Sterling Cub Reporter: December 2017

CUB REPORTER

Sterling High School | Volume 4 | Issue 3 | December 2017

WINTER WORKERS Pg. 8

Superintendent Spotlight Pg. 4

A Cheerful Christmas

Behavior Mania Pg. 7

Pg. 12

Sterling High School |

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| December 2017

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EDITORIAL

www.sterlingstudentpublications.com 308 E. Washington, Sterling, KS 67579 Phone: 620-278-2171 • Fax: 620-278-3237

STAFF EDITORS: • McKiah San Miguel • Grace Rowland REPORTERS: • Morgan Anderson • Natalie Nichols • Andy Norez • Taya Wilson • Kaylie Zimmerman ADVISER: • Todd Vogts GRAPHIC ARTISTS: • SHS Graphic Design Class ADVERTISING SALES: • Sterling Publications Staff

POLICIES The Sterling High School Cub Reporter and all subsidiary publications are designated forums of free speech. The print edition is published October through May of each school year by the journalism class at Sterling High School. It is distributed for no charge throughout Unified School District 376 buildings and the Sterling community. The first copy is free. Subsequent copies will cost $1 per copy. For information about being added to the subscription list, contact Todd Vogts at 620-278-2171. Letters to the editor are welcome. Email them to journalism@usd376.com. All letters must be signed. Anonymous letters will not be printed. All letters subject to editing for legal, grammatical and factual reasons.

ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO Sophomore Shelby Drier takes care of a dog while working at the vet during her weekend shift.

(Photo by Morgan Anderson)

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Stay active, student athletes

Sterling High School relies on three sport athletes to support and enhance our academics and sport curricula.

Without these athletes we struggle to make programs to what they could potentially be. Some athletes play only one sport because they so easily give up on trying to excel into multiple, for example. If an athlete goes out for volleyball, but not basketball because of their stronger skills in volleyball it could show in the basketball season as well due to the athlete thinking selfishly rather than for the team and season.

Not only is this for sports but also for academics such as Forensics and Debate. Debate takes a lot of skills which could also be extremely helpful in Forensics, and for students who have experience and do both we rely on them to pull through for the rest of the team.

Whereas if a student chooses to go out for only Forensics it’s only strengthening one of the two curricula. When an athlete or student chooses to only take part in one of several activities it will reflect on them.

Going to a small school we don’t have the numbers to risk athletes not going out for the activities. In some instances students are pressured by coaches and teachers to participate so

that we have a stronger teams. Not only does athletes being in three sports help strengthen team connections, but also helps with their grades, attendance, and behavior. It motivates students to be there everyday to participate in the sports, and to compete you must be eligible, therefore it makes students put more effort into not only the sport, but academics as well. Three sport athletes have an unselfish attitude towards all sports, even the ones they dislike, but one sport athletes have a more selfish attitude “all about me and what I’m good at” attitude. Whereas they could have a “what will benefit my team” attitude.

Wouldn’t you rather play with people you know and have grown up with rather than a new group of people you will never meet again. You only get four years to play for your school in your life, and instead athletes choose not to play because “they aren’t the best at it,” but, there are plenty of opportunities in Sterling High School to learn a new sport and be become potentially better at it as well.

Would you rather look back at high school and regret doing these extracurricular activities, or regret not doing them?

— For The Editorial Board

BRIEFLY STATED Zeroto100

Juniors win Iron Man Championship Junior Brett Riffel holds up the bracket after the championship game. “It was fun because we got better as we played,” Riffel said. “In our final match with the seniors, they were good competitors, but it felt really good to beat them.”

Have you ever wondered about all the cool stuff going on around SHS, and then thought of all the unfortunate stuff to happen? Here’s your guide to all the hot, and cold, stuff going on at SHS.

All League honors were awarded to seven Sterling football players.

“I love the song ‘If I Were a Rich Man’. It gave me an opportunity to get into Tevye and get into his fun side.”

