.

tudents throughout school cope with the difficult factors of divorce.

While some students may have the perfect functional family, some students have to deal with separation between their loved ones. Students who deal with a split in their family combat changes and hopes for the future. Students who have a stable family imagine what life would be like if they were in some children’s shoes.

Majority of the teens who witness a divorce in their family will go through an emotional and mental process to handle the future change of their family. Some students take anger out on their parents. Other phases include depression, confusion and anxiety for their own future relationships. Teens believe since they grew up in a house without witnessing a loving marriage, they might not know how to have a healthy marriage themselves.

Sophomore Blake Dattilo has been exposed to divorce for about five years. His parents split when he was 11, and it was a big change in his childhood. “My life has changed a lot. There are many problems with plans and organization,” said Dattilo.

Datillo mostly lives with his mom. Two days a week and every other weekend he goes to his dad’s house. Dattilo keeps most of his problems to himself but thinks other people should talk to someone if they have any issues.

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Layout: Olivia Coke

Statistics show that if your parents are happily married, then your risk of divorce decreases by 14 percent. Children who have divorced parents are doubtful of their relationships and fear for future commitment in marriage. Studies show mental problems develop and teens get depressed and lose confidence in their choices. These problems can be prevented, however, by talking to either a counselor or a parent.

Overall, divorce is serious and has many effects on the innocent children involved. It should be taken seriously and the child should know what is going on. The process influences the child’s choices and character. They need to be reassured that they can have a functional relationship in the future.

Mason Goes Massive on Twitter

by Kim Houchin

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ne student manages to bring an entire school together using memes.

Senior Austin Craft is the face behind the infamous Twitter account, @realMassiveMason.

With nearly 200 followers, the Massive Mason Twitter account has easily become one of the most talked about accounts at school.

Craft had seen a fake tweet of Trump with a bag of Taco Bell with a caption that read, “Just made the best deal with Mexico.” This is what bore the parody account of our very own principal, Chris Mason.

Craft created and runs the account himself, but gets help from his friends when it comes to the jokes that are posted.

It didn’t take long for Mason to find the account and the owner. Mason called Craft to his office to discuss the account with him. “I logged out of the account because I had feared I would get in trouble for it,” said Craft.

Despite his fears, Mason was not mad at all. In fact, he found the account funny. “I remember my exact words were, ‘You, my man, are hilarious,’” said Mason.

He decided to let Craft keep the account up and posting because he saw it as a good way for students to poke fun at the principal. “It’s just some good, clean fun,” said Mason.

The regulations that Craft has in order to keep up the account is to “not make [Mason] look bad and to keep it school appropriate,” said Craft.

As long as he follows those two guidelines, Craft can keep the account.

The student body has reacted very positively to the account.

“It’s just harmless fun that students can participate in directly,” said senior Emma Stanley.

Craft shares this sentiment, even acknowledging that it’s not for everyone. “Some thought it was stupid, and some think that water is wet,” said Craft.

As for the faculty and staff, they love it. Majority of staff, like Michael Brangers, Pam Cischke and Cynthia Bell follow the account. “Whenever anything is funny, they always forward it to me and make sure I see it,” said Mason.

After Craft graduates, he is unsure of what his plans are for the account. “I’m likely to either pass it on to someone else or just stop using it,” said Craft.

The Massive Mason account has become a staple in Bullitt East culture and doesn’t seem to be dying down any time soon.

Layout: Kim Houchin

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An Unprecedented Prom

by Ahna Cates

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veryone deserves to have a positive prom experience.

This year Bullitt East will be hosting their first ever special needs prom on April 27, which will be attended by Tiffany Darnell and Chris Upton’s Exceptional Education classes and people who are familiar with those students, such as peer tutors and teachers.

Proms for special needs kids are taking the nation by storm.

The goal of these proms is to be accessible to these students and create an environment in which they’re comfortable. The event for the school has been planned and will be set up by students from the Student Leadership in Action and Mentoring (SLAM) class and the Project Unify club.

Some examples of different disabilities are Autism, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia or Tourette Syndrome, just to name a few. There are varying kinds of people with special needs, and many disabilities, such as autism, occur on a spectrum.

Special needs students attend high schools across the world and they’re a diverse group just like any other. Special needs proms have become a fairly common event in schools for this reason and more importantly because they celebrate those kids.

Loud music, large crowds, unfamiliar places and flashing or bright lights are difficult for people with certain disabilities to be around, making this milestone event harder for some to attend. Special needs proms make sure that the students will not be overwhelmed by these things by having lower volume music, normal lighting, specific foods and familiar people around.

The idea to bring this to Bullitt East came from senior Cayla McCord, who’s a member of the SLAM class and Project Unify, which is in conjunction with the Special Olympics and is dedicated to promoting acceptance of special needs students. As a member of the SLAM class, McCord is required to complete a project every semester, and planning this prom has been her’s.

“We went to a Renaissance (conference in Arizona) a couple months ago back in September for Leadership and Mentoring class (SLAM), and they showed a PowerPoint of their special needs prom and since I’ve been working with the special needs class the entire time I’ve been here, I really wanted to do that… We have never had a special needs prom here before. This is the first time it’s happened at Bullitt East, and I hope it continues even after I leave,” said McCord. She has collaborated with Darnell, Upton, and Principal Chris Mason to make this event possible.

McCord is planning to surprise the special needs students as a class with the news of the event soon, along with students

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Layout: Ahna Cates

from the Project Unify club. According to Darnell, they hope to do “promposals” for the students.

Bullitt East has been aiming at inclusion for special needs kids for several years by having events centered around them. Last school year, the Project Unify club promoted the campaign “Spread the Word to End the Word”, which discourages and brings awareness to the use of the r-word in schools. Special needs teacher Darnell also plans activities for her classes to do with peer tutors and other Project Unify members, such as going to see Christmas lights or visiting a pumpkin patch.

This event, however, is different from any previous ones before. It offers a larger opportunity for these students to feel appreciation from those who interact with them on a day-today basis.

“I think that it’s a really good opportunity. The parents have been very excited to know about it and to know that the kids at Bullitt East are so open to my kids in doing activities with them,” said Darnell.

Both students and teachers seem to be looking forward to this event and view it as a positive experience not only for special needs kids, but also for those who they’re familiar with. “Whenever the letter got sent home one of the special needs girls came up to me first thing in the morning and said ‘So, I heard you’re having a special needs prom.’ She was really excited about it and those kids love to dance and they love to be around us. I think they’ll have a blast. They’re all excited for it,” said McCord Many would say that this event has been made possible by the attitude of acceptance and recognition towards special needs students, which can have an incredibly positive impact in any setting.

A Unique Theme for A Special Night

by Ainsley Gordon

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tudents will be dancing “Around the World” on the night of prom.

While the theme for prom does not have a set name, the prom committee has finally chosen a theme of “Around the World.”* This year’s prom will be full of various landmarks from around the globe. The theme was chosen by a big group of students who are dedicated to making the dance perfect. Many students are very excited for the big night and the unique theme.

During this year’s prom, the decided theme of the night was “Around the World.” The initial decoration ideas included many of the world’s most famous landmarks including Big Ben and the Taj Mahal. After talk with the decorator, it was decided that there would be many sections around the ballroom dedicated to different places around the world.

As soon as the guests walk into the venue, they will be greeted with signs displaying “Bon Voyage” and piles of luggage, just like they are about to board a flight across the world.

With a giant 14 foot tall Eiffel Tower showcased in the middle of the tables, sparkling lights will fill the room. A huge Egyptian castle will also be featured. Over the dancing area, floating umbrellas will be placed to resemble the streets in Pietrasanta, Italy.

Backdrops of different cities across the globe will be placed around the room so attendees can take pictures with fun backgrounds. These will include backdrops of places like Italy, England, Ireland, Japan and more. However, two normal photo booths will also be available.

This year’s dance will have a blue color scheme.

The decision of cutting down on costs for favors of the dance was made by the committee. “(We) have looked at a more basic favor that includes a photo album, a phone attachment for credit cards, IDs, etc. and a few other things. We made the decision to put the bulk of our money into the decorations rather than favors that most people don’t use long after the event,” said April Walker, Junior Class Sponsor.

