Tiger Times May 2019

TIGER TIMES

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL TEXARKANA, TEXAS VOL. 58, ISSUE 6 MAY 16, 2019

BUDDING INDUSTRY State lines divide medical marijuana legalization see page 12

illustration by m. debenport, m. anderson

2 NEWS

Eye

THE TIGER’S

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

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the inside

scoop

photo by r. edwards

STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE A group of TigerVision students show off the awards they won at the Student Television Network’s national competition in Seattle, Washington in April. The group also competed in the SkillsUSA competition this year.

BRINGING HOME THE GOLD TigerVision wins national awards

BY MISTY LOPEZ in-depth editor The silent void of the studio is filled with “This is TigerVision.” On one side, videographers can be seen chasing deadlines to perfect their packages, and on the other, the voices of the anchors echo as they read their scripts in synchronizing repetition. The time finally comes, and they place their efforts into this daily show because it’s what they love to do.

During the month of April 2019, TigerVision competed in a nationwide competition, the Student Television Network in Seattle, Washington.

“Student Television Network this year was in Seattle,” TigerVision adviser Charles Aldridge said. “It was our 17th annual convention with STN. This year we won the daily live announcement show. At the convention, they pick the best out of those five regions, so it’s basically nationwide. We’ve never won that award, but this year we did.”

The Student Television Network was not the only competition that TigerVision competed in. This year was the first year that they decided to participate in an international competition, SkillsUSA. “SkillsUSA is basically an organization that is geared toward vocational programs,” Aldridge said. “This year the big push in our CTE department was to compete with SkillsUSA. We did three on sight, and two of them placed gold and silver, so those got to go state, which was live production and digital cinema.”

At SkillsUSA, students got to work on different projects regarding on-site film and video packages to use for competition against numerous regions. This gave the

students the opportunity to work on timing and their creative writing.

“We competed for digital cinema production,” senior Colton Capps said. “It was Davis Miller and I who competed, and we used Remington as an actor and actress for the video. We had to make a three to five minute video in the span of 24 hours. At the meeting, we got our prompt. The prompt was dry run, the prop was a drinking vessel and our phrase was ‘Great minds think alike.’ We could only film up until 11, but we stayed up all night to edit.”

The hard work that these students implemented into their projects was conveyed through the awards ceremony. TigerVision won an award for each video submission they sent in and the knowledge they possessed over video.

“This competition isn’t just submissions; the students had to take a test as well,” Aldridge said. “Going in new, we didn’t really know a lot to prepare for that, but now we know more. We were just glad to have third place. For all four submissions, they got a blue ribbon, which was superior, and one of the submissions was judge’s choice” For TigerVision, winning was definitely a motivator to do better, but it was also more than that. It’s the future of their organization and the accomplishments and experiences they can go through together.

“It’s been a good year for us,” Aldridge said. “We’re the type, win or lose, we go out and have a good experience.

It was nice to bring home some gold. We’ve had our share of years coming home empty-handed, but I teach them that it’s not just about winning the gold. It’s the experience and the process.” mistylopez@tigertimesonline.com

PUT YOURSELF FIRST

PAGE 6

Seniors reflect on their high school careers

Q&A WITH AUDREY MOHON

PAGE 10

A look back on the past and a glimpse into the future

OUR TOP MOMENTS IN SPORTS

PAGE 18

Take a look at the highlights from this year’s sports seasons

BEND THE KNEE

PAGE 21

Who will win the final season of ‘Game of Thrones’?

NEWS

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

3

RENEW RESTORE REVIVE

BY ADDISON CROSS & GREY JOHNSON news editor & culture editor In Texarkana’s earlier days, the town was centered around a railroad and a young entertainment district. Since the days of celebrities staying at Hotel Grim, however, the once lively sector of the town has fallen into disrepair and disarray. Many citizens are now asking how, why and what is happening to fix it.

“This is a very common experience of a lot of towns our size [and] towns bigger than us. You know, historically, things are built downtown; you’ve got your businesses, you’ve got your little surrounding residences,” said Velvet Cool, Texarkana Museum System Board President. “And then there’s this escape to suburbia. And then suburbia becomes more populated, and things keep expanding. And then at some point, typically, things returned to where they originated. And it may have taken us a little bit longer to get to that point where things return.”

With the growth of interstates, the railroad became less of a commodity and more of an oddity, encouraging businesses to move away from the downtown sector to the Richmond Road area.

“If you look at the history of Texarkana, it was a booming railroad town for years and years and years. So the transportation industry changed, especially when they moved the main thoroughfare through Texarkana down to [Interstate 30],” said Michael Malone, President and CEO of the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce. “That caused the businesses there to disappear. Now

we see, as [in] most communities, the resurgence of a business sector in the downtown; it’s not uncommon.”

Despite these stores being long removed from the area, many residents remember the days of a thriving retail and entertainment sector, which is what many city efforts are seeking to restore.

“Well, back in the day when I was growing up here, back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the downtown area, especially the east and west Broad Street areas, [was] our retail hub for the city,” Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman said.

“So your major department stores like Dillard’s, JCPenney, Belk Jones, were located downtown. And when Central Mall was built, there was a migration from the retail segment from downtown to the mall. So there’s been a push to revitalize downtown.”

With the move of large department stores to the Richmond Road and Mall Drive area, downtown has shifted into a community for artisans and smaller businesses. This transition reflects downtown’s role as a localized core and a cultural heart of the community.

“So we’re seeing smaller businesses coming in. You’re going to see in the downtown’s little niche businesses, usually not chains, but private investors, little restaurants, little art galleries, boutiques, and even that has the lifespan of probably maybe five to eight years as we watch the internet demand change in shopping habits,” Malone said. “But you still have a need in the downtown area for those little items that you normally would buy online, or you need the quick loaf of bread or a jug of milk, or you want to go out to dinner; you would see that in

photo by: o. smith

Downtown recovery is underway downtown.”

Moving away from large businesses has allowed downtown to become an area of culture and nightlife for the residents of Texarkana and people who are just passing through.

“A lot of downtowns, move to what we want to call a party atmosphere.

Arkansas got an ordinance to allow the development of entertainment districts,” Malone said. “It allows open containers to move out on the street from restaurants or from business to business. Up to this point, that’s illegal; you can’t have an open container [of alcohol]. So by doing that, you create an entertainment atmosphere, something like what you see in Memphis or in New Orleans. You have music downtown; in the last couple of years they’ve added sidewalks, which is the same sort of thing that caters to [an entertainment district].

It isn’t going to necessarily be a giant retail sector.”

Texarkana, being a twin city, has faced a different set of challenges in the process as opposed to other restoration projects.

“Certainly, we have our own unique set of circumstances that can add effort to our dual city,” Cool said. “[There are many impressions] that people have about whether or not it’s best to build on the Texas side, develop on the Texas side or develop on the Arkansas side.”

However, the unique set of circumstances is being tackled by a unique set of solutions that focus on what unite the two states, rather than divide them, in order to join Texarkana under common goals and a common identity.

“Even though it’s bi-state, a lot of us in the business try to ignore the state

line, and both cities cooperate very well together in that their ordinances try to mirror each other. So you don’t have one playing off against the other,” Malone said. “We have combined groups, like the planning directors of both sides and the entertainment directors and Parks and [Recreation departments] of both sides come together. And we think more about the whole city, not about a state line barricade. I think in a lot of cases, the problems with two states coming together is that a lot of people still see two states, and they have to see one community and not two states.”