Basketball practice started on Nov. 13.

Junior Jacob Pieplow

Sophomore Cara Cabral broke her knuckle during the first week of basketball practice.

identifies his favorite song from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof ”

Sterling High School |

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| December 2017

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NEWS

Getting to Know Goracke Learning more about USD 376 new superintendent, budget issues Taya Wilson This year welcomes Sterling High School new superintendent, Jim Goracke to the USD 376 staff, and even though he’s been here for only four months there are many sides to Goracke that many people don’t see in his everyday life, including academics, athletics and experiences growing up.

Goracke went to high school in Haysville, Kan., where he graduated from Campus High School. After high school he attended Wichita State University and majored in computer science, but later decided he wanted to go into teaching so he went to Kansas Newman University where he obtained an elementary education degree.

Goracke ended up back in Haysville where he taught first grade. While he was teaching the principal encouraged him to pursue his masters degree in administration. So Goracke went back to Wichita State University and got a third degree, this one in elementary administration.

After teaching he had taught first grade for nine years, Goracke then decided to look into becoming a principal and after applying at several different schools he ended up as the principal of a small Chanute Elementary School. While he was there a bond issue was passed that combined four elementary schools around the area into one big elementary school, so Goracke went from the principal of 125 students to 900 students.

While in Chanute Goracke went to Pittsburg State University where he obtained his district level certification.

Reporter @_twils_ After 12 years at Chanute, Goracke decided it was time to move up again and after looking at a few different school districts he ended up in Unified School District 376.

“I wanted to be the big boss, to be able to impact the full range of students. As a teacher, I had the little bitty kids in first grade and I really liked that and when we opened the big school. My focus was on third, fourth and fifth grade -- upper elementary. I thought it would be neat to be with kids all the way through,” Goracke said.

With the transition from a 900 student school to a 526 student school district Goracke has seen several differences in his few short months at Sterling.

“It’s much smaller, but I think with that smallness comes more of a family atmosphere with the staff,” Goracke said, “My wife and I kind of missed that feeling that we had when we were in a small building where you knew everyone and you were close to everyone. That’s one thing that really attracted us out here to Sterling.”

Along with getting used to the differences between schools, Goracke is also having to deal with budget shortfalls.

“Right now my vision is to correct some of the problems we have with the budget and get it so that we have more stable footing. Our facilities and schools are beautiful, but our buses are terribly old and almost dangerous and right now we are rapidly running out of money over the last couple of years,” Goracke

Goracke Fun Facts • Born in Hope, Kan. • Grew up on a farm • Was a running back on his high school football team

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• Went to 5A state track and field every year of his high school career in long jump (18881991) • Won 5A state championship his junior year 1990

• Was on the 4X100 team that broke the state record in 1990 • Worked in a law office • Considered going to Washburn to become a lawyer

said.

In his attempt to make the budget more efficient, Goracke has been looking at other plans in schools that are similar to Sterling while trying to make small cuts to various organizations.

“We’re trying to avoid making cuts that will impact students and to adjust things here and there. We want to try and maintain the neat stuff that we have without ruining anything by having to cut out to much money from any one thing. We’re looking at how to increase funding for next year, our big problem for next year is we’ve lost so many students over the last couple years,” said Goracke.

One way Goracke is trying to increase funding is to find a different way to count CTE students which will increase government funding for the school. He is also talking to JACAM about making it more appealing for out of town employees to enroll their children in the Sterling school district instead of other bigger city school districts.

Even with the difficulties of figuring out the budget Goracke has found joy in being around students.

“In the last couple weeks I’ve started getting out into classrooms again, as a principal I was always with kids and so far I’ve been only with paper and my computer, it’s been really good to get into a classroom and hang out with kids a little bit and talk with teachers more. I think that will be the best part as I get to do that more and more,” said Goracke.

With his hands-on learning in education Goracke has formed a vision for the future of Sterling High School.

