February 2013

Prince George H.S. - 7801 Laurel Spring Rd. Prince George, VA 23875 - www.trnwired.org - February 15, 2013

Volume XI Issue 5

Ban On Women In Combat Lifted p.8

The Royalettes dance team displays posters in memory of Marvin Massenburg, Jr. at the football game on Sept. 29. Various clubs made signs in dedication to Marvin Massenburg, Jr. Photo by Tasia Faulcon.

Junior Destiny Grubbs is 1st Lt. in JROTC as well as rifle team commander and Putnam leader. The ban on the law prohibiting women in combat was lifted on Jan. 24.

Photo by Ridhi Patel

theRoyalNews

Visit trnwired.org to see the latest photo galleries

February is Black History Month and this year, the Cultural Awareness and SADD clubs will put on a Black History Program on Feb. 22. The Black History Program will feature students and faculty members in skits about various significant African American people in history.

Each year in Feb., major cities in the world have their fashion show. This year the PGHS fashion show, put on by the fashion marketing class, will be held on Mar. 15 in the auditorium at 7:00 PM.

Cultural Awareness, SADD Club Celebrate Black History p. 7

FashionMarketingClass Students Audition Presents FashionShow For Talent Show p. 15 p. 17

Students prepare for the upcoming talent show on Feb. 15. Students will be displaying various talents and essentially competing for an award at the end of the show.

2 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

op/ed

The Everyday Struggle and When it Becomes Real

the RoyalNews

W

O

ur mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible.

We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A4, or e-mail them to cwaugaman@pgs.k12.va.us We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar.

Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum.

Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org.

Section Editors Front page: Quetasia Faulcon-Op/Ed: Nathan Britt-News: Casey Overton-Features: Faven ButlerDouble Truck: Danielle Marshall-A&E : Deborah Gardner-Sports: Kristen Schwalm-Ampersand: Tiana Kelly-Photo Editor/Distribution and Events: Ridhi Patel-Business & Ad Editor: Chloe Alexander-Online Editor-in-Chief: Korrina Smith Online Sports Editor: Courtney Taylor-Social Media Manager: Christina Buckles

Illustration by Anthony Sudol.

Dance Flops Due To Low Ticket Sales

O

Writers Debra Thomas-Genevieve Perez-Kolade OlanrewajuBlier Smith-Sarah Daniel-JoJo Taylor-Lindsay Pugh-Devan Fishburne-Angelica Martinez-Mallory Cox-Roxy Sherrick-John Shumar-Samantha Barton

Editor-in-Chief Amanda Majewski Chloe Alexander

Managing Editor Quetasia Faulcon

Adviser

Chris Waugaman

Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Silver Crown Winner 2011 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2011 Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010 SIPA All Southern 2008-2011

The Royal News, PGHS trnwired.org & trnsports.org

7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia

Editorial

Business Manager

n Feb. 8, a Valentine’s Dance was scheduled to take place at the high school. However, due to the lack of ticket sales, the PTA was obligated to cancel.

The dance was supposed to be a fundraiser for after prom. Questions have arisen as to why this event fell through.

One explanation for the lack of ticket sales could be the minimal amount of advertising leading up to the dance. This problem could have been easily solved with a few flyers and more aggressive promotion on the announcements. Advertising sooner would have allowed students to have more time to prepare. They would have been able to see which of their friends were going and convince a few others to attend.

Another reason the dance was unsuccessful could be because dances

are expensive. With such short notice, some students may not have had the money to afford to go. The students have to pay for a ticket, buy something new to wear, and maybe even go out for dinner. Students in high school want a dance to be more than just gathering in the commons with a DJ. It has become an old and stale pastime.

For a dance to be successful, people need to want to go. If it had been made clear to the students with advanced notice that the Valentine’s Dance was helping to pay for after prom, it is probable that they would have sold a greater amount of tickets.

Juniors and Seniors would have come out to support the production of their after prom. To have a successful dance, students need to be informed and they need to believe that they are paying for something valuable: time well spent.

hy is life so hard?