There are many ways that community members can become involved in the ongoing projects, including, but not limited to, donating to projects, being patrons to downtown businesses, and volunteering yourself with different organizations, such as the Texarkana Museum System or Texarkana Beautiful.

“You usually either have time to volunteer or money to donate. If you don’t have time to volunteer, and you don’t have money to donate, then you have to approach what you can do from a consumer standpoint. Go to dinner downtown. Buy a ticket to the Perot [Theatre]. Take your kids to the kids’ museum. It’s easy, it’s cheap. It will not only get you entertainment, but it also gives you the opportunity to interact with your fellow community members,” Cool said. “Probably the best way people who are strapped for time can benefit our community is to provide their feedback and to try to find opportunities to live outside their bubble.” addisoncross@tigertimesonline.com greyjohnson@tigertimesonline.com

4 COMMUNITY

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

EDITORIAL

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

OUR BEST

CARLA DUPREE

AND WORST OF THE YEAR

Texas High School 4001 Summerhill Rd. Texarkana, TX (903) 794-3891 Fax (903) 792-8971 The Tiger Times is a student-run publication. The contents and view are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the opinions of the faculty, administration or TISD board of directors.

CELLPHONES Cellphones have always been a major problem at school, and despite phone rules being strictly enforced in the past, administration has embraced the era of the phone. We are now able to use our phones freely during lunch periods and in between transitions without much of a fuss.

Mrs. Dupree’s first year as principal has been seemingly successful. She made close ties with students and was a positive influence as a professional woman. She was seen at almost every school event and worked with and listened to students and faculty.

DRESS CODE

It is hard to label this as either a pro or con because even today, the dress code remains a much debated issue. As time has gone on, the administration has accepted a more lenient rendition of the dress code as found in the handbook. Among the things which are no longer heavily enforced are: pants with holes, leggings and facial piercings. While students can dress more comfortably, these old and not enforced rules remain in the handbook. Students are left anxious and guessing as to what they can wear day to day, and confused when they get in trouble one day for something they wore last week without a problem.

The handbook should be revisited and revised for new dress code policies.

NEW FACILITIES NEW CONSTRUCTION In this past year, there has been a lot of construction going on at Texas High: physically and emotionally. And before you build something new, you have to tear down something old.

Old staff left Texas High. New staff joined Texas High. Various groups, including band, athletics, dance and TigerVision, have gotten huge upgrades. The band traded their old uniforms in for new uniforms and traded in old sousaphones for new ones. The track by the indoor facility got a revamp, as did the turf at Tiger Stadium. The Pinkerton Center at the college is getting renovated for use by the swim team. A new building, which functions as a studio and testing center, was erected for the HighSteppers and TigerVision. Administration and faculty have invested a lot of resources into programs for students in a meaningful way.

SCHOOL SPIRIT

This year’s school spirit has seemed a little low. Less students dress up for school spirit days. More kids refuse to stand and participate in pep rallies. Student sections are less attended and loud. There is no longer a push for pride in our school, and it has resulted in a lack of morale. There needs to be a focus on adapting to the interests of these new classes and current classes and creating an enticing environment at school events.

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GOOD BYE TO WIFI

At the beginning of the year, it was announced that the school would no longer provide free access to the Wi-Fi. Instead the school began the chromebook academy, in effect, getting rid of the bring your own device rule.

This was intended to give everyone equal access to technology and the school’s WiFi. This was also intended to crack down on the misuse of the school internet during school hours.

editors in chief-print Lindsey Egger, Jhovany Perez editors in chief-online Joseph Rodgers, Victoria Van managing editors Madison Brown, Craig Crawford news editors Addison Cross, Autumn Golden viewpoint editors April Alvarado, Maddie Anderson feature editors Audrey Haskins, Molly Kyles sports editors John Morgan, TJ Wall entertainment editors Margaret Debenport, Grey Johnson spotlight editors Craig Crawford, Anna Grace Jones, Misty Lopez advertising Jenna Williamson business manager Madison Bowers copy editors Paisley Allen, Greylyn Tidwell photo editor Kaitlyn Gordon video editor Taimoor Malik staff writers Raelyn Albert, Joseph Asher, Logan Diggs, Montevnah Glasgow, Kaitlyn Gordon, Charli Hueter, Zane Johnston, Salem Karr, Maryam Kulaib, Andrea Loredo, Kate Morgan, Nathan Morriss, Cameron Murry, Jonathan Naples, Connor Powell, Caden Rainwater, Cate Rounds, Peyton Sims, Sophie Spakes, Ashlyn Winters photographers Margaret Debenport, Rivers Edwards, Kaitlyn Gordon, Alyssa Higgins, Grace McGuire, Cameron Murry, Holland Rainwater, Kaitlyn Rodgers, Alexis Runnels, Merideth Stanfill, Jasmine Stark, Oren Smith videographers Cameron Alcorn, Logan Diggs, Kara Jefferies, Misty Lopez, Assad Malik, Oren Smith, Abigail Deleon advisers Rebecca Potter, Clint Smith principal Carla Dupree members ILPC, CSPA, NSPA

6

OPINION

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

PUT YOURSELF FIRST

photo by a. higgins

Times goes by quickly, so enjoy what you do

BY CAMERON MURRY staff writer

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The most important thing that I learned in high school is to put yourself first. Don’t settle for poor treatment or flaky friends. Don’t stay somewhere you aren’t happy. If you’re involved in a program, and it’s costing you your happiness, maybe you aren’t somewhere you should be.

BY MARYAM KULAIB staff writer When you live in a foreign country, you see and learn a lot of new things since all countries are different in their own way. Having lived more than half a year in America, I have seen a lot of new and beautiful things. There were moments when I was disappointed, and there were cases when I found absolutely everything enjoyable.

In my home country of Azerbaijan, you can drive a car by yourself after you turn 18 years old. This is not only there, but in many other countries like Russia, Turkey and Spain. You are lucky if you are American, or live in America, because at 16, you have every right to drive a car as long as you have a license.

If you don’t live in America, you have every right to drink alcohol once you are 18. Unfortunately, in order to drink alcohol in America you must be 21.

Despite the shock attributed, one thing that I like is the free refills we are allowed in restaurants, something I have only seen in America. At home, if you wanted another drink, you have to pay for it, meaning you aren’t allowed another for the price of nothing. Most of the people in Azerbaijan tend to cook and eat at home since prices there are generally much higher than prices in America.

My high school career was no walk in the park; I took difficult classes, experienced failure and triumph, cried more than I should have and came out a winner after all.

Freshman year, I was in the band. I played the euphonium and trombone. I was not musically inclined, but I had never explored anything else. I stayed in the program through my sophomore year because I loved color guard. It was one of the most exciting things I had been a part of.

And then I quit. Things changed within the program, and I decided I deserved better. I worked hard, and it didn’t seem to matter. It was time for me to go.

Junior year came around, and it was as bad as everyone says it is. I took AP U.S. history and AP physics the same year, and wound up miserable. I have horrible memorization skills and have never understood mathematical concepts, but I passed both classes without having a C in either one. I spent hours upon hours studying textbooks, making notecards and memorizing dates that I have since forgotten.