This is Walker’s sixth year as Junior Class Sponsor. Meeting on Wednesdays after school, any students interested can thoroughly discuss every detail of the dance.

“I love that any junior or senior can join in on the prom meetings because that way, everyone gets to put their own unique touch on prom and make it a more personal experience,” said junior Reagan Hardy.

According to Walker, about 98 percent of the prom committee originally wanted the “Around the World” theme. “During the first prom committee meeting I tell students that our first order of business is to select the theme because we can’t do anything else until the theme has been determined,” said Walker.

Many students are very excited for the big night. “I love the theme for prom this year. It’s a much more creative and exciting theme,” said Hardy.

For seniors, this will be their last prom in high school, so many want to make it special. “I was a really big fan of the “Around the World” theme because it is different and it definitely makes for a great last senior prom,” said senior Avery Pack.

Some on prom committee want to design a better prom night than last year. “I definitely hope that the decorations turn out the way we want and it looks good this year. Prom last year was a lot of fun, there just wasn’t a feel for the room because honestly, I did not understand the theme for last year. And I hope that this year, our theme makes a huge statement,” said Pack.

“My biggest hopes for this year’s prom is that everyone has a great time and really enjoys the hard work we put into the decorations. Another big hope of mine is that the decorations for prom turn out 10 times better this year than they were last year. There are seniors this year who want to remember their last year, so that’s what I really want to accomplish for them,” said Hardy.

Tickets began selling on Feb. 5. Tickets are still on sale now so make sure to grab one at lunch before prom on March 24. *As of Feb. 23

Layout: Ainsley Gordon

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Pre-season Progression

by Haley Grether

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ith spring approaching many sports are preparing for their upcoming season.

Runners for the track and field team at East have been working hard at practices preparing for the upcoming 2018 season.

Practices for track and field started at the beginning of January, and will continue on until even after their first meet on Feb 17. The next meet will be at Bullitt Central on Thursday, March 15, as the first outdoor meet of the year. Even with missing 2017 seniors this season is predicted to be a good one.

Runners to keep an eye out for this season might include freshman Emily Tinelli, sophomore Mekaiya Cannon, junior Josh Wetzel, seniors AJ Moss and Taylor Willis.

As a way to prepare for the track and field season, some runners made the decision to participate with the cross-country team during fall. Wetzel, a runner for both cross-country and track, has been working towards improvement. Wetzel is a middle distance runner, after finishing his last season strong, continued improvement is expected from him this season.

“Running distance is the hardest of anything you could do in track. Staying mentally focused on running as fast as you possibly can for that certain distance is a very challenging task.

This season I hope to improve by simply becoming tougher in my races. I want to have more mental toughness than any of my competition in my upcoming races,” said Wetzel.

Other members of the cross-country team are also running in track this year too. Senior Meredith Thornsberry has been competing at East for three years. Thornsberry is a runner in the mile and the 3200 meter races. “I love getting better and making faster times. I expect everyone to do well this upcoming season,” said Thornsberry. This will be her last year running for a track and field team, as she does not wish to continue running in college.

The top returning male runner on the team this season is Moss. Last year, running the 400 meter dash, he competed in the state meet.“He will be one of the favorites in the Region and I look for him to be a top eight scorer at the State Meet in that event,” said head coach Lenny Raley. Moss will also compete in the 200 meter dash relays this season.

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Layout: Haley Grether

The top returning female on the team this year is Willis. Competing in the High Jump and running the 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash and on the relays, she is expected to have a good season this year. Willis has competed in the High Jump at the State Meets in the past, she is hoped to return there again this season. “This year, I’m going to try harder. I’m changing my mindset so I will do better this year. My expectations for myself is to try harder, and to try and be a leader. I want to do better than I’ve done my previous years,” said Willis Running isn’t the only thing people can do in track, there are also events like the long jump, high jump, triple jump, discus and hurdles. Cannon returns to the team this season in both the Long and Triple Jumps. Last year she competed in the state meet, and is predicted to return there again this season.

Running for a track team might not seem like the most fun thing to do, but many can still find enjoyment in the sport. “My favorite part about running is just the fact that you are trying to run faster than everyone else and that it keeps me healthy,” said junior Cole Davenport, runner for the East track and field team.

With practices around four days a week, runners on the team have a busy schedule. “The practice schedule isn’t bad, it just gets tough at times when I have to work right after practice,” said Thornsberry.

Hoping for a promising season this year Davenport has already started formulating goals for himself and his teammates overall. “My expectations for the season are for myself and hopefully everyone else as well to improve in the events in which we compete. I hope to set a new personal record in the two mile closer to 11 minutes. My goal for the team is for everyone to set a PR and win as many season meets as we can,” said Davenport.

Though it is sad when students leave to go to college it is also exciting to know that there will be new people coming in with all of the potential in the world. “We have several new freshmen on the team, some who have track experience and others who do not,” said Raley.

As seen so far the East track and field team shows much promise for the upcoming season.

Cheering on the Chargers

by Lilly Whitley

Photo Credit: Kemper Barr

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harging up for the Chargers amazing season.

Since the summer months, the cheerleaders have been working very hard to eventually have a very successful season.

On Feb. 10, the cheerleaders competed at the national competition in Orlando Florida. The ultimate goal of their season is to win and take home the infamous white jackets. Although the cheerleaders worked very hard this season, they did not win the national title.

The cheer season officially starts around April, when tryouts are held. Over the summer, cheerleaders go to cheer camp where the preparation for nationals begins.“The number one thing about camp is the team begins the process of bonding and that’s also when we first create the routine. They know what the expectation is at the beginning of the year and I think it’s imperative and one of the most critical components of the year,” said cheer coach, Nate Fulghum. Cheer camp gives cheerleaders a taste of how the whole season will go.

Competitions start around October, and that’s when things begin to get serious. The competition that kicked off the season was regionals which took place in Lexington. “Regionals set a positive tone for the season. We had an amazing routine and I was really proud of my team and I knew they would be hard working from then on out,” said senior team member, Summer Barr.

The cheerleaders worked even harder this season than ever before. “This years season was easy compared to past years.

Everyone was always working hard. Even through rough practices we always came in prepared and ready to hit for the next practice and we were more prepared for nationals than we ever have been,” said Barr.

One thing that led to this season being one of the best was the excellent leadership of the seniors. Although there were only three of them, they were great leaders throughout the whole season. “I think they did a great job leading the team. I think its funny because they all three have different personalities.

It benefited everyone including the coaches and from a senior standpoint was one of our best led years,” said Fulghum.

There were several great contributors to their successful season. “The good of this season outweighs the bad. I think the team bonding was amazing this year. There was no major discipline issues, kids got along with each other, took instruction well. We also had great parent support this year,” said Fulghum.

Preparation for nationals isn’t taken lightly, and is the key to being successful at the nationals competition. “One thing i’ve noticed about this team is how well they are prepared and how well they want to prepare. I would argue that if this is not the most prepared team i’ve ever coached it’s one one of the most prepared ones. We’ve got the routine that has been set for a really long time without making changes and that just statistically increases the odds of our outcomes,” said Fulghum.

The cheerleaders placed fourth out of twenty-three teams in the super large division. Even though this was still a great accomplishment, many were not pleased with the results. “I was not pleased with the outcome. I believe we should have won despite having a drop in finals but there was nothing we could do about it. It was very disappointing considering it was my last time every competing but i’m very proud of my team,” said Barr.

Altogether, no one has regrets about the season. “I wouldn’t do anything different about the season. We did everything we could unfortunately there were extenuating circumstances.

One of the biggest things that hurt us were the snow days and the flu which lead to inconsistent practices,” said Fulghum.

Despite losing nationals, the coaches and cheerleaders still feel like they had a very successful season. “Overall I am pleased with the season. We have won every competition this year except nationals. It’s important to keep perspective it wasn’t the outcome we wanted at the end of the year but ultimately we had a very successful year,” said Fulghum. Even with the loss, this has been one of the best seasons yet for Bullitt East cheer.

