The Eagle's Nest 12.2 by Jeff Ferrell

KEEPI N G THE S TUDE NTS OF RHEA COU NTY HIGH SCH O OL I NFORMED SI N CE 1996

HALLOWEEN EDITION

The Eagle's Nest HALLOWEEN REVIEWS & PROJECTS PAGES 5–8

SPORTS UPDATES PAGE 9

VOLUME 12, NUMBER 2

CREEPY CROSSWORD! PAGE 12

Learning at a distance

Rhea County receives a coveted grant for distance learning technology By CORY SMITH

Jack-O-Lanterns await judging at last year’s PumpkinFest, which drew almost 3,000 people to downtown Dayton.

CORY@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

Recently, a distance learning and telemedicine grant for $496,212 was awarded to Rhea, Scott and Hancock counties to increase educational opportunities through distance learning for students and teachers in the three counties. The Rural Development distance learning and telemedicine (DLT) grant program provides rural communities with resources to improve access to education and medical services through the use of technology. DLT grants and loans are specifically designed to provide access to education, training and health care resources for people in rural America. The DLT Program provides financial assistance to encourage and improve these educational and health care services in rural areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks and related technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals and rural residents. The grant that Rhea County will receive a majority of will fund improvements and expansion to the current distance learning network. The investment will improve the links for both students and teachers to new educational opportunities such as advanced math courses, expanded high school curriculum, dual enroll-

Halloween fun for all at PumpkinFest Dayton festival planners expect record turnout this year. By ALEX BROWN ALEX@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

class could witness an actual autopsy, for example. The high school could also benefit others through the technology. An RCHS math teacher would be able to add advanced middle school students to an Algebra 1 class, where there may not be a teacher at their school qualified to teach that course. Other classes could also be

Tired of the same boring Halloween, year after year? Join the thousands of people attending Main Street Dayton’s PumpkinFest on Halloween night! Remaining in your home for hours, handing out candy can become tiresome every year. Forget staying at home by the door and visit Dayton’s 2nd Annual Fall Festival. A crowd of 5,000 is expected for October 31, 2007! Activities have been planned to suit teenagers of all kinds. Gals can enjoy a night of shopping from the 35 booths and MainStreet merchant sidewalk sales or hop aboard a hayride. Guys, grab your skateboards and enter a local skateboarding contest (5:30–8:30 p.m.) in front of Main Stage Music or simply free skate from 3–5p.m. and 9–10 p.m.

see LEARNING page 3

see PUMPKINFEST page 2

photo submitted

State Senator Lamar Alexander (right) and Rural Development State Director Ruth Tackett (canter) presented the Rhea County Department of education a check for distance learning technology in a ceremony on October 11th.

ment classes, virtual field trips, multi-school learning projects and professional staff development. This project will connect nineteen rural education sites in the three participating counties. “The equipment will be able to send and receive video, enabling students to take a Dual Enrollment Calculus class, for example, in a distance learning lab here at the high school,” said Mr. Levengood. “In the past these students

would have had to leave campus to attend this class.” The audio and video feeds are two-way, so students in the remote classroom can interact with the teacher in real-time, and viceversa. Here at the high school, distance learning could help fill gaps in the curriculum—providing access to a French class, perhaps, for interested students. Or it could be used to supplement classes already offered—a Health Science

RCHS contributes to time capsule By SARAH HEATH SARAH@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

photo submitted

Members of the Leadership class discuss items representing RCHS for inclusion in the Bicentennial Committee’s time capsule, to be opened in 2106.

The Rhea County Bicentennial Committee has decided to preserve several meaningful items for Rhea County’s 200th anniversary by placing a time capsule at the Dayton Courthouse. Two days before the official burial of the capsule, on Saturday December 1st, there will be a festival in honor of the Bicentennial that is approaching. It will be at the Dayton Courthouse and take place on the same day as the Dayton Christmas Parade. At the festival, the capsule will be placed in the ground, see CAPSULE page 3

Key Club drive less successful than hoped Members aim to build awareness for next year’s collection By JULIUS SMITH JULIUS@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

Rhea County High’s club for caring has just finished their first annual School Supply Drive. Paper, pencils, and pens were provided; scissors were sent, and binders brought. Other items generously donated include index cards, colored pencils, portfolios, folders. Teachers have pointed out in the past that their school items tend to run low later on in the semester. The purpose of the drive was to store items at school so

teachers in need of supplies would be provided for throughout the year. “We didn’t get as much of a turnout as I thought we would,” says the current Key Club President Ryan Faulkner, “but the good news is the teachers did seem to take a good stab at [encouraging students to bring donations]. So we do have quite a bit of stuff.” He also admitted that the drive occurred later in the semester than what would have been best, and promises that the Key Club will do their best to get the drive started as early as possible next year. The Key Club would like to thank all of those who helped to donate goods.

The Eagle’s Nest • Halloween Edition • October 2007

JROTC continues a good year By CADET CAPTAIN JUSTIN LINGER JROTC PRESS CORRESPONDENT

In the past few months, the Golden Eagle Battalion has been very active. The Battalion has been busy with our Squad and Raider competitions, Christian Warriors, the starting of our Rifle and Drill Team practices. These teams will soon be starting competitions as well. However, those events aren’t the only things that our cadets and fine parents are involved in. Soon they will be leading the Sweetwater Parade scheduled for November 10th. The cadets of the Golden Eagle Battalion also had the opportunity to “strut their stuff ” during the annual squad competitions. The squad competition consists of at least six cadets having

their uniforms inspected and the marching of individual squads. Congratulations are due the winning squad, from Echo Company (6th Period). The squad was led by Private Luke McCoy, and consisted of Matt Stockton, Derrick Heath, Michael Kelsey, Chris Leary, and Charles Pendleton. The Raider Team of our Battalion participated in an annual competition in Catoosa County Georgia on September 21st through the 23rd. The Raiders also competed in a competition in Wilson County during Fall Break. Christian Warriors is held in the JROTC department during lunch every Tuesday and Thursday. Christian Warriors is open to all students—come to learn, pray, and be involved in Bible studies.

Rifle Team practices have started again as the Battalion shooters are attempting to keep the Regional trophy for the 3rd consecutive year. Rifle Team practices are every Monday and Wednesday. Competitions will be starting soon, too soon for some and not soon enough for others. The Golden Eagle Battalion also has a Drill Team that specializes in marching with regales. Practices should be starting soon and competitions shortly after that. The Pentathlon team has had a busy month with matches against Cumberland County, Cookeville, Clarkrange, York, White County and Clinton County, KY. They ended their regular season 3-3 (due to some injuries). All of the members had a great season.

PHOTO submitted

Private E-1 Luke McCoy reports for inspection in the recent JROTC squad competitions. McCoy’s squad, composed of Matt Stockton, Derrick Heath, Michael Kelsey, Chris Leary, and Charles Pendleton, won the competition.