Turns out, junior year was the year I found my voice. I joined the newspaper and finally

understood that writing was my favorite thing to do. I had never heard of AP Style or kept up with current events, but I joined anyway.

It was the best decision I could have made in high school. I didn’t just join a program; I joined a family. I became a part of something bigger than myself. Everyone put in the work to get things done, gave each issue their all and encouraged one another.

Senior year has gone by faster than I could have imagined. I’m at the end of my high school career, but I don’t feel any older than when I started.

The most important thing that I learned in high school is to put yourself first. Don’t settle for poor treatment or flaky friends. Don’t stay somewhere you aren’t happy. If you’re involved in a program, and it’s costing you your happiness, maybe you aren’t somewhere you should be.

Don’t allow yourself to be taken for granted; take care of your mental and physical health. You have to love yourself and stand firm in what you believe.

If you allow people to walk all over you, you aren’t growing as a person.

It’s funny how fast time goes by as you get older.

One minute you’re trying on homecoming dresses for the first time, and next thing you know, you’re smiling big for senior pictures. cameronmurry@tigertimesonline.com

THE USA IN REVIEW Foreign exchange student shares differences found in America

A major complaint I have with America would be the drastic difference in the amount of cars. There are far more vehicles here than in my home country, leaving the desire to walk from place to place out of reach. Due to the fact that everyone has a car, there is no normal place on the road where one could walk, and it poses a danger to pedestrians.

The schooling system in America is also very different in comparison to the system back in Azerbaijan. I myself am not a fan of school, but if you compare my school back home to Texas High, this is paradise. We are not required to wear a school uniform, and lunch lasts 30 minutes, unlike my previous lunch which lasted 10 minutes. In the beginning, a longer lunch left me bored.

I had no clue what to do with myself.

Now I find joy in being able to chat with friends. There is far more diversity here.

People tend to come and go, as opposed to my old schooling system in which I was brought up around the same peers

for the last 11 years.

Students in the United States do not understand how lucky they are. I constantly hear my peers complain over how they do not like this teacher for being too mean or that teacher for being unfriendly. This is because they have never seen another type of teacher.

Back home, if you sneeze in a lesson, the teacher will send you to the principal arguing that you made indecent sounds.

If the teacher does choose that course of action, they will yell at you in class and call you ill-mannered. It is also possible they will expel you from the class, saying that you have interrupted the lesson and prevented everyone else from learning.

Enduring harsh educators is something I would gladly put myself through again if it meant the promise of being around more parks, not places children play on a seesaw or go on slides.

I mean parks with benches where you can sit under the sun and relax, walk or just spend time. When I was bored at

home I used to be able to go spend time in the abundance of parks we have, just listening to music or inviting friends with me to play cards. I long for this luxury of surrounding myself with trees and fresh air.

America has its pros and its cons, and there are many things I could say about them. These seem to be the most drastic differences, and this is probably because these are more personal and important to me. While I find America to be intriguing and exciting, I tend to enjoy the more relaxed and mellow side of things. I miss being back home in Azerbaijan, but I know I’ll miss America. maryam.kulaib@tigertimesonline.com

photo by o. smith

OPINION

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

submitted photo

Senior year wasn’t meant to last forever

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BY APRIL ALVARADO opinion editor My mind is gonna explode; my body is gonna leave me; all my worries are eating me alive. Who knew senior year was gonna wear you out? It feels like a boulder is just sitting on my shoulder. I just want to graduate. It’s funny how I hear that so often from every student, freshman or senior — everyone says it. We want to get out of here and fast.

“Senior year is the best year.”

I hear it said all the time, but it’s only the best year because it’s one step closer to finally leaving.

Let me fix that statement for you: “Senior year is the most stressful year.” You have your tests, your applications, your due dates, your extracurriculars, all just overwhelming you every second until it’s done. Not to mention the enormous amount of pressure you feel from everyone, especially yourself.

Senior year is definitely not what I expected. You’re not just gonna “chill” for the last year. This is basically your last year to make an impact on your future. That should be the highlight of your worries. You gotta do everything you can before you leave. You have to leave with a bang, right?

Yes, there’s some fun in your senior year, but it’s only if you get involved. If you don’t go to the games, events or at least join a club, you will drive yourself crazy with agony. All of those extracurricular activities definitely help you get through the year faster. Of course, they give you just a bit more stress, but it’s not the “Oh my god, it’s driving me crazy” stress. It’s to let you have a bit of a breather and see some light at the end of the tunnel.

It’s senior year, people: your last chance to get everything together and lay out your path. It’s the one stepping stone you need to conquer in order to get to your career. Make the best of it. Listen to your teachers because they’ve been here and done it. Everyone’s here to watch you take the next step. Make it worth their time and effort they gave you.

Graduate.

As Ryan Evans and Kelsi Nielsen once sang, high school wasn’t meant to last forever. aprilalvarado@tigertimesonline.com

Life’s unexpected plans aren’t always a bad thing

BY HOLLAND RAINWATER photographer Things didn’t go as planned. If you had told me I’d be graduating from Texas High School three years ago, I would’ve been extremely confused. My plan was to graduate from North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia, and go to some Georgia university. Now I’m about to graduate from a school in a town I had never heard of in a state that I would have never considered residing. As my next chapter calls me across the pond, I simply can’t help but reminisce.

Arriving in Texarkana was, for lack of a better term, my worst nightmare. I went into the experience expecting everyone to be either a farmer or cowboy, which turned out to be only halfway true. In my almost two years in Texarkana, I’ve learned to appreciate where I’ve been placed and to form as many relationships possible as I go. These are what the streets of Texarkana have taught me.

Downtown Texarkana is one of my favorite places on the planet. There is so much history, and every building is so unique and beautiful. Downtown taught me that every single person, place and thing has a fascinating story waiting to be told.

One exit down from downtown you will find Summerhill Road, home to probably the busiest Sonic in town and most importantly, Texas High School. I couldn’t think of a better school to attend. Without T-High, I may have never pursued photography or encountered some of the best people in the world.

Texas High taught me to embrace who I am and who others are because there will always be people out there that love you, and if not, you should be that person for others.

Another exit down is home to my first two minimum-wage jobs. Richmond Road taught me

responsibility and work ethic, even if I was only working for $7.25 an hour. There I learned defensive driving better than any course could have taught me.

Almost my entire wardrobe is built from the Goodwill on the corner. I’ve heard some really helpful advice and really inspiring stories from hours upon hours spent over coffee at Starbucks (not to mention the cram sessions).

If you turn at the Cane’s off Richmond, you will be on St. Michael Drive. There you will find the Cinemark where I had my first “date” even though I may not have been aware it was a date at the time — talk about learning how to handle awkward situations. Or the Target parking lot that was home to countless dance parties and jam sessions. And further east is the St. Michael parking garage which is one of the best places to longboard or watch the sunrise/sunset. That parking garage taught me to stop and take in the beautiful moments while they last, even if the hospital security could drive up at any second — they did, many times.

If you keep going down St. Michael Drive you can exit at University Avenue where you will find my church. Here is the reason I ended up in this town in the first place. My dad got a job as head pastor at Cross Pointe Church in the middle of my sophomore year.

Through this church I’ve met many awesome people and done some great things for the community. We’ve brought people to Christ and spread love throughout the streets of Texarkana and beyond.