Layout: Lilly Whitley

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One of the best parts about March Madness is the different cinderella stories. A “cinderella story” is where a team who is ranked from around a 9-16 seed, where they aren’t expected to do anything in the tournament, make some deep runs.

Some of the more known cinderella stories in the past have been in 2006 when George Mason went all the way to the Final Four as an 11 seed. Florida Gulf Coast in 2013 was a 15 seed and knocked off a two seed Georgetown Hoyas and wound up going to the Sweet 16. Arguably the biggest cinderella story was in 2014, the National Championship game was an eight vs nine game. It was the eighth seeded Kentucky Wildcats against the ninth seeded Connecticut Huskies in which UCONN ended up winning.

It’s Called Madness for a Reason

by Tyler Mozingo

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uzzer-Beaters and Cinderella stories: the whole package in just one month.

The annual NCAA College Basketball ‘March Madness’ tournament is right around the corner. Selection Sunday is a few weeks away and then the fun and thrill of excitement and feelings of distraught begins.

March Madness is the NCAA College Basketball tournament to find out who will hoist the National Championship up high and take it back home to their respective city. It is a 68 team field with four play-in games and then the field trims to 64, where the actual bracket begins. March Madness is played over three weekends, as the first weekend is the rounds of 64 and 32.

The second weekend is filled with the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games. The biggest part of March Madness takes place on the third weekend as it has the Final Four and the biggest game of the year, the National Championship.

The current favorites to take home the title this year are the Villanova Wildcats at 5/1, the Duke Blue Devils at 5/1, the Michigan State Spartans at 7/1, the Arizona Wildcats at 12/1, and the Wichita State Shockers at 14/1 odds. The defending National Champions, the North Carolina Tar Heels, are sitting at 25/1 current odds.

The college basketball season has been a roller coaster. There have been numerous teams ranked #1 in the AP (Associated Press) poll that have fallen to teams ranked lower than them.

The Villanova Wildcats have been ranked #1 for a while now and they are expected to hold that spot for quite some time.

The surprise team to most this year has been the Purdue Boilermakers. They have progressed greatly from a year ago when they were 28-9 and received a four-seed in the NCAA tournament. They are currently projected as a #1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament and are some experts picks to take it all the way because of their experience.

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Layout: Tyler Mozingo

Some of the local teams such as the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, and Northern Kentucky Norse are all looking to make the tournament and possibly make a deep run.

Northern Kentucky and Western Kentucky would be considered more on the cinderella story side of the tournament, as they are projected as a 10-16 seed. Kentucky and Louisville, however, are expected to succeed in the tournament. Kentucky always finds ways to pull games out. They have made the final four three times in the last nine years and have made the elite eight eight of the last 10 years.

Louisville is a little down this year as to hype for the tournament. Many experts believed that the Cardinals could win the National Championship this year in the preseason. After the downfall to the basketball program with first the escorts scandal and then then the FBI scandal with paying a recruit just this year, former head coach Rick Pitino was fired, along with Athletic Director Tom Jurich. They currently have an acting interim head coach by the name of David Padgett. Following the blowout game against Kentucky, falling 90-61, Padgett turned the Cardinals season around as they went from a projected 11 seed in a play-in game, all the way to a five seed projection in the tournament.

The Indiana Hoosiers are not expected to make the tournament this year. They have had a drop-off year after an offseason coaching change. They parted ways with longtime head coach Tom Crean and hired Archie Miller. They lost by 20 points to the Indiana State Sycamores. Unless they win the BIG 10 tournament, they will likely find themselves watching March Madness rather than being a part of it.

There are many conferences that are represented in the tournament. In fact, every conference in Division I are represented in March Madness. Each conference has a conference tournament, and if you win that tournament, no matter your record is, you are guaranteed a spot in the tournament.

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the BIG-12 are expected to have the most teams represented in the tournament.

The ACC is projected to have eight bids to the tournament and the BIG-12 is expected to have seven bids. The surprise conference this year has been the South-Eastern Conference (SEC). The SEC has had many down years in the past. In fact, there have been multiple years where it was just the Kentucky Wildcats and just one or two other teams each year. They are expected to receive five bids this year in the tournament.

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Starting Up America’ s Pastime

by Montrell Page

Photo Credit: Zach Combest

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aseball and softball season is coming in fast.

Both teams have the same expectations this year and hoping that their season doesn’t end like it did last year.

Baseball had lost a few seniors last year; there are some returners that they will need to meet their goals this year, but most importantly they will need the juniors to step-up this season.

The softball season is going to be all about heart and fight.

After a loss of their best player, as Taylor Roby continued into college, the team will have a hard time replacing this teammate.

For the baseball team, they have five current seniors: Sean Johnson, Peyton Meredith, Cody Billings, Quinton Lanham and Matt Wheeler, but Wheeler will not play this year because he had surgery on his elbow. With Wheeler not playing this year, the team will have to step up.

Johnson has very high expectations for his team this year.

“Our goal this year is to go to state like it is every year. I believe we have the talent this year to do that,” said Johnson. Half way through the season Johnson suffered a hernia and messed the rest of the season. Johnson feel like that his injury has helped him a lot. “With me missing postseason and half of the regular season, it has made me stronger than ever because know you never know when your season is going to end, so I seize every moment and the little things that will make me better,” said Johnson. Johnson also feels like if he pushes himself in practice than he could sit an example for the underclassmen.

Meredith has the same goals, but feels like it depends on the juniors. “For us going to state, it really depends on the juniors stepping up to the plate and maturing and taking no days off,” said Meredith. He knows that the team is capable of going to state but don’t know if they are mentally ready for the challenge. “They have to prove to me that they are ready or this will be another bad season,” said Meredith. He believes in the juniors and knows that they will step up and if everyone does their part than they can win state. Meredith doesn’t what to repeat last year’s season, losing the first round in district to Fern Creek, ending the season with a record of 20-14.

For the softball team, a lot of the players will have to step it up this year, especially with Roby gone. Roby left Bullitt East after the first semester with an early enrollment to the University of Louisville to play softball.

Couch Ricky Hoffman isn’t sure about winning state this year but very confident on winning the district. Hoffman has confidence in his young team. “I believe our offense and defense will be pretty good. We have lots of speed. We are working hard to get our pitchers were we need to be to out us in position to win games. I think we can accomplish this,”said Hoffman.

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He also explained that his team is really young and feels like there up to the challenge and can’t wait until to see them play.

“Excited to see how our youngsters respond to playing ball at this level. We have lots of potential and i am excited to see where it leads us,” said Hoffman. He doesn’t really know how far they will go this season he is trying to stay positive. “As far as our young ones take us. We will be able to make a run at the regional title. Very young but athletic. Will have offense and good speed in the field. Obviously pitching will be a work in progress, but we are working hard to have our pitchers throw strikes to give our defense a chance to make plays,” said Hoffman.

Junior Karley Dawson feels like they can win state this year, even without Roby. “If everyone will do their part, on the field and at the plate, we will be fine,” said Dawson. She also knows that her team has been working really hard over the offseason, so they are ready. “We have been working really hard in the offseason and pushing ourselves so that when gameday comes around, we will be prepared and ready to do work,” said Dawson.

Dawson is very confident in her team this season. Dawson is hoping to play at the Louisville field again at regionals.

Last season they went on and played in the second round of the regionals and lost to Butler 6-0, ending the season with the record of 22-10.

For the baseball team, they need they juniors to step up and mature. If they what to reach their goal. But for softball it is all about who has fight and heart, but for both teams; hoping that their season doesn’t end early, and both hoping to win a state.

Checkin’ Off the Trend for Checkerboard Vans

by Ryley Ortega

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uper trendy and on the rise, black and white checkered Vans takeover the hallways.

It seems like everywhere you look someone is wearing these checkerboard shoes.

Early Onset Senioritis

Freshmen Ellie Poole, when asked why she decided to buy the shoes said, “I bought them because they were super cute and comfortable and I knew I could wear them with a lot of different outfits.”

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One of the biggest trends lately, both boys and girls are seen wearing these Vans. Not only these, but Vans in general have become extremely popular for both girls and boys.

by Isaiah Jenner

enioritis takes its toll.

Senior students begin slacking in their final high school year.