“My vision is to move -- especially the high school -- into a more community based instruction and getting kids out into work study programs, internships and helping make things more real life by getting out into work so they can see how their education is important because it affects what they will be doing later,” Goracke said.

Budget Breakdown Spending -$280,000

+ $220,000 -

-$60,000

-

-$135,000

-

-$185,000

$75,000 $50,000 $41,000 -$226,000

Amount of money from last year’s budget.

Extra money received from the state for this year’s budget.

Amount of money spent from this year’s budget, last year.

Amount of money spent on special education partnership with Lyons.

Amount of money it cost the district to give all of staff a raise.

Total deficit in this year’s budget before cuts.

Savings -$226,000

Total deficit in this year’s budget before cuts.

$64,000

Amount of money saved from not buying sport luxuries such as suburbans, nets, etc.

+

-$162,000

+

$80,000

+

-$82,000

+

-$47,000

$35,000 $14,000 -$33,000 Sterling High School |

Amount of money saved from not buying classroom luxuries such as computers, books, instruments, etc.

Amount of money saved from cutting employee hours and overtime.

Possible money saved (not official yet) if the district were to cut summer school.

Remaining deficit for this year if summer school is cut.

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11/9/17 3:53 PM

NEWS

Psychology class attends ‘Behavior Mania’ Andy Norez Since 2006, Jill Rowland has been teaching psychology. Psychology has been offered as a class to those who are interested in it as a future career. It’s also for those who might find psychology as a personal interest.

“I find psychology to be very interesting, and something I enjoy learning about,” senior Zack Nickerson said.

Like any other class, Rowland is continuously looking for new activities that are fun and educational. One such activity that was new this year was “Orange Brain Surgery.” This activity was to help the students visualize the different parts of the brain and where they are in relation to each other.

While new activities are brought in, old ones do surface every now and then, one such example was in October when Rowland took her students to McPherson College for “Behavior Mania.” This is an event that happens every year and is hosted by a different college each year.

In past years, Rowland hasn’t gone as her previous classes didn’t have enough people who wanted to go. “Behavior Mania” is an event where people who are interested in psychology can go to learn about different careers. They also learn about psychology studies that have been performed and what they were

Reporter @andy_norez able to gather and learn from these studies.

Although it isn’t all serious as it sounds, they try to make it as fun as possible. Even the students participate in making it fun, as junior twins Zoe and Lydia Miller switched name tags at the event and pretended to be each other for the day.

At the end of the day, after all their activities, they had a raffle for a variety of items. Everyone was in it and they drew names out and Zoe’s name got called, and they had forgotten to switched name tags. “I ripped off my name tag and slammed it on the table and went up there,” junior Zoe Miller said. “Then Lydia stood up and said, ‘Actually I’m Zoe.’” They then proceeded to argue over who the real Zoe was, until finally the caller asked who the real Zoe was and both rose their hands at the same time. The caller then decided they do rock, paper, scissors for it since neither of the twins would back down, it ended with Lydia being victorious.

“I think it opened up a few areas for people who want to go into behavioral science or even major in it,” Rowland said. “I thought it was informative, entertaining, and exposed them to different fields.”

STAFF THANKS

Mrs. Betsy Dutton, Bravo on yet another fantastic musical this year! The performances you and your students grace the stage with are worthy of all the praise in the world. The work you do is astonishing.

You truly make Sterling proud, and the students are lucky to have you as their teacher. You have truly established unparalleled “traditions”!

— Black Bear Supporters Sterling High School |

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| December 2017

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FEATURE

WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK...

Students experience work benefits rather a sport during the winter season

A

Morgan Anderson

s the fall season comes to a close, basketball season begins to start and students decide whether to do a sport, or instead have a job during the winter. A job can be a strain or it can be very beneficial in the life of a high school student.

“Since I don’t do a sport, I can obviously spend more time focusing on homework and work at the same time. If I was in a sport, I wouldn’t be able to work as much because it would take up the majority of my time,” junior Zoe Miller said.