My youth pastor in Georgia told me to take this new experience head on and change people’s lives. I tried my best, but I think the person who changed the most was me. I’m a stronger person because of these two years, and I have all of the people in this weird little indecisive town between Texas and Arkansas to thank. And they are right — it is twice as nice. hollandrainwater@tigertimesonline.com

8 OPINION

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

MAKE THIS ONE

submitted photo

COUNT

Future Aggie reminisces on interactions with others

BY JOSEPH RODGERS editor in chief After four years of endless fighting and blood, sweat and tears, the multi-headed dragon is finally defeated. The knight emerged victorious after cutting off the heads of the dragon one by one.

This could be a scene from a fictional medieval time — but it is really how my nerdy mind metaphorically visualizes my time in high school. An endless battle of homework assignments, tests and extracurricular activities. A dragon spitting the daily fires of an AP Calculus AB quiz and an AP U.S. History reading against a weary, unkempt knight.

Many of my classmates have said that my high school life has been a cycle of waking up, going to school, doing homework and extracurriculars and then going to sleep at midnight. For the most part, this statement is accurate, but it offers a very limited scope of my high school experience, what high school is and even what it can be.

When I first visited Texas High with my Red Lick Middle School peers, I thought it was huge. My favorite part was Room 50 — before the wall. It was a massive newsroom littered with Macs and MacBooks and copies of published newspapers. A stack of yearbooks sat in the corner and the staff was scurrying around like ants.

I knew from that moment forward that I wanted to be in newspaper. I knew that I had a passion for expressing my thoughts about important issues in our community, state and nation. I knew that Mrs. Potter and Mr. Smith would take good care of me over my three years there. I knew

that it would be a lot of work, but if I invested everything I had into it, it would be very rewarding.

What I did not know was that the people there were so special.

I did not know that the myriad of trips I would go on to Austin, to Dallas, to New York would bring us together. I did not (and still do not) know how to properly use Photoshop. I did not know that what I would learn would influence me for the rest of my life.

Being a team player has helped me in so many more areas than just newspaper. High school may be a launchpad for college, but it is a place to grow and thrive and have fun too. It is not what you do that makes you happy. It is not the accomplishments or the awards or even the long hours of hard work that makes you love what you do. It is your fellow peers and the teachers — the people.

The hardest lesson I had to learn was to slow down, take a deep breath and see how everyone is doing. Do not just casually ask them “How are you?”, but engage with them. Ask them how things are at home, talk them through the good times and the bad, offer to spend time with them. You will only be respected as a leader if you are a follower and a servant first.

We won a Pacemaker this year for print, online and the yearbook, which is amazing. I am beyond proud of my staff ’s efforts this year, and I hope that they will return to newspaper. However, at the end of the day, I know that the Pacemaker Award is just a piece of paper on the wall. The success story of publications is the living, breathing souls that walk in and out of Room 50.

Whatever organization you are

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in, whether it be Student Council or Art Club, never lose sight of the people that work beside you and everyone else that supports you.

Not only is this life pivotal to high school, but it is to college and the workforce as well.

Do not be blinded by ambition.

Ambition is a good thing, and it is an excellent group motivator.

However, leaders need to place the priorities of the people they are leading above all else. The organization’s goals and the leader’s goals will then fall into place.

High school is both an individual and collective journey toward excellence. Work hard, never give up and push through those late nights. Plan ahead with a planner, make and stick to your to-do-lists and laugh every day.

Thank your teachers, help a friend out and take a break every once in awhile. Research colleges, go on tours with your friends and family and choose the one that you feel the most at home at. Freshman year matters, so do not think otherwise. You have one shot at this, so make it count. josephrodgers@tigertimesonline. com

The hardest lesson I had to learn was to slow down, take a deep breath and see how everyone is doing. Do not just casually ask them “How are you?” but engage with them. Ask them how things are at home, talk them through the good times and the bad, offer to spend time with them. You will only be respected as a leader if you are a follower and a servant first.”

OPINION

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

ON THE SIDELINES Senior reflects on childhood memories that inspired love for sports

BY JOHN MORGAN sports editor Bottom of the fifth. Two outs.

Runner on second with a one run lead. Why did I have to be the one up to bat?

If we wanted to win, I definitely was not the preferred option. The spotlight was something that I didn’t want to deal with. Again, why’d it have to be me?

At the time, I was in third grade playing my first season of baseball.

I decided to play because that’s just what everyone else did. Bridge City, Texas, was a town based solely on the sport of baseball. It was all that existed in the spring. My team performed decently in our league, but I felt in no way responsible for the success.

My first year had been one of immense struggles. I could field pretty well and cheer from the dugout pretty well, but I could never grasp the concept of batting. I’d spent hours and hours practicing in the backyard with my dad hitting solid white wiffle-balls.

My dad would lob them up, and I would at times make good contact.

But trust me, there is a huge difference between hitting off of your dad who wants you to succeed and hitting off of a kid who wants to strike you out and prove their dominance and show that they’re better than you.

While my time in the outfield was enjoyable, I never could break through and get a hit. I most likely set the strikeout record in my little league, and the times I didn’t get out, it had been the pitcher who walked me, perhaps out of pity.

I just wasn’t talented enough to compete with everyone else in the league. The coaches’ association even considered dropping me down a level so I could get a better feel for the game. But my coach wouldn’t allow it, he told me later. Because of my determination to give one hundred percent.

Because of my never-give-up mindset.

submitted photos

Strike one. I walk away from the plate to get my signal from coach. He told me to go ahead and swing for the fences. This meant nothing to me, for I knew what was bound to happen.

The pitcher threw relatively slow compared to many of the others in the league. He lobbed a curveball that didn’t really live up to its name to the plate. Deciding to take a chance and swing, I unenthusiastically took my shot.

A dribbler down the right field line came off the end of my bat. Shocked, I ran down the first base line but saw the ball curl foul. I turned and headed back to the batter’s box hoping that I might get another pitch to swing at.

“It’s fair!” my first base coach screamed. “Go! Go!” Startled, I quickly rotated and sprinted back down the baseline. I was a bit hesitant, for I hadn’t done this before. As I ran to second, I could hear the ball hit the wall in right field. Once I got to third, the ball was still being brought in from the outfield. I missed the base through the screams and shouts of the parents in the stands.

As I turned back to touch the bag, my coach screams at the top of his lungs, “Go home! Go home!” I ran toward

the place that had been my nightmare for weeks. I smile as I come crashing into home plate to cheers all around.

I had done it. My first hit. And a home run at that.

That moment is one that has come back to mind as I look back at where my love for sports started. Nowadays, though, I find more joy playing the role of commentator as my playing days have all but ended. I have been privileged to both inform the public and give my opinion about what is going on in the world of sports and why it is important.

At Texas High, I have seen many teams on campus grow over time as many of my peers have performed admirably and reached new heights.

I have had the pleasure of interacting and becoming friends with high

school athletes that will go on to do amazing things in the world of sports.

Believe it or not, sports have the power to impact people in ways few other things can. Because the great thing about them is that any given person can do something amazing and remarkable at any given moment in time. These instances can make nations triumph, fans rejoice and lives forever changed.