PUMPKINFEST from Page 1 Skateboarding is an activity that seems to catch the attention of many Rhea County High students. “There were a lot of skateboarders skating and a lot of people dressed up at PumpkinFest last year,” commented Junior, Jesse Humbard. “It was fun. I would go again this year.” If you can’t get enough of Tennessee’s tasty fall treats then you will love the pumpkin pie eating competition at 6 p.m. Students, stop by and catch local bands performing between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on

Halloween night. Unlike the regular activities that characterize fall festivals, PumpkinFest Coordinator, Margie Wertz, geared this year’s event toward the interests of children and teens. “PumpkinFest is a festival that gives children of all ages alternative Halloween activities,” Wertz says. “I know last year there were a lot of teenagers that had a great time. For teenagers, there will be a climbing wall and henna tattoos. The shopping was great, too!” If you are looking for something different to sink your teeth into during Halloween, PumpkinFest is the place to be!

Photo Submitted

Leadership Class attends NATI Conference By NILAM PATEL NILAM@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

The Leadership class was able to meet with teens and adults from other states when they represented Tennessee at the National Association of Teen Institutes, also known as NATI, in Chatttanooga Choo Choo Center in Downtown Chattanooga on October 4th and 5th. The Leadership Class was requested by Carla Cates, a member of the NATI board of directors, to represent Tennessee at NATI. Cates is responsible for designing the conference format, structures, and systems and preparing slate of nominees for Board positions. Coach Holder, Leadership class teacher, remarked, “We were honored to represent Tennessee High School to be allowed to make presentations and do a workshop.” Key speakers for the conference were Milton Creagh and Blake McMeans. Milton Creagh is the national spokesperson for PRIDE Youth Programs. PRIDE Youth Programs are programs used to encourage teens for a safe and drug-free life. These programs are peer to peer used to encourage and educate people on drug-free and violence-free environ-

ments. Creagh addressed a few questions in his speech: What would happen if teens stepped a little outside their comfort zones in an effort to be true ambassadors for making smart choices? How would they impact their communities if the expanded their outreach beyond the boundaries they currently work within? Creagh stressed to everyone the importance of making the right decisions during moments that could be life-changing. The RCHS Leadership class opened for Blake McMeans, performing the skit “Turn Around.” This skit conveys a warning that one small bad choice leads to another and another until a person has ruined his life and his future. Blake McMeans spoke about the devastating consequences he faced after drinking and driving. He went from being ranked number four tennis player in the nation to being confined to a wheelchair. After his speech, he gave everyone the chance to sign a card and “promise” to never make the same decisions that he made.

Austin Peay State University – a Tennessee Board of Regents institution – is an equal opportunity employer committed to the education of a non-racially identifiable student body.

The RCHS Leadership class poses for a group picture at the National Association of Teen Institutes Annual Conference, held at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday inn on October 4th and 5th. The group heard several speakers, and performed a skit.

See the preview. Then decide. AP Day is your chance to preview life at Austin Peay. We’ll cover everything from admission standards to student life. You’ll have the chance to talk with students and faculty, tour campus buildings – and try our cafeteria food! (We promise, it’s really good.) We’re rolling out the red carpet from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CST), Saturdays, Oct. 20 and Nov. 3. Pick the date that works for you and your parents, then register at www.apsu.edu/APday.

The Eagle’s Nest • Halloween Edition • October 2007

Vocational classes rattle and hum Those sounds you hear from the west end of the building? Vocational classes are hard at work on a variety of projects! By ROCHELLE NORDYKE & LAUREN COLLINS ROCHELLE@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG LAUREN@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

Vocational classes are up and running this year, and they are working on new and exciting projects. Greenhouse class is raising ferns and pansies. Hydroponics class is in the process of planting lettuce beds, while Landscaping classes are working on the flower beds in front of the gym and near the football field. Photography classes are studying the principles of photography, and working on photographs. They will be working with Lifetouch soon for school portraits. While photography is working on capturing the moments of life, Cosmetology is working on beautifying them. Currently, they are being trained to know good hair from bad hair, and are going deep into the analytical process. Graphic Arts has been busy printing shirts for Volleyball, Cross Country, and Skills USA. Carpentry classes have been hard at work, building projects such as oak gun case, an activity table, a bookcase, a full-size bed, an oak armoire, a bookshelf and lots more. Culinary Arts classes are preparing for their Iron Chef competition coming up in a week or two, which is where the students are given an ingredient and are timed and judged to see who makes the best food. Students in Welding classes have been preparing to build smokers for late February or March.

PHOTO BY ROCHELLE NORDYKE

CAPSULE from Page 1 though it will not be officially buried until the following Monday, December 3rd. The capsule is about the size of a coffin and will hold different items from around the county. The RCHS Leadership class has been asked to select several items that relate to the high school and the students that attend. The class has not yet decided on everything that will go in the capsule, though they are sure that a 2006-07 Aerie yearbook, a 2007-08 Eagle’s Nest newspaper, a video of various school activities, a CD of photographs, and an RCHS T-shirt will be placed in the capsule. On December 3rd, 2106, one hundred years after the capsule’s burial, it will be dug up and opened. The items that the county supplied will be sent to the Dayton Courthouse, while the items that the Leadership class provided will be sent to RCHS for all of the students to see.

LEARNING from Page 1

PHOTO BY VICKI DEWITT

TOP: (left to right) Coach Heath helps Cody Jones and Dustin Cagle cut oak trim boards to face-frame an armoire in Carpentry class. ABOVE LEFT: Levi Coxey (left) and Laterris Donegan add topics to pizzas in Culinary Arts. ABOVE RIGHT: Adam Dotson welds a practice plate in Welding class, as Jon Finch looks on.

County moves ahead with plans for portable classrooms By STARR HOUSTON STARR@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

The process of getting our portable buildings has now been set into motion. A portable building committee that consists of Mr. Levengood, Rhea Central Elementary principal Mr. Keylon, and members from the county commission and school board has recently been formed. The committee will decide the site, location, and numbers of the portable buildings each school will get. The committee will be meeting within the next two weeks. Once the buildings are decid-

ed on and ordered, they should be delivered and ready to install in about eight weeks. Another step has been taken to quicken the progress of school additions and upgrades. After many meetings and much debate, the county commission has recently voted in favor of putting a half cent sales tax referendum on the voting ballet this coming election. This February, voters will be able to decide whether or not we special tax money will be set aside to improve our schools and help ease our growing crowding problems. You may think, “Pfft, what’s a half a cent going to help?” Those half-cents add up—the tax increase could generate up to $600,000 every year. The payout will have to be divided amount the other county schools, but that still adds up. All you seniors out there who have hit that magical age of 18, go out and vote. Vote for freedom! Vote for justice! Most of all, vote for walking room in the high school hallways!

offered through a network of partnerships that include Bryan College, Chattanooga State, Vanderbilt University and East Tennessee State University. According to Mr. Levengood, the distance learning equipment is scheduled to be operational by January 1st. However, it really won’t be phased into the curriculum until the 2008-09 school year. Mr. Levengood also said that the distance learning classroom will likely be located in either the new portable classrooms that are anticipated to arrive mid-spring semester or in a classroom vacated by the arrival of the portable buildings.