Senioritis has began to impact a large amount of students at Bullitt East and across the nation. Students are starting to not take their final year as serious as it should be taken. Cell phones seem to be a major impact. Senioritis is beginning to cause negative outcomes for students and their further education. Most students see it as a problem but taking the initiative to change is what students struggle with.

Dylan Calhoun is a freshman at Jefferson Community Technical College and was affected badly by senioritis while he was at East “I didn’t want to do anything. It took my GPA down and I couldn’t get into Louisville anymore with all of my friends,” said Calhoun. “Even though it’s senior year, it doesn’t mean you should slack off, it’s important to stay focused if you plan on going to college.”

Senior Cameron Durbin has watched his grades drop in his bad case of senioritis. “My grades just keep going down and down, it’s almost to the point where it could affect me graduating.” says Durbin. College wasn’t Durbin”s main focus but now he feels there isn’t much hope. “I’m sure my GPA is too low to get in anywhere I would want to go,” said Durbin.

Many teachers see cell phones as the biggest distraction and the biggest cause of senioritis. “I see the cell phones as nothing but a distraction, I have had many seniors fail and I feel it’s because of the cell phones,” said English teacher Deborah Turner. Turner also sees the students using senioritis as an excuse to not do work instead of trying change their bad habits.

She sees too many accepting failing grades.

Senior Ashlee Green got her first pair of checkered Vans when she was 15. At the time, they weren’t a trend and Green had no clue that they would later on become the main style. “I think they’re cute and the pattern gives kind of an 80s retro vibe,” said Green.

With the Netflix show ‘Stranger Things’ becoming more popular, especially after their second seaon release, the 80’s style has become more and more popular with teenagers.

Students are not the only ones falling in love with the trend.

English teacher Abigail Phillips has also bought her own pair of checkered Vans. “I liked that they were black and white so that I could wear them with different outfits and it matched everything that I would wear on Mondays and Fridays when I could be casual,” said Phillips.

After buying the shoes, she did not realize that they had become a huge trend within the school. “I walked into school th next day and saw half of them [students] wearing them,” said Phillips.

Fashion comes and goes, but these shoes seem determined to stay.

Ryan Kurtz, an English and study skills teacher still has hope each and every senior and he tries his best to bring out the best in all his students. “It’s not that they don’t know what’s happening, they just don’t care,” said Kurtz.

Senior Chandler Youngs has recently realized how much he has been slacking. “It’s really easy to get distracted when you have your friends to goof around with,” said Youngs. He is half way through his final year of highschool and he is short of graduation requirements. “It’s time to start working.” says Youngs.

Now Youngs says he puts a little more effort into his work.

Layout: Kelsi Sego

12.

Get a Running Start on College

by Morgan Renneisen

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ead into college with high confidence and credits.

Taking classes that offer college credit and college hours can make the transition from high school education to university education a little bit easier.

Taking 12x12 or dual credit classes can bring many opportunities to high school students looking to continue an education in collegiate studies.

12x12 classes give students the opportunity to leave school and take classes at Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC). This option can offer up to 24 college hours before graduation.

Regular dual credit classes, also known as early college classes, also offer college credit.

The main difference between the two forms of dual credit classes is that with 12x12, students actually leave campus to go to JCTC and take classes.

With the early college option, the professors come to the students at school.

Aside from offering college credit and hours, 12x12 and early college classes can sometimes affect how well prepared a student is for their college years.

These types of classes can be very different from regular high school education classes in many ways.

The workload is more challenging, demanding, and can even force students to put in time after school hours to be able to pass the course.

Adjusting and learning to work with an actual college professor can be a challenge for some.

Even though it can be a difficult adjustment, if a student is

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planning to attend a college after high school, it is always recommended to take classes that offer credit and push students in ways that most regular high school courses would not.

Guidance counselor Dana Steinmetz says that the biggest perk of taking 12x12 and early college classes is the fact that they can save people money in the long run.

Taking classes that offer college credit not only benefit the student financially but also the families. “I think that just by having college hours when you graduate, it is a financial benefit more than anything,” said Steinmetz.

If the student performs well on the exams, coursework, and in the class in general, it could save a decent amount of money which is a big plus for many people.

Being able to add up credits that were earned in high school can relieve lots of pressure and even get the student ahead when it comes time to go to college.

Steinmetz thinks that the dual credit and 12x12 options are good for students and can well prepare for upcoming college years.

Steinmetz says that the early college form of dual credit classes are much more common among students.

This is because they offer the opportunity to take more classes while at the same time being able to stay involved with events that are going on around school. “You can be here all day long and you have a lot more flexibility in your schedule. I think that’s what makes it more preferred for most of our kids,” said Steinmetz.

Giving students the option to take college classes can come along with many benefits aside from earning credit. For most, it will be a great thing to do in the long run.

Rocking Away Bullitt County

by Bryant Miles

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his local band is upcoming and uprising.

The band Allusive is a new small town band at Bullitt East.

This band consists of five students at East: Jenna Martin, Gabe Issac, Owen Parrish, Antonio Granado, and Jonathon Arnold.

The band performs anything from country music to rock music.

This isn’t the first band of these students.

Tips to Get You Started

Some of the band members were in another band that broke up. “I had heard that Jenna and Owen needed a guitarist and a bassist, Antonio and I agreed to join them with the name allusive...we discovered Gabes talent soon after and invited him to replace the lead guitarist that Jenna and Owen had” said Arnold.

by Nick Jackson

J

ust ask the 3.9 million people who dropped out of college in 2017, college can be tough.

College can sometimes be an obstacle to overcome.

With a little advice, your collegiate time can become a lot easier. There are many successful students from East who have some tips that can help an incoming college student.

Freshman at WKU, Derek Rodgers has been successful in his time there. But getting good grades has not always been so easy for him. With hardwork and dedication, his time at WKU has been effective.

When struggling with a class, Rodgers is always sure to use his resources and to find help, “Many times if your professor sees you struggling but trying hard they will help you out as much as they can,” said Rodgers. Thankfully for Rodgers, some of his professors will lend a helping hand without asking. But others aren’t always looking for confused students. In that case the student should go to the professor after class. For some college students, their college years are meant for having fun and partying. But if someone want to excel in their studies, they have to put their priorities straight. “A lot of time people spend more time worrying about the social aspect more than the school side, this always hurts your grades,” said Rodgers.

Arnold has seemed to always have a love for music. “I’ve been into music since I was young and it’s just one of those things you dream of as a kid, and hope to one day say you had the chance to do,” said Arnold.

They are still trying to get used to each other and put all their sounds together to get into one. “Since Allusive is up and coming, we haven’t had any gigs yet. We are still finding our to the groove,” said Arnold.

One of his goals for the bands is to not be like other bands. He wants Allusive to make original work rather than being a cover band. “We strive to make good music, music that has meaning and purpose to it,” said Arnold. He’s very proud of the progress his band has made.

Seeing as Arnold is a senior, he sees that graduating will mean better opportunities for the band. “We [Granado and Arnold] will be at UofL Speed School, living at home. I feel it will give us more opportunities for gigs and such,” said Arnold.

The band is selling T-shirts and their instagram is @keepitallusive.

They will be performing at the Spring Festival this year as well.

Focusing on your school work first and then your social life second usually helps students be successful. English teacher Leslie Lloyd, just received her Masters of Library Science from the University of Louisville.

One of her keys to being a successful student was managing yourself, “College requires you to learn how to manage yourself. For example, registering for classes, getting assignments turned in on time, managing your time, applying for jobs, taking care of financial aid, ect. It can be overwhelming at first, but don’t be afraid to ask for help,” said Lloyd.

Although you should always put academics before social aspects of life, you always need to make time for yourself, “Take fun classes like acting or scuba diving or fencing, join a club or sorority or fraternity, or attend fun events. You will miss out on some amazing opportunities if you hide in your dorm all day,” said Lloyd.

Layout: Kim Houchin

14.

It’s Time to Apply

by T.C. Etherton

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aking a college application can be tricky, how do you make it easier?

As you apply for a college, you have to submit an application.

Many students are confused with what to say or put on these documents. There are many things to consider as you create an application, and here are some tips.