I wish that everyone was able to appreciate sports for what they are and not make them into something they’re not. For me, that all started about ten years ago when a hopeless kid rounded the bases. While sporting moments themselves may be small, the impact they can have lasts a lifetime. johnmorgan@tigertimesonline.com

9

10 FEATURE

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

AUDREY

MOHON

BY MOLLY KYLES feature editor

IN A NUTSHELL Senior Audrey Mohon is one of a kind. From her talent for thrifting and upscaling clothes to her bombastic sense of humour, she lights up any room she enters. She prides herself in being an open person able to make friends with all types of people. From walking the halls of Texas High to strolling along the River Seine in Paris, she has an optimistic outlook on her past and is excited for what comes next.

Q&A

Q: What do you plan on doing after graduation?

A: “I’m going to the University of North Texas, and I’m

leaning towards being an elementary school English teacher, but whatever I do, I want to work with kids. I feel that a lot of people think kids are stupid and are ‘just kids,’ but if you get them going at a young age it’s really beneficial in the long run, so I want to be a part of that process.”

Q: Describe your high school experience.

A: “High school is not as stressful if you manage your time

well, and it helps you to learn that. Depending on what classes you take, it prepares you for college. Your classes determine your experience. My favorite part of high school has been all of the long lasting relationships with my friends.”

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: “My hobbies include going to work at Newks, hanging

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS FUNNY, OUTSPOKEN, INTELLIGENT Q: What was your least favorite thing about high school?

A: “One of the bad parts of high school is that stress can build up pretty quickly. You sometimes feel lonely and have friends that aren’t mature enough to understand, so you don’t have a source to vent to. Another bad part of high school is the acne.”

Q: What advice do you have for underclassmen?

A: “My advice for underclassmen would be to take as many

DC classes that you can. The DC classes are an investment in the long run and you will thank yourself when you’re a senior.

Work as hard as you can, and treat school like a job. Work very hard on the weekdays and relax on the weekends. Get a job as soon as you can because that will prepare you down the roa,d and it’ll be nice to have some money. Don’t worry about the ‘in crowd’ because they will peak in high school.”

out with friends, going shopping and selling clothes to resale stores, having picnics in my backyard and going on nature walks with my ‘boo thang’.” photo by k. rogers

LOOKING AHEAD Despite the uncertainty that comes with graduating, Mohon is eager to move on to the next phase of her life. “I am nervous because I will be on my own, and I will be responsible for everything that I do when I mess up, and I can’t blame it on my mom or my sister,” Mohon said. “I will be responsible for everything that I do and that’s nerve-racking. But I am excited about moving off, being my own person, getting to make all my decisions and seeing what changes I’ll go through and how I’ll grow.”

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

COMMUNITY

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MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

IN-DEPTH

THE PROBLEMS WITH POT

BY ANDREA LOREDO-GONZALES staff writer

medical need vs. potential negative impact causes contention over legalization of medicinal marijuana

Mark Muenzmaier is like any other father. He wants to do all he can for his child.

Born with various disabilities, his 29-year-old daughter has had a lifetime of seizures. She’s been treated at hospitals in Arkansas with prescription drugs and has had a device implanted in her chest to help stop her seizures.

“All of those things [have] worked to some degree, but they haven’t stopped her from having seizures,” Muenzmaier said.

“I’m talking many, many seizures every day, probably hundreds a day.”

Now that Arkansas voters passed the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act in November 2016 and the first dispensaries are set to open this month, Muenzmaier hopes to have the opportunity to see if medical marijuana will curtail his daughter’s seizures.

In order to legally purchase medicinal marijuana, Muenzmaier must get a registry card for his daughter, which requires a licensed doctor to certify that she is diagnosed with one of the qualifying medical conditions. The application fee and the yearly renewal fee are both $50.

Currently, there is only one physician in Texarkana, Arkansas, who is licensed to prescribe medical marijuana — Dr. Joseph Parker with The Parker Clinic. According to the Arkansas Times, the cost of a visit is $275.

“In the last probably 20 years, people have been trying to find what they consider to be more natural forms of treatment for different diseases, so you see a lot of herbal stuff and supplements out there,” Parker said. “But the cannabis plant itself has been

used as a medicine for over 4,000 years. It’s one of the oldest medicinal plants we know of.”

There are two primary chemicals in the cannabis plant that seem to help people, Parker said. CBD, or cannabidiol, helps with anxiety and pain, while THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, can treat nausea and vomiting that are often associated with chemotherapy.

“Almost every patient on chemotherapy for their cancer starts to lose a huge amount of weight,” Parker said. “The chemotherapy causes an enormous amount of nausea and vomiting, and they have a lot of trouble keeping down enough nutrition to not die. It helps eye pressure for people with glaucoma, and for people with PTSD, it seems to help their anxiety.”

As of May 2, Arkansas has approved 11,262 medical marijuana ID cards.

There are 32 dispensaries across the state, including two in Texarkana. The Rx Med dispensary is planned for the old Electric Cowboy nightclub location on East Broad Street, and Bloom Medicinals will be located at 410 Realtor Ave. The initial business license fee to operate in Texarkana, Arkansas, is $7,500 with an annual renewal at $11,250. Mayor Allen Brown said he hopes the city will benefit from the dispensaries financially.

“Naturally, the city will be the benefactors of the sales tax revenue that medical marijuana will generate,” Brown said. “The franchise fee certainly will be an annual fee that these entities will have to pay on an annual basis. With the franchise fee income coming in and with the sales tax being generated [on] the sale of those products, [it] certainly will be an economic boost to the city.”

The price that patients will pay for

marijuana-based products is a concern for Muenzmaier. His daughter’s current medications can cost well over $1,000 a month.

“Until they start selling it here, we won’t know [the price], but based on other states, it’ll be quite cheaper,” Muenzmaier said.

Muenzmaier looked at what has happened in Colorado as a guide, where local companies are experimenting with cannabidiol, or CBD, alternatives rather than tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the hallucinogenic agent.

“They’ve had success with people with similar conditions going there and using something called Charlotte’s Web and other liquid-based marijuana extract, none of which contain the substance or THC, which provides the so-called high,” Muenzmaier said. “They are all with the CBD oil and other additives. We’re hoping that if some of these liquid substances come to the state, they also would be cheaper.”

Concerns about the impact of the dispensaries in the city have prompted some to speak out.

“The problem with medical marijuana being legalized is that it blurs the line and increases the likelihood of recreational marijuana being legalized,” Pastor Tracy Harris said. “When that’s the case, what happens is all of the things that follow.

I can prove it financially, I can prove it crime-related, I can prove it legally — the issues or proximity to schools and churches and so forth have a profound negative impact in the collateral damage.”

Harris believes that the dispensaries will have a negative collateral effect on real estate, law enforcement and city finances.

SEE PROBLEMS ON PAGE 14

QUALIFIED PATIENT REQUIREMENTS In order to qualify for a registry card to legally purchase medical marijuana, one must meet the following qualifications: • Be 18 years of age or older or be a minor patient with parental consent.

• Be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition — click here to see a list of qualifying medical conditions.

• Have the official written certification from a physician.

• Be an Arkansas resident with proof of residency (AR Driver’s License or AR State ID card).

• State law prohibits members of Arkansas National Guard and United States Military from obtaining a registry ID card.

medicinal illegal

recreational and medicinal CBD oil law

Copyright © Free Vector Maps.com

4 15 33 10

states prohibit the use of marijuana, both recreational and medical states have some type of regulation for CBD oil but do not allow marijuana states allow the use of medical marijuana states allow both recreational and medical use of marijuana

A LEGAL DIVIDE Crossing state line with medical marijuana poses problem

BY MADDIE ANDERSON opinion editor Texarkana, USA, bordered by Arkansas and Texas. It is one community seemingly divided by the lines of paint on State Line Avenue. It is divided between the Texas Tigers and the Arkansas Hogs with the Battle of the Axe. It is divided on the age at which one can test for a driving permit.