Everyday we go through so many stupid and ridiculous things that make life difficult. Things like: Having no milk for your cereal. Always blinking in photos.

Stubbing your toe.

Spilling water down the side when pouring from glass to glass. Dealing with an inaccurate GPS. Seatbelts Nathan Britt that are too tight.

Seatbelts that get twisted. Opening a box on the wrong side. Water fountains with a short stream. Opening a bag of gummies too violently. Losing the tail of the tape.

Tracking dirt all over the floor. When batteries die. Unwanted Facebook requests. Tripping up the stairs.

Tripping down the stairs. Missing the last step. Skiing into a tree.

When people park too close. When the same bad song is on two stations.

Awkwardly catching someone’s eye.

Recycled tweets. Long hashtags. When you think someone is talking to you, but they have a bluetooth in their ear.

When sodas explode. When the printer runs out of paper. Running into desks.

The deceit and lies of the potato chip industry. STEPPING ON LEGOS. Getting stuck with the last piece of bread. Signing up for a “free” trial.

When you pierce through the back of the Capri Sun. Losing an oreo in the milk. Dropping the tab into the can. The unreachable foosball. Getting coughed on. Washing your money. Stepping in chewing gum. When a fly gets in the car. When a wasp gets in the car. Sunny days during exams. Tripping for no reason. Autocorrect.

Flashing internet advertisements.

Unevenly ripping out a sheet of paper.

Never having enough electrical outlets. Unnecessary abbreviations and acronyms. Sitting behind really tall people. Not being able to understand microwave instructions. Full memory cards. Being in between sizes. The feeling of falling. The third time not being the charm. When the struggle becomes real, remember how fortunate we are to have problems like these.

FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 3

op/ED

Is online dating a safe way to meet people?

The security of online dating has been called into question as of late with the emergence of MTV’s Catfish and the unveiling of the hoax perpetrated on Manti Te’O. What do you think?

A

ccording to match.com, 120,000 people find and marry someone they met online each year. Even though so many people find love online, some are skeptical about the safety of online dating, when there is honestly nothing to worry about.

People on online dating sites can sometimes be different than they say they are. The MTV reality show “Catfish: The TV Show” features people who date online that live hundreds of miles away, they then fall in love with someone they have never met.

This usually ends badly with one of them not being completely honest with who they are. Proper online dating prevents this.

Online Dating Magazine gives out useful safety tips to potential online daters. The basis of these tips is to keep private things private. The magazine include tips such as not giving out personal information that could possibly be used to take advantage of you. It is important to meet in a public place and stay in that public place if one does intend to go out with someone they have met online. Waiting until the other person has left is a good strategy, so you can be sure that they cannot follow you home and possibly harm you. In these instances it can never hurt to bring someone along that can act as a look out.

Until a person feels absolutely safe and certain that a person is who he or she says they are, they should keep their guard up.

They should keep their personal items close, so such information cannot be stolen, misused or tampered with. If people guard their personal and financial information they can be protected from things such as identity theft.

Match.com and other reputable dating sites do background checks to keep members safe. Match.com also gives out tips to its members on how to remain safe, such as getting to know a person before meeting them, not allowing them to pick you up for meetings or know where you live, leaving by yourself, and telling a friend of your plans. It is also important to use common sense, if something online seems too good to be true, it probably is. Dating online is perfectly safe if one follows these simple steps, uses common sense, and takes steps to keep their privacy.

A PRO CON Quetasia Faulcon

Courtney Taylor

Dating site users who lie about their height, weight, or age on their profile.

19%

Have not lied

33%

81% 67% Have lied

ccording to ABCNews and Online Dating Magazine, an estimated 40 million people use online dating services hoping to find their true love. However, only about 280,000 marriages in one year were a result of using an online dating services.

With only 7% success, the dangers that come along with online dating aren’t worth the risk.