Crystal Barr, a counselor at Bullitt East, spoke about making an application. “Each application is going to be different,” said Barr, “But colleges would prefer if you apply online, rather than a handwritten one.”

Students who have made applications have given their say in what to do. Senior Sean Woods had this to say, “You’ll definitely need Your GPA, ACT scores and in an official transcript.

Depending on the school and program you may also need supplemental test scores essays letters of recommendation and a resume.”

Woods himself, has applied to some colleges already. “I applied to four schools plus I had to fill out a bunch of extra applications for honors colleges and scholarships.”

Senior Brooke Hatfield has put some time in making applications as well. “They’re usually based on academics, but in any essays or other opportunities you have, you want to stress service activities, and your involvement with the school and community,” said Hatfield.

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Hatfield has also applied to multiple colleges, but one in particular has caught her eye. “ I applied to Louisville and Western (Kentucky). I’ve been pretty dead set on WKU and got accepted. I’m now waiting on my honors college acceptance,” said Hatfield.

When you think that you’re on the right track a good application, Woods has these suggestions to think about. “Include everything you have ever done. Sell yourself. Have someone else look over it. Start early and take your time,” said Woods.

Once these are accomplished you should be just about finished with your application.

Senior Cori Etherton, planning to attend the University of Louisville, brought up the importance of having someone (maybe a counselor, teacher or parent) look over your application before sending it off. “It is very important to have a trusted person look over your application before you think your done.

I was able to correct a few things on mine, actually,” said Etherton.

Applications will vary depending on the college you apply to, it is important to follow the directions and respond accurately.

You should talk proudly of yourself, and what you have done.

Applications can be tricky, but it’s best not to overthink too hard, just be honest and get yourself proofread by someone you trust.

Stepping Into Success

by Cassidy Cardwell

A

Whether staying at home or going across the globe, high school seniors prepare for their first step of adulthood into the real world, outside of your typical high school classroom.

away from home. While this university is fairly close to home, she decided to opt for dorm living because she wanted to experience living on her own and balancing the costs of her own dorm. Although she is excited to be living with her best friend, she is nervous about making friends on campus.

No two colleges are alike and no two future college students are alike. With the variety of majors and schools to choose from, high school seniors have a big decision to make. The countless, tiring hours of study time and hard work put into that 4.0 GPA and distinguished ACT score has finally paid off.

Whether living on campus or off, these seniors are anticipating the college life.

While 83 percent of students in a 54 voter poll will be going to college in state, and the other 17 percent will be out of state, Ashlie Gauthier is taking a step further and going out of the country. With Gauthier’s love of the location and diversity, she plans on attending the University of Sussex in England. While the excitement of experiencing college in a different country is very present, Gauthier is nervous to be away from home.

Many incoming college freshman have been preparing for this transition from as early as freshman year. A variety of tests are to be taken for college applications, such as KYOTE, ACT, and SAT. Senior Ashlee Green has taken advantage of advanced classes throughout her years of high school. “I took a couple of AP classes that counted towards my college classes, which saves me money because I won’t have to take them,” said Green.

Compared to American universities, the application process was simpler for Gauthier, as she only was required to fill out one application and write one paper to be considered for 5 programs. “My program is a little more complicated because i have to be background checked, interviewed, and obtain work experience in the UK since I am selecting a major that works with children,” says Gauthier.

once in a lifetime transition.

It’s important to have an insight into what you plan on studying when going into college. In a poll of 62 voters, 26 percent are majoring in the medical field, 26 percent are majoring in the business field, 11 percent are majoring in education, and 37 percent are undecided/majoring in something different.

Attending the University of Louisville in the fall of 2018, senior Sydney Rames is anticipating the feeling of freedom living

Stress is something nearly every student endures, especially incoming college students. Rames is not looking forward to the stress of getting all of her work done due to the workload in college.

The social aspect of college is also something Rames is anxious for. “I’m scared I’ll lose my friends or not keep in touch with my high school friends,” says Rames. She plans to combat stress by setting aside time to work on school work.

Layout: Cassidy Cardwell

16.

The Truth Behind Planned Parenthood

by Kelsi Sego

I

Am (insert pro-life/pro-choice here).

Pro-lifers and pro-choicers have been debating over the topic of Planned Parenthood’s funding.

Planned Parenthood is a healthcare provider that specializes in sexual health. The company provides various health services.

However debates have sparked over the company’s future.

The Non-profit is dedicated to providing affordable reproductive care and education. Their mission statement reads “Planned Parenthood aims to provide trusted community health care, inform and educate the community, lead the reproductive health and rights movement, and advance global health.” The company “believes in the individual fundamental right of people throughout the world to manage their reproductive health, regardless of income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence.

We believe reproductive self-determination must be voluntary and we honor the right to privacy. We further believe that such self-determination enhances quality of life and helps build strong family relationships.”

Margaret Sanger started the organization “with the revolutionary idea that women should have the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives and fulfill their dreams by deciding if and when they’d have children”. Today Planned Parenthood has over 600 healthcare centers across the nation.

According to the organization’s website 2.4 million patients were served at Planned Parenthood health centers in the U.S. in 2016 alone. Their sexual health care services include STD testing, birth control, pregnancy testing, abortion services and LGBT health services.

Controversy regarding Planned Parenthood was sparked during the 2016 US presidential election. Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization which is funded by the federal government in part. Republicans have called for the organization to be defunded de to the abortion services it offers. Democrat

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Hillary Clinton was a huge supporter of the company and the services that it provides for women. Republican Donald Trump has mixed views on the company. Trump supported the ‘“very good work for millions of women” that the organization provides. However, he criticized the company for its abortion services while threatening to defund it as well.

In 2015 a video was released by an anti abortion organization allegedly depicting fetal organs being sold in violation of medical ethics. After the release of this video Republicans called for Planned Parenthood’s funds to be cut. Republicans accused Planned Parenthood president, Cecile Richards, of misuse of funds in the amount of $40 million. However Richards denied all charges and defending the work of her organization. This is not the first time that people have tried to defund the organization. In 2007 then Rep. Mike Pence from Indiana was the first lawmaker to publicly call for a cut off of all of Planned parenthood’s resources.

The company has been the sight of many protests. Protesters who advocate pro-life have been found assembling outside many Planned Parenthoods across the nation. Planned Parenthood has faced criticisms many a time throughout the group’s history. “For many people, Planned Parenthood is the only place they can turn to,” says Dawn Laguens, executive vice president for Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the group’s political arm. “Planned Parenthood may be the only place they can go in their community, or the only place that offers the screening or birth control method they need.”

Anti-abortion advocates see it a little differently. Carl Tobias the president of the RIght to Life Committee said “When it comes to other health care services, there are several thousands community health centers around the country that are pretty much funded by tax dollars that can provide the same services...Planned Parenthood is in the abortion business.

Some of the other stuff they do is just a sideline.” However, according to the fact sheet on Planned Parenthood’s website abortion only accounts for 3 percent of their health services.

18.

Bacon Selected as Next Superintendent

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by Kim Houchin

Photo Submission Jesse Bacon

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o, it’s not the kind of bacon you were thinking.

The public school system of Bullitt County elects a new superintendent.

Jesse Bacon has been chosen by the Board of Education as the new superintendent of Bullitt County.

Ever since late 2017, the Board of Education has been on the hunt for a new superintendent. The question on everyone’s minds that keeps up to date with the ongoings of the public school government is ‘who can fill the shoes of Keith Davis?’.

The Livewire staff, as soon as the news came out that the Board would be voting on the superintendent Thursday afternoon, immediately got together to organize an interview with Bacon.

The first thing that the staff wanted to do was educate the student body on who Bacon really was. As the principal of Simons Middle School in Flemingsburg, KY, there isn’t much that the Bullitt County student body knows about him. The main thing that he wants students, staff and faculty to be aware of is that he is open to opinions and comments. “I think the students will find me, hopefully, easy to talk to and somebody that will listen to them,” said Bacon.

When Bacon was chosen to be the future superintendent, he was excited. “My family is extremely excited to become a part of the Bullitt County community. This is a tremendous opportunity for me to be a part of such a fantastic school district,” said Bacon.