However, there is a sense of camaraderie between the two. It is shown through the adjoining post offices. Texarkana is both divided and united and has been since 1873, but new challenges arise everyday and threaten this balance which strengthens the divide.

When Arkansas voters in November 2016 passed the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act, which allows citizens to purchase legalized cannabis from licensed dispensaries, the division down the state line grew wider. The act would allow for five cultivators and medicinal marijuana to be sold in the 32 dispensaries, including two in Texarkana.

As cultivators first break ground and new shops open their doors in May, disputes over the dispensaries continues in Texarkana. Medical marijuana will be available to Arkansas residents via dispensaries with a medical card and a doctor’s prescription. In Texas, however, all forms of marijuana are illegal, prescribed or otherwise.

“I think there may be some confusion on the part of people that may think, ‘I’ve got this medical marijuana card that is accepted in Arkansas,’ ” said Shawn Vaughn, public information officer for the Texarkana, Texas, police department.

“It’s not accepted in Texas at all. We don’t

recognize it.”

The Texarkana, Texas, police department plans to enforce the divide down the state line, as they have done in the past.

“There’s really not going to be any difference in the way we do it on our side because the law in Texas hasn’t changed,” Vaughn said. “We don’t recognize medical marijuana at all, so [if] somebody comes across the state line, whether they bought it from a dealer or bought it legally from somebody [in Arkansas], once they come into Texas in possession of it, they are subject to being arrested.”

Arkansas Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kristian Robertson does not predict any changes in law enforcement to happen in either state.

“Just because somebody has a medical marijuana prescription, it does not mean that they can carry it wherever they want to,” Robertson said. “They can leave it at home in Arkansas.”

With medical marijuana legal in every state that borders Texas, there’s a push to move toward legalization. House Bill 63, which would reduce the criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana, passed the Texas House on April 30.

The bill, proposed by Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso, would lower possession of an ounce or less from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C, making it equivalent to a parking ticket. Two ounces or less would result in a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of $2,000 or jail time.

“In each state, the prosecutor will decide what threshold of prosecution is,” Robertson said. “There are different types

of cases with marijuana users. There are users who have smaller quantities, which are usually charged with a misdemeanor.

There are mules who are the people who carry the marijuana into our community or they traffic it to Dallas or wherever they are going. And then there are drug dealers. So it just depends on how much they have as to what the punishment will be, but any usable amount is punishable and the prosecutor will make the decision.”

As soon as House Bill 63 was passed, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged to kill it in the Senate in a tweet. Opposition by Patrick and his fellow conservative voters argue that legalization poses a potential increase in crime.

On May 6 the House advanced House Bill 1365, which would expand the Texas Compassionate Use Act. The act, passed in 2015, created a registry of physicians who prescribe low-THC cannabis to patients who have been diagnosed with intractable epilepsy. The bill expands the list of debilitating conditions to include Alzheimer’s, Chron’s disease, muscular dystrophy, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism and more.

“I’m not for the legalization,” Vaughn said. “It’s not the most dangerous drug out there, but I think given the level of acceptance it has, the problems that it brings with it make it as bad, if not worse, than others. There will be a push for [legalized marijuana], but I just hope the legislature and everybody else pushes as hard as they possibly can against it. I don’t see an upside on this. I don’t see an upside on this at all for legalizing marijuana.”

SEE LEGAL ON PAGE 14

13

QUALIFYING CONDITIONS inclulding but not limiited to ... adiposis dolorosa (Dercum’s Disease) anorexia Arnold-Chiari malformation asthma attention deficit disorder (ADD) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) autism bipolar disorder bulimia causalgia chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy chronic insomnia chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complex regional pain syndrome (Type I and Type II) dystonia emphysema fibrous dysplasia general anxiety disorder hydrocephalus hydromyelia interstitial cystitis lupus migraine myasthenia gravis myoclonus nail-patella syndrome neurofibromatosis Parkinson’s Disease posterior lateral sclerosis post-concussion syndrome reflex sympathetic dystrophy residual limb and phantom pain restless leg syndrome Sjogren’s syndrome spinocerebellar ataxia spinal cord injury or disease syringomyelia Tarlov cysts traumatic brain injury

14 IN-DEPTH

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

PROBLEMS FROM PAGE 12 “It is not a financial blessing,” Harris said. “It’s created a counterculture that is draining the finances, and now we’re having to spend extra resources in law enforcement and everything else to control the counterculture that legalized marijuana has created.”

Harris explains that being a border city presents many unique challenges for law enforcement.

“Because now, our law enforcement has to do an already tough job, and [legalization] takes it up times three or four to really police it, because it’s not legalized it in Texas,” Harris said. “It’s going to create a lot of financial hardship, a lot of issues with the legal enforcement of it.”

Harris sees it as a snowball effect. Schools, businesses, churches and homes will not want to be located near any dispensaries because of the likelihood of an increase in crime, which would drive property values down. All of this, in turn, will cost the city money.

“It’s costing us because people are moving out of the communities,” Harris said. “They don’t want their

children located [where there’s a dispensary], so there’s no schools built there. There’s no daycares built there.

There’s no businesses moving in there. There’s no homes built there because nobody wants to raise their kids around a medical marijuana dispensary.”

Harris isn’t necessarily against the use of medical marijuana.

“I’m 100 percent about helping people and helping the community,” Harris said. “But if it’s done, then it needs to be done in a regulated fashion. I understand [medical marijuana] requires a prescription. If it requires a prescription, then it needs to be distributed through a legalized pharmacy. That’s my biggest concern — that there’s no standardized control of medical marijuana.”

Some substances that are under federal control are considered more dangerous than marijuana.

“You know alcohol is legal and, of course, it’s a very, very deadly substance,” Parker said. “Nicotine is legal even though it’s the most addictive substance that we know of and 200,000 people die every year from

tobacco-related problems.”

Because many of these substances are directly correlated with health problems, medical marijuana is an alternative that can provide solutions for many who suffer from pain, mental disorders and other health problems.

“It’s really best reserved for sick people who, where the benefit of this outweighs the risk of the other medications they might use,” Parker said.

Muenzmaier hopes his daughter will be one who benefits. If he can get the medical marijuana registry card from the Arkansas health department and has access to the medication he is seeking at the local dispensaries, he is willing to give it a try.

“It’s just gonna be sort of an experiment to try,” Muenzmaier. “I think for most people, this is like, ‘we’ve tried everything else and nothing has worked, or nothing has worked satisfactory, so it can’t hurt to try.’” andrealoredo@tigertimesonline.com

LEGAL FROM PAGE 13 The results of studies on the impact of medical marijuana in communities vary. While some studies claim that legalization leads to a decrease in crime, other studies refute this.

There are, however, valid oppositions found in law enforcement. A 2015 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the legalization of marijuana on the DWI system indicated that law enforcement would have to shift their mindset from possession of marijuana to impairment by the drug. This would result in increased cost in law enforcement, prosecution, court record, toxicology lab tests and testimony.