Not doing a sport in the winter can also help out your boss when it comes to working more hours and having more time to be available.

“It really helps with availability and needing to cover for other people and it also makes you more reliable,” junior

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Reporter @_morgs.__

Jillian Millhouse said. “At Dairyland, we really have a family atmosphere and it’s really fun to work there since we all have each others backs.”

Doing a sport can make a student physically and mentally exhausted so sometimes doing homework and maybe even a job can be difficult.

“I feel like being in a sport physically exhausts you,” sophomore Alaina Madden said. “A job does that too, but a lot of times it’s not as physically exhausting because I do have more energy and I’m able to get my homework done.”

Some students have to pay for expensive things such as a car, insurance, food, and bills which can be hard when you have limited time on top of school.

“I did volleyball in the beginning of the year and so now that I’m not doing a

sport, I get more hours which means more money which is nice because then I can stay on top of paying my car off,” sophomore Rylee Boeken said. “I can also pay for my insurance and I have more money to go and do fun stuff with my friends.”

Having a job can be really beneficial when it comes to important skills for the future. It can build your character and make you more responsible.

“I’ve learned how to manage people and be in charge of a shift and be a problem solver. Sometimes in a rush, it’s really hard and you have to do your job and you have to help lead others,” senior Lauren Schueren said. “It’s taught me a lot about work ethic and managing my time. I guess when I become an adult, I’ll know kind of what to do.”

Managing your time can be a struggle

(Photos by Morgan Anderson) Left to right: Sophomore Mallory Beltz, Sophomore Shelby Drier, Senior Lauren Schueren, Junior Zoe Miller, Sophomore Alaina Madden, and Sophomore Kamryn Gillespie

when you have activities and clubs outside of school so learning to prioritize your time is an important aspect when it comes to a job.

“My job helps me with time management because sometimes I will get super stacked and I’ll have a lot to do,” Miller said. “So now I have to learn to section out stuff so I have time to prioritize.”

Homework is hard to manage. Sports can occasionally get in the way of that, but having a job can give you an opportunity to finish your assignments.

“At my job, we’re allowed to work on homework if our area is clean and no one is at the counters so that’s a really big help so I get a lot of my homework done,” Millhouse said. “I also don’t go in every single day as I would for sports so it makes it easier.”

Occasionally, a job can give students less time to do their homework and stay on top of their responsibilities.

“I have less time for homework because I work later than a normal sports practice would go. Sports usually last

around two to two and a half hours rather than a job which can last from four to five hours at a time,” junior Jade Krab said. “I also work the weekends so it makes it difficult to find time to get it done then and finish my responsibilities on top of that.”

Listening and being a hard worker are important qualities to have as an employee when it comes to customer service and doing your job efficiently and effectively.

“I’ve learned how to listen because when I take people’s orders, not getting it right or messing up a little detail can ruin their night or they’re okay with it and it can ruin your tip so listening is obviously a really big thing and it teaches you to listen a little bit closer,” Boeken said.

“Honestly, it’s more than just the money thing. I think it can benefit you further down the road with having job experience and being able to work with people you wouldn’t want to work with or being able to work with people and getting close with them.”

Working with difficult people can be hard but it can also teach you how to be a

team player and work as a group. Without teamwork, the whole business could fall apart.

“I’ve learned how to have teamwork,” junior Brett Riffel said. “I’ve learned to work with difficult people and how to take leadership when people aren’t doing their job,” Making up for the team and working with the team is very important.”

Some students chose the job they are currently in for many reasons. For Madden, her love of books got her interested in working at the Sterling Public Library.

“In fourth grade, we had to set our own reading goals and I set mine pretty low. Mrs. Farney told me to set it a little bit higher and then once she did that, I had to read more books and then I eventually found out that books were actually really great. I love reading because it allows me to escape reality for a little bit. I never stopped after that,” said Madden.