In a study done by Jeana Frost from Boston University, approximately 20% of daters admit to lying about themselves online. When daters lie about themselves, other daters often fall into their trap thinking they’ve met the perfect match. However, who they think they are speaking to is actually someone completely different. These statistics reassure the dangers of online dating. InternetPredatorStatistics.com says that each year, internet predators commit more than 16,000 abductions, 100 murders, and thousands of rapes.

Although there are many risks associated with becoming online prey, there are some precautions one can take to ensure their safety. First, a relationship should have plenty of time to grow over the internet before it becomes personal. Time can lead to trust which will increase the chances of staying safe.

Once the couple feels comfortable enough to meet for the first time, it should be in a public place. It wouldn’t hurt either to bring someone along and maybe make it a group date. This will help decrease the risk of being put in major danger and becoming another statistic. Finally, all online daters should trust their instinct.

If something doesn’t feel right within a relationship, it shouldn’t continue to grow.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the subject of dating becomes more and more prevalent. Relationships can become dangerous whether it is online or not; however, meeting someone in person guarantees that you know who you are talking to, whereas meeting someone online requires additional precautions to be taken through the growth of relationship. Before online dating existed, relationships thrived just as well, only with fewer risks.

From datingsitesreviews.com

Making the Grade Making the Grade is the staff’s report card for student interest topics.

A+

The boys ‘ basketball team defeted Thomas Dale on Tuesday night. The Royals are advancing to Regionals.

A

MTV’s Made came to Prince Geroge High School for open auditions on Thurs., Feb., 14.

B+

Only 115 days left until seniors graduate.

C

The winding down of winter sports and the beginning of tryouts for spring sports.

4 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 5

NEWS Ball Has Arrived >> Military The Military Ball will be held on Feb.

BRIEFS

>>

16 at the Moose Lodge in Hopewell.

It is ten dollars per person and nonJROTC will need a date form.

Malik Vaughan and LCT Chandler

Auditions Students >> MTV MTV auditioned students for the show Made on

Feb. 14 from 2:30 to 4:30. Made focuses on students that want to become something they can’t achieve alone.

>>

SADD Honors Black History Month SADD’s presentation for Black History Month will be held on Feb. 15. It will take place in the auditorium from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and it’s free to attend. The program will include music, a presentation of traditional ceremonies, and more cultural attributes.

Talent Show Takes Place The PGHS Talent Show will be held Feb. 15 at 7:00 PM. It will take place in the auditorium and there is an attendance fee of five dollars.

Briefly >>Black History Month >> Valentine’s Day Arthur W. Mitchell (1883-1968) He was the first African American democratic congressman.

Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) He was the first African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Rosa Parks (1913-2005) She was an activist during the Civil Rights movement.

Edward Brooke III (1919- ) He was the first African American senator.

Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) She was the first African American congresswoman.

Medgar Evers (1925-1963) He helped desegregate the University of Mississippi.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) He was a civil rights leader that stood for racial equality and peacemaking. Before being assassinated, he won the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Barack Obama (1961- ) He is the first African American president in the United States.

This holiday on Feb. 14 is set aside for romance and companionship. It originates from the Saint Valentine in the Christian religion and also ancient Roman tradition. There are many legends about Saint Valentine. One legend says Valentine married couples secretly despite the law of that time. Another says that Valentine sent the first ‘valentine’ to a woman he loved signed ‘from your valentine.’ The origin of this holiday is evident in how it is celebrated today.

Is Valentine’s Day commercialized?

Do you prefer to give or to receive?

Give

Yes No 83%

27%

58%

Receive 42%

Survey conducted with one hundred students (all grades).

>> Groundhog’s Day Groundhog’s Day was on Feb. 2, and it was the 157th year of this holiday. The groundhog did not see his shadow, therefore Spring will come early this year.

6 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 7

Features

Black History Month Honored

Cultural Awareness, SADD Clubs Sponsor Program On Black History Angelica Martinez trn writer

F

eb. is the month when African Americans are honored for their achievements in history. Also known as Black History Month, this is a time when students are educating the community about specific persons who have had an impact in their lives.

Black History Month dates back to 1926, due to the efforts of Carter G. Woodson. It initially started as “Negro History Week” because the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were in Feb. Over time, it spread to be the holiday that it is today.