What initially drew Bacon to Bullitt County was the close community and the area. “I hear great things about the community,” said Bacon. He praised his predecessor, Davis, as well. “I’m really excited to get in and learn about how he’s been able to sustain that and move the district forward,” said Bacon.

One of the things that Bacon wants to focus on for Bullitt County is listening to the stakeholders. He wants to figure what areas in the county that the government and the Board can work on in order to improve. Bacon states that his mantra as an educational leader is looking for how the school can improve for the future. “Something I feel really, really passionate about is to listen to what people have to say,” said Bacon.

As the principal at Simons, Bacon has been prepared through his many executive positions and mentors.

Something that he wants everyone to know as he begins to prepare for his new position as superintendent is that he is willing to listen. As someone in a position of power, that is monumental for students. “I want to be in the schools, I want to be able to interact and talk and be at extracurricular activities,” said Bacon.

Going from being in charge of one school to 25 is quite a drastic change. It’s also very difficult to be able to maintain a close

relationship with every faculty and student body within those schools. The first thing that Bacon wants to do is get into those schools and talk to the faculty and staff within them.

“The biggest thing I want to do is just get there and listen,” said Bacon.

With his years of experience in the public education force, Bacon feels that he has been preparing for quite a few years for this role.

His one specific goal for the county is to keep moving forward.

He wants to look for the weaknesses and how to fix them. For him, that will be the main goal.

Education is one of the most important things for students, parents, lawmakers and teachers. Our esteemed schools are what prepare our future generations and how they act. For Bacon, he wants to give students the biggest opportunity for success. He wants all community members to be involved in school decisions, especially students. “Everybody has a stake in this, everybody has a role,” said Bacon.

For any person in power, their stances are important. With recent events in Kentucky and Florida, everyone’s minds have been on safety. He, like most administrators, believe that student safety is the number one priority. “We have to take a good look at our procedures, the processes that we have in place and make sure there’s no gaps in them and that we have protocols when things happen, that action is taken very quickly to ensure that all of our students and staff are safe,” said Bacon.

As a publication and as students, the Livewire believes that student voice and student press is a priority. Having a superintendent that cooperates makes a student journalist’s life easier. Without a cooperative superintendent, this means they could halt our publication at the snap of a finger. “When we, as educators, listen to students, we ultimately help students succeed. I think, for a long time in education, students probably have the least amount of voice in the way things are done,” said Bacon.

Bacon, much like Davis plans to use social media to connect with the students and staff of Bullitt County. “I think social media is an extremely powerful tool. I think in education, we’ve waited far too long to utilize it and we’ve got to have multiple ways to get our message out,” said Bacon.

Bacon is very excited to go to each school and meet with their students and staff and get to know them. “I look forward to meeting with them and working with them as we try to figure where we want to go and where we want to take Bullitt County Schools,” said Bacon.

The Livewire staff wishes him luck in preparing for his new role and we look forward to working closely with him in the future.

20.

Create Your Own Voice

by Olivia Armstrong

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our future is counting on this.

Younger generations are shedding more and more light on why you should vote and how important voting is to have a voice in your community.

The presidential election in 2016 seemingly took the world by storm. Candidates were from many walks of life, and everyone had strong opinions about said candidates.

It seemed everyone strongly loved one runner, while simultaneously hated every other, keeping tensions at a constant high.

Because of this, social media took the world by storm during this time, sharing their unearthed opinions, whether factbased or not, on who was running. Presidential debates on television ran along side trending Twitter hashtags almost everytime, without fail. It seemed like everyone in the world was weighing in and watching adamantly on the United States’s fate.

In the 2016 election, there were an estimated 139 million voters. That number was a new record compared to the 132 million turnout in the 2008 Obama v. McCain election.

While this may seem like a lot, especially when it was a record breaking number, putting it in perspective waters down the numbers. With around 320 million people in the United States today, that means only around 60 percent of registered voters turned out to the voting booths in 2016.

With this low number comes a plethora of reasons why people don’t vote. And this is hurting our country, which is built on the very right to vote and voice your opinion.

I don’t like politics.

Many people get involved with politics without actually getting involved in politics. Being informed and butting in are two completely different things. Being informed means knowing all about the current events going on in one’s community, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to nipping in at every disagreement. There is a common misconception that all politics is is fighting and arguing, but the reality is much different. Politics is defined as “the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area,” not the arguing of influential figures often caught up in the political spotlight.

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My vote won’t matter.

Of course it will. There are many positive outcomes of just one person voting. The bandwagon effect is real, if just one person votes, chances are that they will inspire several others in their community to as well. To add to that, more elections than one might think are won by just a landslide. For example, the Johnson v. Belcher election here in Bullitt County was won by only a couple hundred votes. Those couple hundred who thought that their vote wouldn’t matter could have easily swayed that election. The 2016 election was extremely closely called as well, with Clinton winning the popular vote, but Trump taking the cake with the electoral college vote. Not to mention, if the mindset of someone’s vote not mattering in the grand scheme gets spread around, those lost votes will start to add up, immensely.

I don’t like the candidates.

Doing research is crucially important for any kind of election.

In a study conducted by the Journal of Consumer research, experts found that not liking either candidate for any given election can have a positive outcome. So, not liking either candidate could be a positive thing. Anthony Fowler, a public policy professor at the University of Chicago, also noticed a important trend in voter turnout. In Australia, where voting is compulsory and not voting can be punishable by fines, voter turnout increased by around 41 percent after voting became law. This had a large effect on the results with a gain of between 7 and 10 percent for the Labor Party, according to The New York Times. Knowing this, it may be worth one’s time to try and do the extra research to determine who you like better.

Common Voting Questions Being Answered How do you register to vote?

There are many options for registering to vote. In Kentucky, registration is available in person, online, or by mail. One must fill out a registration application for all methods of registration and be able to provide basic documents like social security card. More information is readily available at the Kentucky DMV website, which can be accessed by a simple Google search.

What are some reliable sources to read up on candidates and election information?

For local elections here in Mount Washington, reliable new outlets include WDRB, WHAS, and WLKY. The bonus with even these local stations is their easy access. One can tune in online, on television, etc. Country wide, reliable new stations include The New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and NBC. However, CNN is known for having a more liberal stance on political topics, while Fox News has been known to stand for a more conservative ground.

Movie Review:

Black Panther

by Hunter Brogan

The Black Panther movie broke box office records when it hit theatres Friday, Feb. 16. With its first weekend hitting $218 million. Black Panther is the number one movie out right now and is well deserved.

It’s another Marvels classic that is a must see. Another record the movie broke was that it’s the largest opening weekend in February ever.

The second biggest was Deadpool with $132 million. This movie is action packed and your eyes are glued to the screen the whole time. “It was good and action packed,” said freshman Ellie Poole.

The film takes place in Wakanda, Africa and their people hold something special only few know about. They hold lots of vibranium and it is so valuable to the country. After the death of T’Challa’s father, he takes over as king.

But it won’t be smooth sailing from here. After Erik Killmonger learns that the death of his father came from the hands of the former king, he plans to seek revenge. He travels to Wakanda and challenges the new king, T’Challa for the throne.

If you haven’t seen the number one movie, you should. You won’t regret it.

Black Panther gets a 10/10.

How do I know where to vote?

To determine one’s personal voting precinct, all that has to be done is a google search. On the website https://vrsws.sos. ky.gov/vic/, a registered voter fills out a few lines of information about themselves and then the website will determine your booth location. In some states, voter registration certificates should also have a precinct number printed on them.

22.

Global Warming: Is it Real?

by Katie Huffman

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Species, in a range of different plants and animals, have to adapt to the environmental changes that are taking place because of global warming, drawing some close to extinction.

Polar bears and coral reefs are two examples of living things that are being negatively affected.

Global Warming, without a doubt is real, and becomes more relevant as time goes on. The evident rising temperatures of Earth have negative effects on the environment and the animals that live in them. There are some small ways to help slow down global warming, but not a definite solution.

“Global warming will cause an initial series of climate shifts, which will kill a lot of animals but at the same time you will see some animals benefit from this as their climates become more tolerant,” said Huether.

oo hot to not talk about.