PHOTO BY RYAN SMITH

Fore wins sweatshirt design competition Mike Fore’s design was chose to appear on the Rhea County Touchdown Club’s new sweatshirts. For his efforts, Mike scored $50. The sweatshirts will be available for purchase at the Touchdown Club booth at home football games for $25.

The Eagle’s Nest • Halloween Edition • October 2007

Marching band closes out competition season By BROOKE SMITH BROOKE@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

The Rhea County marching band pumped up the volume this month in preparation for both the Cumberland County and Hixson competitions. They worked diligently in order to be able to give a top performance at both events. Aside from the normal tuesday and Thursday practices after school, the flag squad put in extra hours after practices and even some on the weekends. Everyone’s hard work paid off when they went to the competitions. The first competition they attended was the Cumberland County Marching Band Festival. The judges graded on a scale from one to five, one being the best. The band’s performance was good enough to receive one rat-

ings in all divisions. They also came home with a nice trophy! This performance prepared them for the tougher competition at Hixson the following weekend. The Hixson Choo-Choo Classic challenged them with stricter judges and tougher bands. This competition was also graded on a one to five scale. The band’s performance was excellent—however, they did not receive as good a score as they did the previous weekend. They received an overall two in every division except the color guard, which received a one. The band brought home a third place trophy. The band has done a wonderful job working hard and staying focused in able to perform at top notch. Congratulations to the Rhea County marching band for their superb performances!

PHOTO BY MR. FERRELL

Cory Smith (left) and Alex Brown are representing RCHS this year in Valley Voices, a journalism program sponsored by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Cory has been selected as co-editor this year.

Eagle’s Nest writers participate in youth journalism program By KARISSA LINDAHL KARISSA@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

Two students from our own Eagle’s Nest newspaper staff were chosen to participate in the annual Valley Voices program sponsored by the Chattanooga

Times Free Press. This program allows students to practice journalistic skills by researching and developing articles for publication in a real-life newspaper. High school students throughout Southeastern Tennessee and Northwest Geor-

Photo courtesy of the choo-choo classic

The Golden Eagle Marching Band takes the field at the Choo-Choo Classic in Hixson on October 6th. The band’s Grease show was a hit with football crowds throughout the season.

gia are chosen every year to participate. Students meet at the Chattanooga Times Free Press building three times a year to write an article they will contribute to the Life section of the newspaper. As a first year participant in the program, naturally Alex was nervous in the beginning, but soon felt comfortable around so many outgoing people. Cory is returning to the program for his second year. He has been selected to serve as co-editor this year, which is quite an honor. Being a member of Valley Voices helped him to meet new people and learn more about journalism. Look for Alex and Cory’s articles in the Life section of the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Monday, November 20th.

SENIORS College applications. Complete and submit early applications to four-year colleges and universities as soon as possible. (Be sure to include all application fees!) If you haven’t taken the ACT test yet, send in your applications anyway, to hold your spot in the queue. Colleges expect that scores will follow.

Take the fast track. If you bring your applications and appli-

cable fees to Mr. Ballentine, he will add a copy of your transcript and a cover letter, and send them on to the schools. This saves a step, since the colleges don’t have to contact the high school for your transcript—it all comes to them in one tidy package.

Dia de los muertos ¿Cómo celebras Halloween? Pues, en México hay una tradición muy larga e interesante. Aquí explicamos un poco mas referente al Dia de los Muertos. El Día de Muertos es una celebración mexicana de origen indígena mesoamericana que honra a los ancestros el 2 de noviembre, pero empezando desde el 1 de noviembre, y coincidiendo con las celebraciones católicas de Día de los Fieles Difuntos y Todos los Santos, respectivamente. Es primariamente una festividad mexicana y centroamericana, se celebra también en muchas comunidades de los Estados Unidos donde existe una gran población mexicana y centroamericana. Los orígenes de la celebración del Día de Muertos en México (Meshico, era la pronunciación indígena), pueden ser trazados hasta la época de los indígenas de Mesoamérica, tales como los aztecas, mayas, purépechas, nahuas y totonacas. Los rituales que celebran las vidas de los ancestros se realizaron por estas civilizaciones por lo menos desde hace 3.000 años. En la era prehispánica era común la práctica de conservar los cráneos como trofeos

GUIDANCE CORNER

y mostralos durante los rituales que simbolizaban la muerte y el renacimiento. El festival que se convirtió en el Día de Muertos era conmemorado el noveno mes del calendario solar azteca, cerca del inicio de agosto, y era celebrado durante un mes completo. Las festividades eran presididas por la diosa Mictecacíhuatl, conocida como la “Dama de la muerte” (actualmente relacionada con “la Catrina”, personaje de José Guadalupe Posada). Las festividades eran dedicadas a la celebración de los niños y las vidas de parientes fallecidos.

Escultura de "La Catrina"

La información viene de la Wikipedia, versión española—Este articulo viene cortesía de la clase de Español II Honors.

ACT registration. You must register before November 2nd to

take the next ACT test, which will be given on December 8th. This test is offered at Bryan College this time, so it’s close by. You can register online at actstudent.org, or pick up a packet in the Guidance office. If you haven’t used one yet, ask in Guidance about your free test voucher.

JUNIORS ASVAB debrief. Mr. Cross will be in History classes October 30th and November 1st to explain ASVAB scores.

ACT registration. Don’t wait until your senior year—take the

ACT early and see how you’ll do. For registration information, see the Senior note, above.

SOPHOMORES PLAN tests. Sophomores, you’ll be taking the PLAN test on November 7th and 8th. This is a pre-ACT test geared to the standard curriculum that will show you how your academic progress compares with other 10th graders across the nation.

Student Life Scared silly

Blatantly ignoring the advice of his dentist, Tyler Humphrey runs down the best and worst of Halloween goodies.

Candy Corn

An oldie, but a goody. What says “Halloween” better than little, corn-shaped pieces of candy made from sugar, corn syrup, and honey? It has the three ingredients necessary to give your sweet tooth the satisfaction that only comes once a year. It may not be the best tasting candy in the world, but with sugar content like that, who cares? And you usually get a lot of it. Sometimes you can come home with bags full of candy corn and it’s gone before you know it.

Apples, continued

Pennies, continued

apple? Not only does it not contain sugar, corn syrup, or honey, it contains fruit. Who wants to receive a fruit for Halloween? Plus, you always get that house that gives you a huge apple in the middle of the night. Then you have to go door to door lugging your bag that was already heavy, but is now unbearable due to the weight of the huge apple, because some health nut thought you would enjoy a piece of fruit for Halloween.

spend it in one place. And then your friend or brother walks up to the house and gets a quarter! Note to people giving away money/candy: At least be fair about it. Give everyone the same amount. Or at least close to the same amount.