For senior Mia Steinmetz, she chose her job at Dairyland because of her love of making and eating ice cream.

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BELOW: Senior Lauren Schueren laughs as she finishes putting together an order. “I love seeing people from the community and being able to talk to them and I also love working with a lot of fun people. They make the job really easy to be there and just have everything work out.” Schueren said.

ABOVE: Junior Brett Riffel delivers an order as a carhop to a customer in a nearby stall. Riffel has been working at sonic for around two years. “I love the tips and of course the paycheck at my job,” Riffel said. “Sonic was really the only option in Sterling at the time.

Sterling, I noticed, is a very limited work-experience town so it’s really hard to find a job. When it opened, I instantly jumped at the opportunity to work there and I got the job.”

“I like making ice cream and also I can have as much ice cream as I want and so it’s pretty great working at an ice cream place,” Stinemetz said.

Sophomore Mallory Beltz has a different job than most high school students, working for her neighbor attending to baby goats and lambs.

“I love my job. It’s so much fun getting to play with baby lambs and goats all the time and I love baby animals. I’ve learned how to keep animals healthy and how different environments affect how their immune system works,” Beltz said.

Although having a job can be stressful and very difficult at times, it can help you in the long run for your future career and how to be a leader.

Without these skills, it’s hard to be a team.

“We have so many shifts during the day that it’s hard to figure out shifts if you don’t feel good or you’re having a bad day, so teamwork comes into play when everyone is really willing to come in and cover shifts for everyone,” sophomore Shelby Drier said.

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“They are really helpful when I don’t know what I’m doing since I’ve only been there since August and they’re very will-

Sophomore Shelby Drier takes care of a dog while working at the ingvet to during teach me. ” weekend shift. her

FAR LEFT: Senior Alex Brasher bags groceries for a customer after check-out.

LEFT: Junior Jade Krab takes a carry-out order for a customer at the new restaurant in Sterling, “Dos Amigos.” “I’ve learned how to work with a lot of people at my job and I’ve definitely learned a lot of people skills,” Krab said.

BELOW: Sophomore Alaina Madden puts away a book on the shelf after it has been returned. “My favorite part is talking to people. I love able to interact with anyone from 2-year-olds to 90 year olds and I love that. I learned how to talk to people. Also to be organized. I work at a library so having specific places where books go and having to organize them,” Madden said.

Sterling High School |

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| December 2017 11

INFOGRAPHIC

12 Dates of...

Christmas

‘Ice Skating” freshman Hannah Bennet

“Eating chicken alfredo at home.” junior Lydia Miller

Ki Mc By:

“Christmas tree decorating” sophomore Elizabeth Horsch

ah San

“Cuddling and drinking hot cocoa.” freshman Kaley Clark “Botanical Gardens and a horse carriage ride at the Bradley Fair.” senior Raegan Mantz

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“I’d take Lexi to La Monde’s for dinner, we love it.” senior Eli Miller “Go eat somewhere nice to eat and spend time with Tristen.” sophomore Avrey Holliday

el

“Wearing pj’s and watching Christmas movies.’ senior Madison Morgan

u Mig

“Going to Colorado so Seth can meet my family.” sophomore Shelby Drier

“Driving around looking at Christmas lights.” sophomore Kinzie Comley

“Open presents by the fireplace together.” sophomore Wyatt Brown

“Sitting around the Christmas tree with him.” sophomore Lauren Frederick

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| December 2017 13

SPORTS

THE SHS

The Cub Reporter strives to cover everything we can, but with so many things going on during the year, it can be difficult. And so: The SHS Extra Inning was born. Here we cover everything we can fit in this space.

EXTRA INNING

Kaylie Zimmerman

Senior Lucas Briar

Freshman Natalie Schweizer

Junior Dylan Stewart

Who plays what?