The Earth’s rising temperatures are concerning, and some people doubt these record breaking temperatures are caused by humans.

The effects of global warming can physically be seen, from sea levels rising globally to the increasing wildfires and droughts in California.

Most recently, the Thomas Fire started in California on December 4 and was not 100 percent contained until January 12. Over 1,000 structures were destroyed and 282,000 acres of land burned, which is larger than New York City.

The rise in carbon dioxide levels and other greenhouse gases released by humans has been one of the main reasons for the temperature rises on earth. Earth’s average temperature has risen two degrees since late in the 19th century, and 2016 was the warmest year on record.

“It [global warming] is real, but pinpointing the exact causes and reasons why I think is a little insane,” said science teacher Jonathan Huether. He believes that when people are not given a thorough explanation of what global warming is and they aren’t given convincing evidence, then that leads to people believing that global warming isn’t real.

Long-term substitute teacher Kristin McCarter believes humans contribute to global warming. “When we burn fossil fuels it’s not good for the environment, so we need to find better ways [to make energy],” said McCarter. McCarter majored in physical science in college, but teaches Integrated Math IV.

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The arctic ice is melting, which means the habitat of polar bears is decaying. Polar bears were first recorded as threatened in 2008 under the Endangered Species Act. “When one person does something, it affects something else. So unfortunately if we do something negative, it’s going to affect something else negatively and it will spread like a wildfire,” said McCarter.

The greatest threat to coral reef ecosystems is global warming. The increasing temperatures of the ocean leads to coral bleaching, as well as runoff and pollution and overexposure to sunlight. The coral has the ability to recover from bleaching, but if they are under continued stress then the coral eventually dies.

Individuals can effectively insulate their home, choose energy efficient appliances, turn off lights when they’re not being used and add solar panels to their homes. They can also eat locally-grown organic food, cut down meat consumption and reuse and recycle products. “Even if we fix this problem by becoming more efficient as humans, then there will just be more humans and we will use even more resources,” said Huether.

Each individual should work towards the goal of reducing their carbon footprint, which is ultimately the amount of carbon dioxide that each person releases. There is not a clear-cut solution to global warming, but this is something that everyone can do in order to help slow global warming and the harmful effects that come with it.

Too Early for Prom

by Meredith Bass

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Prom is often used as an incentive for good behavior and attendance. Students are told that it is a privilege that can be taken away. With prom being so early, there is a lot of time for behavior to get out of hand after is is over.

This year, prom will be at the Ramada Plaza in Louisville on March 24. As the date approaches, the season of dress shopping and promposals has already begun.

On top of behavior, the gap between prom and the end of the school year is also a problem for those just counting down the days until summer. Jadyn Smith is a junior who is looking forward to prom, but not looking forward to the time after prom.

“I feel like prom is something that people look forward to at the end of the year and having it so early has people dragging through the rest of the year once it’s over,” said Smith.

resses, makeup, limos and… winter coats?

Prom season is upon us and students are beginning to prepare for the magical night. The date is set and plans are being arranged. With unpredictable weather and nowhere near the end of the year, the problem arises of prom being too early.

The date was set earlier this school year but is coming to reality recently. For us, it is around the same time every year, though it is still much sooner than surrounding schools.

Look on any social media and you will see an update of someone’s prom dress. Since prom is in March, it puts students in a tough situation for dress shopping.

Prom is a big night for many people, so planning in advance is a must. However, dress shopping over Christmas break seems a bit early.

The first thing that comes to mind when you think prom in March is pictures. March is such an unpredictable month for weather and is a big factor when considering destinations for capturing the night. “I think it’s too early because a lot of the time the weather is still acting up in March,” said Junior Lindsey Spencer.

Junior Kemper Barr is one of the many girls who already has her plans ready. “I just hope that the weather is okay for our pictures. Most of our dresses are sleeveless and I don’t want to be cold and miserable while trying to take cute pictures,” said Barr.

Another problem that arises is the fact that after prom, there is still so much time left until the end of the school year.

Junior Josh Wetzel has a similar outlook as Smith. “Honestly prom for some people is the last night that they’ll get to be kids and the fact that it’s so early in the year completely defeats the purpose of this special night,” said Wetzel.

Prom being in March also places it right in the middle of a very stressful time. For some seniors, their last chance to take the ACT is that week. For juniors, they have the ring ceremony and the ACT to worry about. “It makes it super stressful as a junior.

I just feel like it would be more enjoyable in April or May, closer to the end of the school year,” said Spencer.

The date set for prom is also a stressful time for spring athletes considering it is the first official week of the baseball, softball, and track seasons.

For other schools in the county, prom is closer to graduation than anything else, making it a fun time for students to spend with their friends before everyone goes their seperate ways.

With it being a stressful time of year, it seems to make more sense for prom to take place after spring break, like Bullitt Central and North Bullitt, when students have time to catch up and get everything back together

Layout: Meredith Bass

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Size is Just a Number

by Emmy Ralph

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o matter what size one may be, they are beautiful the way they are.

People often tend to think that size decides whether one is pretty or not.

Modeling is offered to anyone, no matter what size they wear.

If you see a woman that wears plus size clothing, walking down a runway, what are your thoughts?

Plus size clothing is absolutely no different than any other size clothing. Many people forget about the fact that each person varies in size. Size should not define who you are.

Your thoughts should be that that woman is beautiful and has the confidence to go out there. Most people think that to be a model, you have to be skinny. That is not true, as they make plus size clothing too; therefore, it needs to be modeled and shown off.

When casually walking into a clothing store, right off the bat one might see clothing that is in smaller sizes. Some may ask, where’s the plus size clothing?

Most people tend to say that plus size clothing is not cute. To some people that is true, to others they are perfectly fine with the fact that they have clothing to fit or even clothing at all.

There are some stores that have a small section for plus size clothing, while other stores have no section at all. There are also stores that are made specifically for plus size clothing. Rue 21 is a great store to go in when shopping for plus size items.

Though, this is not a store made specifically for plus sizes, it does contain a nice variety of that particular size group. Rue 21 offers enough plus size clothing to create a variety of outfits.

A lot of people worry about whether or not their clothing will make them fit in or if their clothing will attract that boy they like. Well, clothes are clothes. You do not have to have in-style clothing to be attractive, though it would be convenient. There is more to people than just clothing.

Plus size clothing is often inconsistent. A store may sell clothing as a size 14 but in another store it’s equivalent to a size 10.

Clothing stores should be more consistent with plus sizes as they are with smaller sizes.

Plus size people are beautiful the way they are and should be treated the exact same as anyone else. One does not have to be muscular to be pretty. One does not have to wear tight clothing to be cute.

It is unfair to larger sized women for stores to be consistent with one size but not the other. This makes shopping for plus size clothing a lot more difficult and at times more expensive, as typically the larger clothes cost more.

One does not have to be skinny to fit in. We are all humans and we are beautiful the way we are. Love your size and love yourself.

25. Layout: Emmy Ralph

A lot of people are very self conscious with what they wear, the way they look or their size.

Coming Soon:

A Strip Mall Near You

by Tyler Steinmetz

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strip mall is being constructed right before the entrance of the Gene Snyder Freeway.

Illuminati Confirmed

by Haylie Jenkins

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hey are back again (supposedly).

The Illuminati was a real organization in the past that has recieved traction recently for being involved in theories of major catastrophes.

Many theorists believe that famous celebrities fill up seats in the Illuminati.

They have been suspected of being involved with major world events. Followers suspect that the Illuminati had something to do major world events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Conspiracy theorists believe the theory of the Illuminati is a special elite group of people have a higher status of enlightenment. Many people like conspiracy theorists and youtuber Shane Dawson talk on many occasions about Beyoncé and Jay-Z being the “leaders” of the group.

Jay-Z and Beyonce are assumed or theorized to be the leaders because of how successful they are in the industry. Beyonce is mostly assumed as the actual “leader” due to the fact that she has such a huge following.

Cardi B has been targeted as another new member of the Illuminati due to the fact that her fame came very fast and she gained such a huge following in such a short amount of time.