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Candy Money

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Caramel Apples

Twizzlers

Mmm . . . chewy, licoricey stick things. These are a very clever marketing technique. What kid doesn’t enjoy red sugar sticks wrapped together into one? And you can also rebel against your parents by playing with your food before you eat it. The taste and presentation may be good, but they are rather simple.

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These, on the other hand, I like. Apples on a stick. That’s cool enough for me. I mean, how do you get an apple on a stick? Even better, though, are apples covered in caramel on a stick! They may be heavy like their predecessor, but at least you want to lug these around because you can’t wait to bite into the caramelly goodness.

I like these. I like these a lot. Pieces of chocolate wrapped in foil to look like gold coins. What’s not to love? It has all the fun of money—well, almost all the fun of money—and all of the abilities of chocolate to give you a sugar rush. And they usually come in different variations. Some houses will give you milk chocolate, some dark, some chocolately crunch, and if you go to a really good house, they may even give you all three! These tokens of Halloween joy are definitely a favorite of mine. Rating:

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Pennies

Apples

Honestly, who wants to go trick or treating and get an

I realize that people like to kill two birds with one stone by giving kids their loose change and not having to purchase anything to hand out on Halloween, but pennies are most definitely one of my least favorite Halloween goodies, well, not-so-goodies in this case. I especially hate the people that give you one penny and then say, “Don’t spend it all in one place!” like it is physically possible not to

Bubble Gum

Everyone loves bubble gum! It’s a classic! When you hit the right houses, you can sometimes get enough bubble gum to hurt your jaw for weeks. When you hit the wrong houses, you’ll end up with a bunch of cheap pink-powdered nonsense that turns hard and flavorless within five minutes. Rating:

Eagle’s Nest staff members reveal movies that have scared the proverbial pants off them in the past. The Thing

Snickers

My personal favorite. It takes chocolate, nougat, peanuts, and caramel and mixes them into one candy bar to rule them all. As soon as I see one of these beauties drop into my basket on Halloween night, I’m ready to go home and feast on the chocolatey ecstasy that is a Snickers bar. Mars Candies certainly knew what they were doing when they released this treat to the public. Rating:

Chick-O-Sticks

If any name could prevent me from enjoying anything sweet, it would have to be Chick-OSticks. They may be peanut buttery and sweet, but when I’m eating candy, I don’t want to be thinking of chicken—not to mention the picture of the chicken in a cowboy’s hat and badge on the wrapper. Note to candy companies: never name your candy based on the fact that it looks like an orange chicken leg. However, they are rather tasty in a sort of stick-gunk-inyour-teeth Butterfingery way, so they’re not all bad. Rating:

(John Carpenter, 1982) O man, O man, did this movie creep me out when I was in high school! Carpenter’s re-figuring of the 1950s a l i e n - l i fe - for m takes-over-remotearctic-outpost plot had ground-breaking special effects for its day. That guy’s melted off, upside down head turning into an alien spider-crab was the craziest thing I had ever seen, and by the time Kurt Russell was scraping a hot wire through petri dishes of his companions’ blood testing for alien go-juice, my nerves were completely frazzled. —Mr. Ferrell

Night of the Living Dead (George A. Romero, 1968) This movie scared the crud out of me when I watched the first time. Though not the first zombie movie ever filmed, Living Dead redefined the way zombie movies were made and certainly popularized the genre. I can remember sitting in my room in the dark, of course, and thinking, “What’s the big deal? This isn’t that scary.” But then, when Barbra goes down into the basement of her farmhouse and finds a zombified version of her daughter feasting on the flesh of the dead body of her husband, I lost it. From that point on, the movie scared me to death. If you want to check this movie out, just go to Google Video. The copyright has run out and now you can watch it for free! —Tyler Humphrey

The Exorcist (William Friedkin, 1973) Horror movies do not usually frighten me, but this movie scared me to death. When my Mom first told me that this was an actual horror movie, like most old scary movies were, I decided to find out for myself. Man, was she right. I can see why she wouldn’t watch it with me. The second Regan literally see MOVIES page 6

The Eagle’s Nest • Halloween Edition • October 2007

Extreme Pumpkins

Spider’s Victim

You should have thought of these, but didn’t. That’s okay—the fine folks at extremepumpkins.com have got you covered. The puking pumpkin at left is only one of the insane Jack-o’-lantern ideas you’ll find there. While you’re there, be sure to check out the “Candy Traps” section—we’re especially fond of the trash can disguise. caution: Some of these projects contain flame elements that would best be left to others, or at least built with adult supervision.

Got some time and ambition? Why not build a gruesome webbed guy to hang from a tree in your yard? Begin with a frame like this example at Alba Weinman’s Web site (alba_56.homestead.com/SpidersVictim.html), or use the cheap 5’ plastic Big Lots skeletons for a base. Add lots of batting, maybe a giant web woven from clothesline, and some spider accessories for a creepy prop. For extra fun, have a friend “twitch” it around with some fishing line!

Monster Cupcakes

Pumpkin Stencils

Wendy at wisdomofthemoon.blogspot.com has a Flickr photoset of some awesome monster cupcakes she made with her kids using all kinds of candies for decorations— Laffy Taffy for tongues and tentacles, marshmallows and mini chocolate chips for eyes, and so on. If you’re not into cupcakes yourself, this might be a fun project to help a younger brother or sister with. Go grab some candy and get creative!

If you’re not feeling particularly artistic, grab some stencils to help you carve your pumpkin! Zombiepumpkins.com has high-quality stencils for cash. ($2 for two—as low as $5 for unlimited access.) You can also find some decent free patterns at pumpkinlady.com and (believe it or not!) Hersheys.com (hersheys.com/trickortreats/activities/stencils.asp). You might want to pick up some carving tools at Wal-Mart or somewhere, too.

Paper Stuff Print, cut, fold, and glue your way to Halloween papercraft nirvana! This contemporary paper skull can be found at Skulladay. com (skulladay.blogspot.com/2007/08/72papercraft-skull-with-articulated.html). The Ravensblight Toyshop (ravensblight.com/papertoys.html) has paper masks, coffin gift boxes, dancing skeletons, flying bats, pocket monsters . . . the works. The Eagle’s Nest recommends printing on card stock, cutting with an X-Acto knife, and gluing with rubber cement, the king of glues!