Senior Taylor Petz

The Cub Reporter looks at the winter sports’ numbers

37% 3% Basketball

46% 14% No Sport

Scholar’s Bowl Juniors Bryce Wilson and Jasmine Bates, and senior Katie Comley work on a challenging question at the home scholar’s bowl meet on November 16.

(Photo by Shawna Britton)

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Wrestling

Other

Reporter

@kayliezimm

Stepping Up

As winter sports begin, there’s always a race to take the place of the previous seniors, start, goals to have the best year yet, beat rivals, and win state. For head girls basketball coach Jill Rowland, it’s about learning and improving.

“We’ve got some opportunities for people that maybe played more of a role position to have to step up and play a little bigger parts. I’m excited to see who’s going to do that. It’s always exciting

when doors open and kids see some opportunities to get better.”

As the hard work pays off, only time will show the progress of the winter sports athletes.

“I’m just excited,” Rowland said. “With a new group of kids I’m excited to meet expectations and to watch the growth of players, and the growth of your team, and the process. I’m excited about the process of getting kids better.”

Q&A

WRESTLER DYLAN STEWART

CUB REPORTER: Why did you choose to do wrestling?

DYLAN: It just works your body more and it’s tougher than the other sports.

CR: Are there kids from other schools that wrestle at Nickerson?

DS: No it’s just Nickerson and us.

CR: What are some goals that you have for this season?

DS: Qualify for State.

CR: What are you looking forward to most this year?

DS: I’m pretty sure I’ll do well this year, considering last year I got third at league before I got hurt before regionals. I didn’t get to go to regionals so that would’ve been pretty good for me.

OPINIONS POINT / COUNTERPOINT

The Talk of the Trees

Real trees reveal the actual meaning of Christmas time The tradition of the Christmas tree started even before the ancient Romans. Evergreen trees, with their green remaining all year, reminded people that spring would soon return. From the beginning, people hung boughs and wreaths of pine inside their homes making it a custom to use live pine for many years.

Authentic Christmas trees bring more of a ‘Christmas feel’ to the mood of this time of year. Their sweet scent of pine gives off a refreshing aroma, whereas artificial Christmas trees have no odor to add to the seasonal atmosphere.

Pine, along with other fragrances such as baked cookies, a smoky fire, and peppermint, creates the classic ambiance of the holidays. Their fragrance can also have positive effects on human bodies. For instance, fir trees can ease stress and mildly relieve colds.

All Christmas trees have a unique look. Their individuality makes everyone able to find the ‘perfect tree.’ There isn’t actually a ‘perfect tree’ because they all have their own flaws, which is what makes each one special. The various forms and heights attract the right customer. Artificial trees are too perfect and not realistic.

Real Christmas trees also give families the opportunity to make traditions and experience another fun Christmas

COLUMN BY NATALIE NICHOLS @natalie.e.n activity. Many people cut down the tree they are going to use in their home. Others pick one out from a store for a fitting size and shape. Either way, going out every year to get a tree creates a tradition and irreplaceable memories From an environmental aspect, real trees are also better.

Pine trees are recyclable, while manufactured trees are made of toxic materials that aren’t adequate for the earth.

The pine trees in tree farms are grown specifically for people to use in their homes at Christmas time. These tree farms also provide homes for wildlife, so they are very natural.

Genuine pine trees complete the joy and spirit of the holidays, from the tradition that they carry on, to the authenticity of their branches.

Artificial trees bring ease to the hectic holiday season For many people Christmas is an important holiday, with traditions from year to year, including making Christmas cookies, singing carols, and of course, decorating the Christmas tree. Different people prefer various cookies and songs; Christmas trees are no different. Artificial trees and real trees are always at controversy.

In my opinion artificial trees are much better than real trees. How convenient is it when you decide to decorate for Christmas, and you can go into your storage room, pull out your tree and start decorating. It is so simple and easy and makes for a stress-free Christmas. Instead of having to drive out to a Christmas tree farm, walk out in the cold to find a “perfect tree,” which doesn’t exist, and then having to lift and carry the thing from the farm and into your house.