The strip mall will contain a McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Chipotle, Mattress Firm, Forcht Bank, AT&T, FreshThyme, Marshall’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sally Beauty Supply, Ross, Liquor Barn, Five Below, Rack Room Shoes, ULTA Beauty, Versona Accessories, Panda Express, and a Regal Cinemas.

There are still four available spots to be filled in the mall.

The exact time of the completion of the strip mall has not yet been reported but construction will begin within this year.

SeniorEmma Stanley feels that it is a bittersweet feeling to see the new mall being built. “On one hand, it’s nice to have more shops and restaurants, but on the other hand, it’s sot of sad to see all those trees go. It looks so bare now,” said Stanley.

Traffic seems to be the biggest obstacle that students don’t want to face. “I think it’ll cause a lot more traffic which is the last thing Fern Creek needs,” said Stanley.

Senior Taylor Willis hates the new spot. “I don’t see why there is a necessity for it,” said Willis.

Willis believes that it will help Fern Creek more than it will help Mt. Washington. “Fern Creek will have their own movie theater and they won’t have to drive far to get anywhere,” said Willis.

Conspiracy theorists have claimed in order to join the Illuminati you must, in a sense, sell your soul in exchange for wealth, power and money.

The Illuminati in the past was a group of “enlightened people” who went against the Catholic Church to preach their own beliefs. They told everyone about their superstitions and beliefs, and some might even call these theories. According to Jason Duaine Hahn at complex.com, “the Order of the Illuminati got so big at its peak, other splinter groups formed.”

Also in the old Illuminati they were never said to have a power over anyone, unlike how theorists claim that the Illuminati has power over the world and major events in modern time.

It has been theorized that the Illuminati influenced many catastrophes such as 9/11 attacks. In a recent video from conspiracy theorist Shane Dawson he talked about the 9/11 attack he said that survivors from the 9/11 attack claim to hear explosions in the building even before the plain hit. It is a known fact that the government knew about the 9/11 terrorist attacks they just did not know when it was going to happen. Since the Illuminati is “linked” with the government and media they are in a way suspected to be responsible for the attack.

The Illuminati might not be real, but if it they are it is scary to think what they are capable of.

Layout: Haylie Jenkins

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Layout: Carissa Kimball

Fitness Routines and How to Stick with Them

by Carissa Kimball

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ime to commit to being fit.

Getting in shape is a goal for most people, but it takes hard work and commitment.

The new year brings change to lifestyle and routine. Exercising and dieting is tough to stick with, but with consistency it can be easy. Even on top of busy student life, staying in shape should be a top priority.

Tackling a new fitness routine can be rough to start, but after getting the right help and making sacrifices to stick with it, it starts to be a second nature. “I’ve been doing crossfit almost everyday for six years, I stay in it by building relationships with the people around me and by making it a routine and priority in my life,” said Greg Parrish, coach and part owner of Black Label Crossfit in Mount Washington.

Staying in shape and focusing on exercise and diet may seem like a lot of work, but it pays off in the long run.

Body image and confidence are important aspects in having a happy life, even if sacrifices are to be made. “The longevity of staying in shape to be with my kids and be able to go play with them when I’m older is the sole reason I stay in shape,” said Parrish.

Being fit doesn’t only make a difference in appearance, but it also builds character. “Being healthy is important for a longer better life, but lifting and pushing yourself makes you grow as a person,” said Thomas. Having that desire to keep going and not give up can be applied in day to day life.

One of the most popular new year’s resolutions is to get in shape and not drop off throughout the year.

The transition into living healthy can be rough to stick with, but it’s ultimately up to the person making the change to keep the change. “I’ve always wanted to get in really good shape and feel good about myself and this year I plan on getting more into it,” said Ava Cherry, a member at Black Label.

Exercise can be a stress reliever, but only if you find something about it to enjoy. “The gym is truly my favorite place in the world. I don’t lift just for appearance, I lift because it’s what I enjoy doing,” said Junior Jacob Thomas, a member at Club Fitness. After finding strengths and weaknesses, the gym can be a happy place.

Being able to exercise and be comfortable with the atmosphere is also an important factor of wanting to stick with the routine. “Find a place that makes you feel as comfortable as possible and a diet that suits you,” said Madison Jenkins, a member of 44 Crossfit.

The transition into a fitness routine takes time. It requires not only physical changes, but mental ones too. The more gradual getting into the groove is, the better. “Change small things first, get good at that, then move on to the next thing you want to change,” said Parrish.

It can be easy to drop out of a newfound fitness routine. You may find that it’s hard to pace yourself, or you can’t ever reach your goals. These tough times can serve as even more motivation to keep you going.

Results take time to show, and most don’t happen overnight.

Just because you can’t see your hard work pay off, doesn’t mean it doesn’t count.“People lose motivation or lose a goal and never continue, lots of times the second it becomes difficult they give up,” said Cherry.

Stay changing up workouts to keep it interesting. Keep adding more weight and reps to stay improving. “Set a goal that you’re determined to achieve, don’t stop until you’re completely happy,” said Cherry.

Working out is something that there is always more to be done about.

There is always room for improvement, which can make fitness a great hobby to have. “Being healthy and feeling healthy should be a priority, you should want to live a good life and feel better,” said Cherry.

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435 N Bardstown Rd Mt Washington, KY (502)836-1532

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Staff Editorial

Two Wrongs Do Not Make A Right

What is Body Shaming?

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ccording to the English Dictionary, body shaming is the act of humiliating a person based on their body type by making critical statements about their body shape and size. Some people may be “too big”, while some may be “too small” for society’s expectations.

Fat-Shaming Fat-Shaming is dangerous.

Bullying results in a lack of confidence and a negative mindset.

Teens should not experience such hazardous emotional and social problems. Isolation is a big factor involving body shaming. Teens get caught up in image portrayed on social media.

On social media, the “ideal girl” has to have the body of a model. To some people, if your body isn’t identical to a model then you shouldn’t be accepted. Isolation includes removing yourself from those in your life, even if it’s the people who love you most. It can lead into serious depression.

Fat-Shaming can cause eating disorders and health risks.

Many people battle with concerning eating disorders and risky health factors. There are a numerous amount of health disorders including the following: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, avoided food take, etc. The disorders feature serious and life threatening symptoms. Majority of the problems will result in depression and possibly suicide.

Fat-shaming comments leave lasting impressions, mentally and physically. Harmful opinions can increase risks in heart and metabolic diseases. Those who are called “overweight” tend to reduce eating, to a fault. They tend to work too hard to be a barbie doll image and impress today’s society, putting their life in danger.

Fat-Shaming can be prevented.

If you ever experience or have experienced body shaming, talk to someone. It may be difficult to build up the strength to confront someone, but it will help. Just a few simple words of kindness can go a long way. The best way to start an end to body-shaming is showing teens their self worthiness. Indulge in compliments; don’t focus on categorizing their weight. Size is just a number, it doesn’t define the person you are.

Skinny-Shaming Skinny shaming contibutes to double standard.

In a judgemental world, you can never win. Higher size in clothes? You’re unhealthy and need to “eat less”. Bones stick out? You’re a “skeleton” and need to put some meat on those bones. Shaming someone for their natural body is wrong no matter what end of the spectrum. Today’s society is obsessed

with the curvy figure and an hourglass shaped body in females, and a strong, muscular figure in men. But what about those who can’t help they do not fit this standard? Are they less of a woman or man?

Skinny-Shaming creates degrading misconceptions of people.

There is a common misconception that thin people have starved themselves or currently starve themselves to be thin.

The truth is, many factors play into a person’s body structure including genetics, hormonal issues, and metabolism. A faster metabolism means a person processes food faster than usual, making it harder to put on weight.

Some also have health issues A petite frame is not always in ones control.

Skinny-Shaming can create a negative mental complex.

Telling a skinny person to “eat a cheeseburger” may not only have a detrimental mental impact on the person, but they may begin to practice unhealthy habits. A buildup of criticism from others about their body structure may make a person turn to binge eating and consuming too much food, sometimes unhealthy, to put on weight. The unhealthy foods one may eat to gain weight could lead to health problems due to not eating properly and not having proper nutrition.

Layout: Olivia Coke

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