MOVIES from Page 5 bent backwards into her spiderwalk was when I just lost it. The head spinning, the demonic voices from a 12-year-old girl—this movie will be sure to freak you out. Watch it in the dark by yourself. You will feel your skin crawl. —Lauren Collins

Jurassic Park (Steven Spielberg, 1993) Now that I look back, it was totally irrational of me to be afraid of this film. But seriously, these huge meat-eating lizards running rampant? Eating people? Who wouldn’t be scared if that really happened? When I first saw that at age five, that idea was very scary. I remember for weeks not being able to go to the bathroom when it was raining and dark out. I was scared to death that Trex was going to rip my roof off and get me. —Cory Smith

Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978) C’mon, who doesn’t love a freakishly strong guy in a white mask with a mullet? I think deep down we can all relate to Michael Myers. He’s just a poor guy who had a troubling childhood, and then he was sent away to a mental ward. He was misunderstood, I tell ya. All he wanted to do was come home for the holidays and pay a visit to his sister. The poor guy ends up being shot six times by a man who claims to be his doctor. Who doesn’t love a story like that? No one, that’s who. That’s why this is my all time favorite, hands down. —Alex Green

The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980) Adapted from one of Stephen King’s best-selling horror novels, this supernatural thriller had me glued to the couch throughout the whole movie. Jack and Wendy Torrance, along with their clair-

Too lazy to type all these links? Find the complete list online at the Eagle’s Nest web site—rchseaglesnest.org!

voyant son Danny, become caretakers of an isolated hotel that has paranormal horrors lurking within. The overall atmosphere of the movie is just plain eerie and the characters are bizarre. I can never forget Danny Torrance’s words, “Redrum, Redrum, Redrum,” that always seem to send a chill right through me. This is a frightening film, and it has had the same impact on me every time I watch it. —Sarah Heath

Coneheads (Steve Barron, 1993) Honestly, I have no clue why this movie scared me when I was small— or why it still does to this day. At first, I thought it was their pointy heads, but now that I look back on it, I’m pretty sure it’s Dan Aykroyd. His movies have always scared me to death. (My Girl—the bees part; My Girl 2; The Blues Brothers—when that car crashed through the road . . . that left scars; Nothing But Trouble; and Ghostbusters) Although Coneheads is not

a classic horror film, I guarantee that I will dash out the back door if I run into it channel surfing. Dan Aykroyd is a scary man. —Alex Brown

nights to come in fear of looming fratricide, then this is the picture for you. —Starr Houston

Fall of the House of Usher

(Elizabeth Allen, 1996) So what? You caught me—this movie might not be particularly considered a horror movie, but that’s the way I like to think of it. I was on a rather long plane ride when I was ambushed by this movie. To thirteen-year-old girls, this might have been the film of the year, but to me it was nothing short of a horror movie. For one hundred minutes I was forced to watch a movie where the plot centered around two girls trying help a mermaid find true love. I tried to close my eyes and ignore the movie, but it was no use. It was like a train wreck you just can’t look away from. It was horrible. The only thing that could have saved this monster movie was the fact the mermaid was somewhat attractive. But even that wasn’t enough. —Eric Bailey

(Roger Corman, 1960) Ah, classic horror inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. This movie is loosely based on the short story of the same name, but has the added bonus of a romantic entanglement between the hero and Usher’s sister, Madeline. This is the kind of film that you need to watch in the middle of the night for full effect, but it’s well worth the late night. It inspires horror in a way only a classic can. It combines an actual plot (Not many horror movies have those now days.) with good acting and ridiculously gut wrenching music. The scene that gets to me the most is when the damsel in distress is clawing her way out of a coffin complete with torn and bloody nails. Can you say ouch? If your looking for a movie that will keep you up for restless

Aquamarine

The Eagle’s Nest • Halloween Edition • October 2007

Cooper’s Dark Rising enjoyable fantasy BOOK REVIEW by Julius Smith

Inspired by Walden Media’s new movie, The Seeker: The Dark is Rising, I set out to read the novel that inspired the film. What I discovered was a swift paced story with a classic good-versus-evil (or in this case, Light-versus-Dark) plot. Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising is the second in her fantasy series. Don’t worry—reading the first book is not required to understand the story line. The adventure takes place in the countryside of modern-day England, medieval England, and Anglo-Saxon England. That’s

right, instead of a typical journey across land, this tale travels mostly through time. Most people are able to relate to the main character, Will Stanton, who lives overshadowed by siblings in a whopping family of twelve. And you thought you didn’t get enough attention. On his eleventh birthday, Will learns that he is the last of the Old Ones, an order devoted to serve and protect the Light. He also has been charged with the role of the Sign-Seeker. His destiny is to (you guessed it) seek out and unite the six ancient Signs so as to help keep the forces of Darkness at bay. Ceaselessly pursued by a mysterious servant of the Dark known only as the Rider, Will must journey through the centuries to find these ancient weapons of the

Old Ones. Prophecies will be fulfilled and the deepest betrayals will be made. The story all builds up to a climatic, almost apocalyptic ending. Neither side holds back in what might be one of the greatest showdowns in history. The Dark is Rising is obviously intended for a younger audience, and the characters seem unrealistic and flat at times. Despite these weaknesses, Susan Cooper manages to create her own unique mythology. The action moves quickly through until the very end, and in hindsight the story is quite meaningful. The book awakens the imagination and captivates your inner child. For anyone wanting to enjoy a truly individual fantasy, this book will meet your needs.

Touch your music If you were amazed by the arrival of Apple’s iPhone last year, you probably were just as excited to see the recent unveiling of the iPhone’s little brother, the iPod Touch.

GADGET REVIEW by Eric Bailey

The iPod Touch is one of four new iPods released earlier this month. It costs $299 for an 8 GB model and $399 for the 16 GB model. These devices use the same multi-touch interface as the iPhone. They feature a sharp 3.5-inch screen on which you can view photos, watch videos, and browse your music library using Apple’s Cover Flow interface. The iPod Touch’s Wi-Fi capabilities let you browse the Web using the Safari web browser, and purchase music from the iTunes music store. Obviously, you can’t make phone calls on the iPod Touch— but it also lacks other hardware features found on the more expensive devices, such as a camera, Bluetooth, external volume

IMAGE COURTESY OF APPLE

control and external speakers. iPhone applications that could have easily been included are also absent. You’ll find no email or note-taking software, for instance. The iPod Touch has also been reported to have poorer video quality then that of the iPhone, however this may be fixed by a Firmware update. Another disadvantage is found with the Wi-Fi web browser. Since the Touch’s wireless internet does not support Flash, many web sites will not work correctly. Overall, the iPod Touch is a great new addition to Apple’s iPod lineup. Unfortunately, the Touch could have a hard time competing with the other new iPods: the iPod Nano is just as small, the iPod Classic holds ten times as much media for a cheaper price, and the iPhone has many more features. If you can not live without a touch screen, and need to have a wireless Internet browser in you pocket 24/7, then the iPod Touch is your answer. If you are like me, though, and you just want to enjoy your music and you couldn’t care less about a flashy device, you might want to consider other options.

Animoto’s online service makes it easy to create “professionally produced” music videos from photos that you upload from your computer, or have stored online—in a Facebook album, for instance.