“The issues you will see will likely be more on the Arkansas side,” Vaughn said. “I think they will probably experience an increase in robberies. Somebody goes into [a dispensary] and comes out with marijuana, there may be somebody who decides to steal their marijuana.”

Sgt. Jeremy Gordon with the Texarkana, Arkansas, police department said they are already prepared to deal the situation.

“We don’t really have to adapt at all,” Gordon said. “If it’s legal and somebody has a prescription for it and legally has it, then we don’t care. I mean this is kind of as simple as that.”

Gordon believes legalization across state lines will have more of an effect on Texas. “[The state line] always causes some hiccups,” Gordon said. “Generally the laws [in each state] are the same. Now I know Texas’ law, as far as medical marijuana, hasn’t caught up with Arkansas. So it would cause more of a problem, I think, for the Texas side than it would for us. Somebody has prescription or a permit to actually have the marijuana, and they are legal. But once they drive into Texas with it, that’s a totally different animal, and the Texas side will have to deal with that.”

Texarkana has long been united across state lines. A symbol of an interstate community, its influence extends across borders. Texarkana has now come to exemplify the contested issue of medical marijuana divided down state lines.

“Obviously there is a strong grass roots effort by some people who would like very much for [marijuana to be legalized in Texas],” Vaughn said. “But I think that would be a huge mistake for Texas or any other state.” maddieanderson@tigertimesonline.com

CBD VS.THC contains 0.3% THC or less

contains 5-25% THC

Found in extracts from the hemp plant. Sold in gels, gummies, oils, supplements, extracts

The main psychoactive compound found in marijuana that gives a high sensation. Consumed by smoking or in oils, edibles, tinctures, capsules

Used for conditions such as

Used for conditions such as

• • • • • •

• • • • • •

Seizures Reduces anxiety and depression Nausea Inflammation Pain Inflammatory bowel system

Pain Gluacoma Insomnia Nausea Anxiety Muscle Spasticity

Side effects include:

Side effects:

Research suggests that side effects occuring from CBD are likely that of drug-to-drug interactions between CBD and other medications

• • • • • •

Source: healthline.com

Increased heart rate Coordination problems Dry mouth Red eyes Slower reaction times Memory loss

COMMUNITY

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

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HOSPICE OF TEXARKANA

INPATIENT CARE CENTER

2407 Galleria Oaks Dr., Texarkana, TX

HospiceofTexarkana.org

16 FEATURE

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

TRENTON FOSTER National Guard

Following in his relatives’ footsteps and continuing the family legacy, Foster is joining the military. Ever since childhood, Foster has aspired to enlist, photo by b. groom so he is eager to be a part of the infantry for Bravo company in the National Guard. “I’m excited for basic training, but also scared,” Foster said. “I’m going to get yelled at, but hopefully, learn a thing or two while getting yelled at.”

HANNAH KLEIN U.S. Naval Academy

Well-known for her academic prowess, Hannah Klein is joining the ranks of America’s best in the U.S. Naval Academy. She hopes to join the submarine division and study computer science. “There photo by m. stanfill are a lot of unique opportunities available in the military that I wouldn’t get from a normal college experience,” Klein said. “I’m scared about how much they’re going to make us run. I’m excited about all the skills I’m going to learn, and I feel like I’m really going to grow as a person.

DRAYLON TRAYLOR U.S. Navy

Like his uncle who served in the military, senior Draylon Traylor is preparing to embark on the next chapter in his life. Traylor is joining the Navy next year, accompanying photo by b. groom his friends. Traylor works out every morning and every night in preparation for the physical examination and intense training regimen at boot camp. Traylor is excited to travel the world and climb the ranks of the Navy.

From Classes to

CAMO

Brave students make the leap into the military after high school

BY MOLLY KYLES, feature editor

ASHYEA WHIGHAM U.S. Navy

Despite not knowing how to swim, senior Ashyea Whigham is setting sail this fall, enlisting in the Navy reserves. She does sit ups and push ups every morning photo by b. groom before school and works out at the track on the weekends. After attending boot camp, Whigham plans on getting her degree in psychology and entertains the thought of becoming a psychologist in the Navy. Whigham is excited to travel the world and is keen on the station in Hawaii.

“I like the idea of committing to something much greater.

”

Hannah Klein, 12

COMMUNITY

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

VISIT US STUDENT Life

Nursing New Simulation Hospital

Campus Involvment

for the Best Learning Experience

with clubs, greek life, and student organizations, there is always something to do on campus

student center State-of-the-Art Fitness Center

from athletics to the gym, this new center has it all

WWW.TAMUT.EDU

7101 UNIVERSITY AVENUE TEXARKANA, TX 75503

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18 SPORTS

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TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

Top The

k. gordon

Sports Highlights

m. debenport

1 compiled by t. wall, j. morgan, c. rainwater, m. brown, a. cross

Serve Up Success Four years.

That’s what it took to get to this point for the senior class. All the blood, sweat and tears that went into this moment become worth it once they achieved history.

The volleyball team captured the district title this season and climbed all the way to the regional semifinals, making it further than any Tiger volleyball team has ever gone.

“I have played with all of these girls for so long that I wasn’t sad about losing because we had already come so far but because they’re my family now and I will never get to play with them again,” senior Kaitlyn Cross said. “I’ve learned something from each of them, and I will always be grateful for this last season.”

Reclaiming the Axe

2

In the 104th annual Battle of the Axe, the Tigers fought tooth-and-nail to reclaim what was stolen from its rightful owner.

Last season’s matchup had not been kind to the Tigers as former Texas High athletic director came out victorious in his Razorbacks’ debut, handing his old team a 7-0 defeat. This year, however, in a back-andforth slugfest, the Tigers reigned supreme bringing the axe back to Tiger Stadium with a 43-35 victory.

“We started off slow in the first quarter and they were ahead of us,” senior defensive back Chris Lyles said. “In the second quarter, wide receiver Kobe Webster scored our first touchdown and that’s a spark we needed to get us rolling toward our victory.”

Not only was this year’s rivalry game super intense coming off our previous loss against Arkansas, but the Tiger’s win brought about an extra sense of pride for the players.

“It was a very sentimental moment for me because of Leonard,” Lyles said. “Last year we were supposed to win it for him and we lost, but this year I did everything I could to help the team win the Axe back for him.”

“

It felt more like the city than the school because we are crosstown rivals.

You get bragging rights throughout the whole year until you meet again next year. Just to be out there with the guys beating Arkansas was a blessing.

Getting that fumble recovery to seal the game was God’s work.”

Justin Franklin, 12

SPORTS

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

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m. debenport

4

3

On the Break

Running Up the Score Junior Owen Likins has enjoyed one of the most successful individual seasons in Tiger athletic history, with school records in cross country, swim and track. He has set a new personal record in the 900, 1600 and 3200 meter races, as well as the 5k.

“Obviously, I’ve gotten faster, but I think I’ve gotten more mentally tough, you know,” Likins said. “Going and running like the Texas Assistance Festival and Texas Relays, those are huge races in front of big crowds.”

Likins is currently looking forward to the state meet for track and field where he will compete in the 800 and 1600 meter runs.

“At state, I’m seeded very well,” Likins said. “I’m in the top three in both of my events, so I’m hoping to go out and get on the podium and maybe win it all.”

The Lady Tigers basketball team made school history when they reached the regional quarterfinals of playoffs where they were defeated by North Forney, 47-54.