How inconvenient. Wouldn’t you rather spend your day

Sterling High School |

COLUMN BY GRACE ROWLAND @graaccee54 relaxing on the couch, with a hot cup of cocoa, curled up in front of a classic Christmas movie?

During the Christmas season, you only get 25 days filled with holiday fun, and it shouldn’t be filled with picking up annoying pine needles and filling the bottom with water.

With artificial trees, you don’t have to worry about the mess of pine needles on your floor along with remembering to water your tree.

Another benefit of artificial trees is the ability to use them over and over. Real trees you have to buy each and year costing you unnecessary money during the time of the year when you spend the most money. Purchasing an artificial Christmas tree once every eight years can save you money and time in the long run. You can even purchase artificial trees that come with lights attached, helping you avoid the taxing unwinding, stringing, and rewinding of the lights.

So I plead you, do not waste time involved in finding the “perfect tree.” Make cookies, sing carols, and of course decorate a tree, just keep in mind the convenience of the artificial pines.

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| December 2017 15

ENTERTAINMENT NOTE: Killer Serial Fiction is a part of Sterling Student Publications. It is the home of creative writing by Sterling High School creative writing students. Stories appearing here are works of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. These stories are presented for entertainment purposes only and are not intended to be read as being part of Sterling Student Publications news coverage. For more stories, visit www.sterlingstudentpublications.com/fiction.

Layovair

BY BRYCE WILSON

A (Somewhat) Cumulative Non-Fiction History of the Airline that Brought the World Together . . . With a Coup D’etat Prologue The date was Janaugust forty-second, nineteen-ninety-ten.

It was a warm day, but not too warm; just the right temperature for a stroll through the park. Outside, birds were chirping, bees were buzzing, and most importantly, no cars were nearby. This was heaven for Mr. Wilson, who had spent the majority of his day on a Greyhound bus, 18 hours to be exact. He was glad to be back home, but the wonderful smells and colors spring had brought to the park made him wonder, is there a better way to travel? Then, suddenly, an eagle whooshed past his head, did a barrel roll, and disappeared into the sunset. This created a spark in Mr. Wilson’s head, a spark that ignited the greatest airline ever known, Layovair.

Janaugust 40th, 1,9910

Just two days earlier, he had found himself at Chigago O’Hare International, trying to pass the time during a seventeen-hour layover. Yes indeed, somehow Allegiant had managed to both kick him off his flight, and neglect to mention that his layover would now be over half a day long. In all honesty, it

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wasn’t a terrible situation, he had no schedule, no one waiting for him, and the airline had provided him with a voucher for Holiday Inn. That would’ve been great, if he wasn’t being held in the airport by security. Apparently, the Huckleberry Jam he was planning to bring home to his wife counted as a fluid, and was confiscated as a “potential explosive”. It was understandable, after all he’d been meaning to put it in his checked luggage to avoid this kind of situation. He tried to be very honest and polite to the TSA agents, until they toasted some bread in the x-ray scanner and started spreading the jam on it. Then he snapped... open a can of overpriced airport orange juice and joined them.

Janaugust 41st, 1,9910 As the hours went by, passed only by the saving grace of the Weather Channel on mute, which was occasionally somewhat entertaining, the seventeen-hour layover turned into a bankrupt Allegiant. Apparently, without Mr. Wilson on his flight, the airline was $17.21 in debt. As Allegiant had multiple previous offences of various corporate crimes, the government immediately ordered them to file for chapter 7 bankruptcy. Mr. Wilson tried to convince the lady at the customer assistance desk to give him a refund, but they had already burned all documents relating to Allegiant, so he was out of luck. Without enough money for a ticket on a more financially stable airline, he was forced to travel by the one way he hoped he never would: Greyhound Bus. He wasn’t released from the confines of the bus until Janaugust 41st had turned into Janaugust 42nd.