Create a personal music video with Animoto If you saw the homecoming video on The Eagle’s Nest web site (rchseaglesnest.org), you might be wondering how to make a similar video on your own. The good news is that they’re not hard to make. Animoto.com lets you combine your own photos and music to create a customized video slide show. You can upload pictures and music from your computer or find them from any other sites on the Web. (Note: Make sure you have permission to use the pictures and music.) They also provide music for you to use if you would like. Photos can easily be copied through Animoto’s interface from sites like Flickr, Facebook, and Picasa. You’ll want to make sure your pictures are cropped and adjusted the way you’d like (color balance, brightness, contrast, etc.), but once they’re uploaded, you can reorder and rotate them. A “spotlight” button on the

TECH TOOLS by Eric Bailey

image interface lets you choose pictures for the slideshow to pay extra attention to. The site has limited libraries of music to choose from—Indie Rock, Electronica, and Hip Hop selections. You can find other royalty-free music on sites like freeplaymusic.com, podsafeaudio.com and magnatune.com. Once you’ve decided on pictures and music, the site automatically makes a video for you. (This can take a while for longer slideshows, depending on how busy the site is.) You can make as many 30-second videos as you’d like. Longer videos cost a reasonable $3.00 a pop. You can also purchase an All-Access Pass, which allows you to make as many video projects that you want to in a year, which will run you $30.00. After you view your brandnew slideshow, you have a choice

to “remix” the slideshow to create an entirely new one—according to the site, no two videos are ever the same. You can “remix” your slide show (even the $3.00 versions) as many times as you want. Your completed videos are stored on the site, and you can easily add them to your Facebook profile or MySpace page, or embed them on a Web page or email them to friends. Soon, you’ll even be able to download them to your computer, put them on your iPod, or send them to a cell phone! If you’re not sure what you’re doing, or just want some tips, be sure to punch the Help button for easy-to-understand directions.

Videos you create are stored on Animoto’s site, and you can “remix” them as many times as you want.

The Eagle’s Nest • Halloween Edition • October 2007

Haunted House Roundup All Hallows’ Eve is just a few evenings away and Alex Brown has intrepidly toured a few area haunted attractions. Here are her impressions. Sir Goony’s Haunted Carni- of $15 includes a haunted barn, The Enchanted Maze by haunted maze, and haunted hay- Rock City— “Forest of val Ghoul School II Fear” Personally, the carnival theme ride. creeped me out. If you are terrified of clowns and the like, Ghoul School is your place to be frightened. The Christmas theme was a bit lame and the ooze was disappointing, but they will begin scaring you the moment you line up until you rush out the exit door. The characters put on a great show and entertained you through every room. “The clowns had tasers and chainsaws with roller blades coming at you. For real they did! I liked the dude with the machete,” said freshman, Samantha Keylon. Admission is only $15 and includes 18 holes of haunted golf. Ghoul School begins selling tickets at 7 and is open for business every night through October 31st. (423) 892-5922

Haunted Hilltop For your money, this attraction is most worth it. Come on guys, a portion goes to the “Christmas for Kids” foundation. Haunted Hilltop features the most activities for the small price they charge. The cheap admission

The haunted barn has many twists and turns that will freak you out and have you yanking on the person’s shirt in front of you. The characters performed well and guided you through the barn, so that you would not lose your way. Haunted Hilltop has a bonfire that puts you in the autumn spirit. I do recommend going on a Friday night rather than a Saturday night. On Saturdays there may be up to a two hour wait to get up the hill. The people were friendly and seemed to benefit a great cause. “The hayride was the best. There was so much to do and everything was great except these dang little girls who had already been through, and kept telling me where everything was going to pop up. That ruins it. The haunted house was great, though,” commented freshman, Brandi Wilkey. Haunted Hilltop is open every Friday and Saturday night in October, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting until at least 1a.m. Catch the fireworks at 9p.m. on Halloween night! You can find the Hilltop at 8235 Hwy 58 in Harrison. (423) 488-3956

This event is entirely worth the drive to Chattanooga. If you are interested in this attraction, there are a few things you need to remember: Always bring a flashlight— the traditional maze is very dark at night and there are a few twists to find your way out. Do not try to reach the finish or escape the maze by trampling over the corn stalks! Believe me, I’ve tried this twice and was scolded by Freddy Kreuger. The characters don’t like the corn field damaged. The “Forest of Fear” is guaranteed to scare your socks off and send even the men in the group trembling to the back— take my 24-year-old cousin K.C.’s word for it! Students will love the rock/ alternative bands entertaining the crowd during the night and bluegrass bands picking during the day. A combo package can be purchased for the traditional corn maze and the “Forest of Fear,” for $15. The Enchanted Maze by Rock City can stay open until 10 p.m. depending on the day of the week. “Forest of Fear” begins at dark. (706) 820-2531

Jimmy Dean’s globetrotting (globescootering?) continues, and October finds him in a truly exotic locale! Same as before, squint your eyes and try to identify the pixelated location shown in the photo above. Make your guess, then submit your answer to the drop box in the library, using one of the entry slips provided. (It’s on top of the card catalog--you remember...that things with all the trays of little cards that have book titles on them? Yeah, that.) The deadline for entries is Wednesday, November 7th, and spelling counts on this one, so be careful, okay? One entry, drawn at random from all the correct entries received, will win a $15 iTunes Music Store gift card!

Sports Green narrowly misses third title By RYAN SMITH RYAN@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

For the third straight year, Rhea County High School golfer Hunter Green’s name was on top of the leader board at the TSSAA Golf Tournament at the end of regulation. Like his previous visits to the Old Fort Golf Course in Murfreesboro, Green finished the 36-hole tournament tied for the lead, but, unlike his previous endeavors, he would not walk away state champion. Green began the tournament

hot by birdying six out of his first seven holes. He finished the front nine with a six under score of 30, which was enough to shatter the old school record of 31 that he had tied on numerous occasions. It is only fitting that in his last tournament of his high school career Green was finally able to break this record. He would go on to finish day one of the tournament with a relatively disappointing five under score of 68. Green began the second and final day of the tournament with

the lead; his second round, however, was a roller coaster. When he was down as far as three strokes on the back nine, the back-to-back state champion was poised to perform another magical comeback, and show why he is undoubtedly the best golfer in the state of Tennessee. By birdying three out of the last five holes, Green was able force a three-way playoff. Due to his play in clutch situations during the past two state tournaments, the odds looked to be in Green’s favor.

After a well hit drive, his second shot missed to the right of the green, leaving him a chip and a putt to force another playoff hole with Houston High School’s Andrew Miller. After his chip, though, Green’s par putt proved to be off the mark, and Miller walked away with the victory. Green, a fierce competitor, was obviously disappointed with his loss. “I played with all I had,” Green said, later. “It just wasn’t my best performance. I just didn’t catch the breaks I needed to over this

tournament, but I guess that you can’t win them all.” He may not have won the state title his senior year, but Hunter Green will still go down as one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Rhea County High School. He was voted all-state three out of his four years, and won two state championships. Though he has been contacted by multiple SEC schools, Hunter still remains undecided about his future, but, wherever he decides to go, he is sure to continue his success.