“Our season was very constructive and motivational,” senior Victoria Willis said.

“Without each other, we would have never been as successful as we were. We worked hard every practice to accomplish our goals and make history, and our work ethic gave us the satisfaction that we needed. Without our time, effort and chemistry, I don’t believe our season would have went the way it did.”

a. runnels

h. rainwater

5

State Bound

Another dominating season come to a close for juniors Walker Tripp and Quinn Sanders. These two members of the team have advanced all the way to the state matches.

“We’ve won most of our matches expectedly,” Tripp said. “We have even won some that we were the underdog in.”

As the rest of the team can rest easy, Tripp and Sanders continue to practice daily amongst not just themselves, but with players much older than themselves.

“We have been practicing every day, making each day more difficult,” Tripp said. “We even looked to college players to play against which helps challenge us a lot.”

Going into state the duo hopes to make it as far as possible. They have had their challenges and believe they have proved worthy of going far in state.

“We’re going to try our best at our state matches,” Tripp said. “We have worked harder than ever and I think we can go really far.”

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TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

WINNER OF A CSPA GOLD CROWN, NSPA PACEMAKER, ILPC SILVER STAR

CULTURE

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

BEND THE KNEE Who will sit on the Iron Throne?

BY APRIL ALVARADO opinion editor

TYRION LANNISTER 14% “I think Tyrion is going to win because he is secretly a Targaryen, which is closer to the [Iron Throne] than Daenerys and Jon. They don’t know that yet because none of it has come out, but [Joanna Lannister] was raped by the Mad King Aerys Targaryen, and so that would make him a Targaryen, which would make him the rightful heir to the throne.”

- Holly Mooneyham, English teacher

SANSA STARK 8% When it comes to the Stark siblings, Sansa seems most likely to sit on the Iron Throne. Her ardous journey has taken her from wanting to be a princess to learning the cold truths of a ruthless world. Though she doesn’t agree with Cersei’s morality, she did learn a great deal from the current Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, enough to eventually outsmart Littlefinger. But Sansa somehow only grew more confident, more intelligent and more empathetic.

JON SNOW 32% “I shouldn’t be so confident because the show loves to kill main characters, but to me, Jon Snow winning the Iron Throne is the best resolution of all the different threads and turmoil that has happened in the show. I think Jon would be the best leader, and he’s my show favorite; I hope he wins.”

- Lance Kyles, U.S. history teacher

DAENERYS AND JON 18% “I don’t think one singular person is ever good; you know, as the quote says, ‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ I think Daenerys is kind of showing signs that are similar to the Mad King, and Jon grounds her. I think that if they ruled together they would both be a check and a balance for each other. [Daenerys] has gone through a lot too, but [Jon] has those really humble beginnings, he’s like the quintessential archetypal hero because he came from a humble background and turns out he really was a king the whole time. The balance between them appeals to me.”

- Brooke Ferguson, English teacher

*Contains spoilers

CERSEI LANNISTER 0% Cersei is currently sitting on the Iron Throne and ruling all Seven Kingdoms. She is the only villain to survive from episode one to the final season, so credit to her for that. It is clear that Cersei is intelligent since she has outwitted numerous enemies in the past, including managing to stay alive after the Night King/White Walker invasion. Despite many calling her a narcissist, her violent actions to stay on the throne were all based on the prophecy she was told when she was younger.

BRAN STARK 2%

“Bran will be utterly useless in [Game of Thrones] if he doesn’t become the king.

He didn’t do anything in the Battle of Winterfell except for being ready to die and getting Theon killed. If he doesn’t win, his character would’ve been utterly useless.”

- Daniel Williams, U.S. history teacher

DAENERYS TARGARYEN 22% “I think [Daenerys] is going to be on the Iron Throne because she has the most experience as a leader, and I feel like she’s proven herself throughout [the show]. In the Battle of Winterfell, even though she had Jorah protecting her, she was still standing there with a sword and riding her dragon. She’s proven that she cares about others and that she would be a good leader.”

- Anne Granado, English teacher

GENDRY 4% Gendry is King Robert Baratheon’s only surviving illegitimate son, which would give him a claim to the Iron Throne. Gendry may not be the most obvious choice to sit on the Iron Throne, but he could be the most stable choice. And what Westeros needs after years of unprecedented slaughter is stability. Having a Baratheon on the throne works; there was peace under Robert, and the people are ready to return to calmer days.

Daenerys legitimized Gendry as Lord of Storm’s End during “The Last of the Starks,” which would further secure the throne to him.

LAST EPISODE OF THE FINAL SEASON AIRS SUNDAY *A survey of 50 students determined who will sit on the Iron Throne

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22 COMMUNITY

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

MAY 16, 2019 • TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM

PHOTO ESSAY photo by m. stanfill

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photo by k. rogers

GET READY Junior Olivia Bruggeman applies eye shadow to junior Chloe Page before the show begins.

Getting ready was one of the ways that team members bonded throughout the show. “This time together gives us memories we can share, which tightens our bond with each other,” Bruggeman said. “We cry together, we laugh together and we kick together.”

SENIOR CIRCLE Best friends and senior HighSteppers Elaina Robertson, Imari Kelley and Gabby Leon reminisce over their time on the drill team together. For the seniors, their spring show performance was the last time they would perform together as HighSteppers.

ROCK ON

photo by m. stanfill

Spring show centers on rock and roll

BY PEYTON SIMS staff writer The traditional spring show was held on April 26 and 27 in the Sullivan Performing Arts Center.

HighSteppers rocked the stage after months of perfecting the dances they performed. The spring show consisted of fun times with friends as well as tears shed because it was the seniors’ last show.

“It’s really sad because it was my first full spring show as a team member. Since it was my first and my last, it sucked because it was a big deal and was one of the saddest things that has happened throughout high school,” senior Elaina Robertson said. “Not being able to see the girls every day and tell them about my day and make new memories with them is what I’m going to miss the most. The underclassmen are going to miss this a lot, and we’re going to miss them just as much.” peyton.sims@tigertimesonline.com TO THE BEAT Hitting their final pose, junior Raven Ivory and seniors Gabby Leon and Sarah Grace Boudreaux pose with attitude at the end of the spring show hip hop dance. Leon became well known for her talent during hip hop dances.

BIG FINISH Seniors Sarah Grace Boudreaux and Madison Brown strike a pose at the beginning of their final spring show. They have been on the team together every year of high school. “Getting to pose at the end of tap with Sarah Grace was a great experience, not only because we worked so hard on the dance, but because it was one of the last times we would ever dance together,” Brown said.

photo by b. groom

HUG GOODBYE Senior HighStepper Elaina Robertson hugs junior Kenzie Stevens tightly and cries during the end of the final show. “As soon as the last eight count ended, I just cried.

It was just sad that it was the last time,” Robertson said. The realization of this being their last time performing together as HighSteppers finally hit.

LEAP FOR JOY Freshmen Rylee McDuffie, Leila Kinney and Olivia George perform together at their first spring show. The trio performed to the song “Clay,” by Hana. “It is all about not letting people push you around and being your own person and not molding yourself to fit others’ perspectives,” George said. “We really wanted to show that we are our own people and independent women.”

photo by b. groom

photo by b. groom

24 COMMUNITY

TIGERTIMESONLINE.COM • MAY 16, 2019

SUMMER Make yours count!

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