Lady Eagles soccer team looks forward to growth By SARAH HEATH SARAH@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

PHOTO BY ERIC BAILEY

Golden Eagles rush towards a kickoff during the September 21st Homecoming game against Brainerd. Unfortunately, the team suffered a 15-40 loss that night.

Marching toward playoffs By ALEX GREEN ALEXG@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

A chill has settled over Rhea County, at last heralding the long awaited arrival of Fall. On any given Friday Night, Eagle Stadium is filled with the Rhea County faithful as they assemble to cheer on their beloved Golden Eagles. The team has given the locals something to cheer about as well. The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 3-0 record to begin

this football season. After a huge win in Soddy Daisy, the Eagles stumbled at home against an impressive Brainerd team and fell again the next week to a stubborn McMinn County club. The Fighting Fitzgeralds rebounded the following week, though, and they came up with a big win on the road at Walker Valley. The team followed up the win with another ‘W’ in the stat col-

umn against Chattanooga Central. This win pushed the Eagles to 5-2, and they prepared to host a tough Red Bank opponent the following week. The Green Shirts played well, but the Red Bank team came off of Bill Horton Field with a win. The Eagles prepare to close out the regular season strong with a home game against rival Cleveland and a road trip to White County.

The end of another season is here for the Lady Eagles soccer team and though it may not have been a victorious one, it was a great start for such a young team. Throughout the season all of the girls have remained positive and embraced the challenges they have faced with perseverance and determination. This soccer team is bound to be great next year with the work-ethic and drive for success that each of these girls possess. In the Lady Eagles’ last game, they faced Chattanooga Central and competed in a fair fight that ended in a loss of 2-0. A district play-in against McMinn County followed the team’s last game. Everyone gave it their all and it was not until the last 3 minutes of the first half that McMinn scored a goal. The Lady Eagles ended up being defeated 5-0. Though they lost, it was a great improvement from the 9-0 loss they suffered against McMinn County earlier in the season. After the game, the op-

posing team’s coach Bobby Earls asked Coach Heath’s permission to talk the girls; he told the team that he noticed much improvement from the last game. Earls also encouraged everyone to keep working in the offseason on individual ball skill. He ended his speech by complimenting the team and saying that the Lady Eagles have the best sportsmanship out of all the other teams that McMinn County has played against. Though all of the games for this season are over with, that certainly does not mean that practice is at an end. “If the team wants to be competitive next year,” said Coach Heath, “then everyone needs to work at improvement in the off season.”—which is exactly what the team is going to be doing beginning on November 26th, when the team’s open practices will begin. Everyone seems very enthusiastic about their aspiration to take another step towards the glory of this team. The future of RCHS soccer is surely bright, success is just something that takes time and hard work.

Volleyball team pulls together through difficult season By NILAM PATEL NILAM@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

The Volleyball team has had a rocky start, but the team refused to be discouraged. Volleyball played about fifteen games this year, and were hoping to finish big. The most recent big win was against Cumberland High School. Although their losses overshadowed their perseverance and

determination to win, the girls never gave up. Senior Brittany Rothfolk says, “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, but how you play the game.” All the players practiced and tried their hardest, but two players who did exceptionally well are Hannah Travis and Mikayla Gilespi, who both are juniors. Both girls are a huge asset to the team. according to some of

their teammates. Hannah Travis has good hits and Mikayla Gilespi has good serves. Also, the Volleyball team had to adjust with the placement of new coaches and new players. They did really good and will be ready to win next season. Coach Ray and Coach Perry both think that the players played well together.

Even though volleyball season is officially over, the girls are anxious to start preparing for next year. For next season, the Volleyball team have coaches ready— Head Coach Ray and Assistant Coach Perry—and a team that wants to get to the top. The Volleyball team hopes to see more RCHS students on the bleachers for support and encouragement.

photo courtesy of RCHS aerie staff

Hannah Travis sets up her teammates in a recent home volleyball match.

Fish & Field Low deer harvest blamed on disease, weather By MR. FERRELL FERRELL@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

Hunters across the state are reporting lower harvests at the beginning of deer season this year. By this time in 2006, hunters had taken over 12,000 deer, compared with only about 8,000 so far this year. Many claim the difference is due to outbreaks of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD, often called “Bluetongue”), which has taken a heavy toll on deer populations through several states this summer. Some say Tennessee has seen its worst outbreak in decades. According to some, the deer population in Rhea County is down almost 40%. EHD is a viral disease carried to deer by small biting flies. The disease causes fever, respiratory distress, and swelling of the neck and tongue. Infected deer are likely to lose their appetites and become lame before they either recover or succumb and die. Despite its apparent severity this year, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says that outbreaks of the disease are a routine occurrence in the white-tailed deer population, and cannot spread to humans or even other animals. “Although it is unfortunate, EHD dieoffs are part of a completely natural cycle that has been occurring for eons. The

2007-08 Deer Seasons & Bag Limits Season Type

deer obviously deal with it, we must deal with it as well,” says TWRA Big Game Coordinator Daryl Ratajczak. Although disease outbreaks are certainly dramatic, Ratajczak cites another likely reason for the lower than normal harvest so far—the unseasonable heat. “The past few weeks have been unseasonably warm and a lot of hunters you talk to aren’t even going,” he says. “It’s just too darned hot.” Another factor may be the scarcity of food for the deer. Due to the heat, aacorns haven’t fallen from the trees. TWRA representatives are planning to keep a closer eye on checking stations during the opening weekends of muzzleloader and gun seasons, to look for signs of EHD and try to determine its overall effect on Tennessee’s herd. “There are ways to tell if a deer contracted the disease,” Ratajczak says, “lesions in the mouth, mangled hooves, and we’ll be able to check either yes or no that a deer had it.” According to the TWRA, deer that show signs of having contracted EHD and survived are still safe to eat. Ultimately, frost will kill the flies that carry the disease, and the outbreak will end. The TWRA expects to have some idea of its impact after the season closes in January.

Season Dates

Muzzleloader and Archery

Nov. 3–Nov. 9, 2007

Dec. 3–Dec. 9, 2007

Gun, Muzzleloader, and Archery

Nov. 17–Dec. 2, 2007 Dec. 15, 2007–Jan. 6, 2008

Young Sportsman

see note*

Oct. 27–Oct. 28, 2007

Jan. 12–Jan. 13, 2008

*complete information can be found on page 26 of the 2007 Tennessee Hunting & Trapping Guide. You can download a copy in PDF format here: http://www.state.tn.us/twra/ pdfs/huntguide.pdf

Statewide buck bag limit: 3 antlered deer

Fish & Field needs YOU! If you love the outdoors— hunting, fishing, hiking, camping— Charlie Wooden wants to hear from you! She’s looking for photos of that great catch or kill, but more than that, she wants stories! If you’ve got anything for her, you can contact her at charlie@rchseaglesnest.org, or catch her during school— you don’t have to send her a report; just let her know you’ve got a story for her. She’ll handle the rest!

Ok, it’s Fall, when the leaves are falling off the trees and you can see miles around in the woods without all that greenery getting in the way—finally squirrel hunting at its best! I found this recipe for all you squirrel hunters, in case y’all would like to try your cooking skills. —Charlie

Bacon-Fried Squirrel 4 servings

4 young squirrels, each cut into 6 to 8 pieces ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ½ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ cup all-purpose flour 8 slices bacon, chopped ¼ cup onion, sliced 2 celery stalks, sliced 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, minced 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Ethan Vanghn caught this fish on Evensville Mountain back in May, using a white deep little crankbait. Ethan was used a cranking stick with a Ambassador 6500 reel to catch this 8 pound 7 ounce beauty. Way to go Ethan!

Sept. 22–Oct. 26, 2007 Oct. 29–Nov. 2, 2007 Nov. 10–Nov. 16, 2007 Dec. 10–Dec. 14, 2007

Sportsm

Ethan Vaughn

Antlerless Bag Limit

Archery (includes crossbows)

T H G I L SPOT

Antlered Bag Limits

2 cups chicken broth 4 cups warm cooked rice Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder and flour. Dredge squirrels in flour mixture. Cook bacon in a heavy skillet over medium heat until browned. Fry squirrel pieces in bacon grease until medium brown. Add remaining ingredients except rice and reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook for about 1½ hours or until squirrel pieces are tender. Serve with warm rice.

Editorial Perspective:

For whom the lunchbell tolls By ALEX GREEN ALEXG@RCHSEAGLESNEST.ORG

It’s a simple request: pick up after yourself. It’s something that we’ve been taught to do since we were children, but somehow, there are hundreds of high school students who don’t seem to understand the concept. It’s really quite simple. When you get through with whatever you’re eating or drinking, put the trash in a trash can. Simple. I’m beginning to believe, however, that there are students here that for some reason can’t wrap their minds around this concept. Maybe it’s that they’re too busy to pick up their trash. I guess that when you have to meet your gossip buddies to talk about how that girl is talking to that guy that she just broke up with, your priorities can become a little skewed, and the trash is just somehow forgotten. Maybe when you and your friends decide to neglect the point of throwing

Let me inform you, friend, that just things away, you somehow create the nobecause you don’t want to do something tion in your mind that simply stacking all productive with your time, it doesn’t of the garbage in a random corner is just mean that others wish to regress back to a good enough. I don’t know how our school is left in lunch schedule that confines our time and freedom to an allotted the condition it is after thirty minutes of lunch lunch, but the fact of the matter is that it’s The bottom line is that and an hour and a half of sad, and it shows the we’re all in this together, class time. I believe that I can say incredible laziness of a and your actions affect with confidence that there portion of our student me, and mine you. are more students than body. not here that appreciate Then again, maybe a one-hour lunch and the it’s not just laziness. benefits that come with Maybe it’s that there are people in our hallways at lunch- it. I know that as some of you are reading time who just have absolutely no respect this, you’re thinking, “Well who is he to for their school and their peers. You don’t play intramural sports, why tell me all that?” and, “That’s right, I don’t should you care if we go back to four care, so I’ll do what I want to.” How noble of you to consider no one lunches? but yourself. And why should you considYou don’t choose to become involved er others? I mean, it’s not like this lunch in any lunchtime activity, so why does deal is affecting everyone, because you’re it matter if we go back to the old lunch the only one that matters aren’t you? schedule?

“

”

If you’re going to think like that here, why not carry that attitude over to the real world? When you’re out on the road driving, just cut across two lanes of traffic, and you go ahead and run that red light, because we want you to get what you want, and that’s all that matters. Well unfortunately for you, it doesn’t work that way. If you show society the same disrespect that you show your school and your peers, you’ll end up paying for your selfish actions. The bottom line is that we’re all in this together, and your actions affect me, and mine you. You guys out there who don’t care if we keep our lunch, have some respect for the rest of us and at least pick up after yourself and don’t leave a mess for someone else. I ask on behalf of everyone who likes the one-hour lunch—don’t ruin it for the rest of us.

The Eagle's Nest R H E A C O U N T Y H I G H S C H O O L’ S S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R

Alex Green Editor Cory Smith Matthew Price Layout Nilam Patel Alex Brown Business Managers

Lauren Collins Victoria Dewitt Sarah Heath Photo Editors Tyler Humphrey Brooke Smith Puzzle Editors Julius Smith Archivist

Eric Bailey Will Garrison Starr Houston Rochelle Nordyke Ryan Smith Karissa Lindahl Reporters-at-large Jeff Ferrell Adviser

George Hudson Adviser Emeritus

The Eagle’s Nest 405 Pierce Rd. Evensville, TN 37332 Phone: (423) 775-7821 Fax: (423) 775-7889 Email: info@rchseaglesnest.org Web site: http://www.rchseaglesnest.org

Just for Fun ACROSS 3 Mad scientists often have one of these in a jar somewhere. 7 Probably the most well-known vampire of all time. The novel was written by Irishman Bram Stoker. 8 A big pot, often found surrounded by Shakespearian witches. 9 _____ for apples, a tradition that never ceases to be fun and unsanitary for all who partake of it. 13 Best bullets for werewolves. 14 These are good for biting with.

SQUATS

A comic adventure by will garrison, tyler humphrey, and julius smith

16 Mr. Wilkey may say that it isn’t a color, but this is certainly a popular “pigment” to wear on Halloween. 17 Trees are often festooned with this around Halloween. 20 The prize that is usually won by knocking on a stranger’s door and screaming “Trick or Treat!” 23 TVs famous “Zone” where almost anything was possible.

4 Flying mouse often associated with spooks. 5 He may look a bit ragged, but he’s got quite a grip! 6 An animated dead body, usually out for blood or brains. 7 A good place to keep people you don’t like, or store monsters. 10 Who? Who? 11 A popular children’s game involves ghosts in this. 12 He made hockey masks cool again.

24 Mystery-solving dog.

13 Bones with the human removed.

26 A famous raven croaked this throughout a poem that people find creepy for some reason.

15 A style of fiction writing that combines both horror and romance.

28 The spirit of a dead person.

18 A “household ghost” known for loud, annoying disturbances. Might indicate the presence of an ancient Indian burial ground.

29 A fancy grave. 30 An elaborate disguise worn either to go trick-or-treating or to Halloween parties 31 These tools are often used for massacres.

DOWN 1 These may seem menacing when they’re muttering chants and spells at you, but throw a bucket of water on them and they melt just like ice cream. 2 “IT’S ALIIIIIIIIIVE!” were famous words he shouted when his monster was struck by lightning, bringing it to life.

19 This would be the most realistic substitute for a human, if it only had a brain. 21 Vampire refuge. 22 The terrible, murderous alternate personality of Dr. Jekyll. 24 People find these critters scary all the time, never mind at Halloween. 25 An object that you carve shapes into its face to make decorations for Halloween. 27 Full, this can be romantic. Or creepy, if it’s Halloween.