Cultural Awareness and SADD club will be holding a program on Friday, Feb. 22 for all of Prince George County from 7-9 p.m.

The program is intended to be entertaining but also informative of significant AfricanAmericans in history.

“The goal is to assist with educating them on African-American history,” sponsor Takisha Ogunyemi said.

Ogunyemi is responsible for the Cultural Awareness club. It is her effort and work through the club that have made the program and activities possible. Cinnamon Brown, who is in charge of the Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) club, has been collaborating with her to make it a success.

Cultural Awareness and SADD club are presenting their program in the auditorium with free admission. In place of a fee, donations for the clubs are accepted and greatly appreciated.

The program will consist of skits done by not only the students, but faculty in the high school and members of the community.

Auditions for a part in the program were

open to the students on Monday, Feb. 4th, and Thursday, Feb. 7th.

Some of the roles that are to be portrayed in the program are to include famous African-Americans like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama. The lives of entertainers will be acted out as well.

Such entertainers include Whitney Houston and Oprah Winfrey.

The purpose of the skits is to educate the public about the lives of African-Americans from the past and present. The program will also consist of music, biographies, and poetry. “[Students should] take pride in Black History Month, and honor our historians and our current leaders,” Ogunyemi said.

Roughly 40 people, including faculty and students of the school, are going to be participating in the Black History Month program. As a result, a lot of work has been put forth in organizing and recruiting members.

“I think it’s very important program for Prince George. This is a great club, and learning about different cultures is an interesting thing to do, especially in such a small county like Prince George,” sophomore Tyler Whitby said.

Whitby is a member of Cultural Awareness Club, and appreciates everything the club is doing in honor of Black History Month.

“I think Black History Month is something that is very interesting, and it is a very important time of year that brings people together,” Whitby said.

Sophomore Carlos Littles,also a member of Cultural Awareness, is very proud to have a program that has the potential to change the student body.

“It will break down the barriers of stereotypical thoughts of students and open the gates of understanding of African-American culture,” Littles said.

Junior Diamond Tyler performs a song for her audition on Mon., Feb. 4 for the black history month program . The program will be held on Fri., Feb. 22.

Photo by Kristen Schwalm.

Visit www.trnwired.org to view the latest stories and photo galleries.

8 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

Features

Ban On Women In Combat Lifted

BY THE

NUMBERS

14

Percentage of women that are in active duty as of 2012 .

96

Number of women held Prisoners of War during Civil War, WWII, Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom .

JROTC members content with national ban lift concerning females on battlegrounds Debra Thomas trn writer

D

ating all the way back to the 18th century, women have been striving to make history, “her”story. From women’s suffrage to partaking in World War II under the influence of Rosie the Riveter, women have been making their mark on society. A more recent stride in history is the new law that permits women to fight in combat on the ground.

In 1994 the first legislation pertaining to women in combat circulated through congress, and was ultimately vetoed. However, on Jan. 24, 2013, U.S. Defense Attorney, Leon Panetta, lifted the ban, and is now permitting women various positions on battlegrounds.

“I like the new law because girls can show that they are just as good as boys,” junior Destiny Grubbs said.

Grubbs is a 2nd Lt. with hopes of becoming a Lt. Col. in the program. In the future, Grubbs plans on entering the Air Force or the Marines.

The face of the military will be changed indefinitely due to the ban lift. Some females

take this law as an initiative to enlist.

“There will be more opportunities for women. A lot of women feel like they can’t join the military, but the law can make them want to join,” sophomore Emily Gideon said.

Historically, women have been viewed as the weaker gender. They have had to face adversity and discrimination.

“I think that women are going to have to prove themselves because women haven’t had the same equality as men. It’s going to take a lot of blood, sweat, and tears,” Gideon said.

According to the Department of Defense, there are over 200,000 women that are active in the military, and there are approximately an additional 600,000 in the reserves and National Guard.

The JROTC program gives girls and boys a foundation for careers in the military.

“I have been planning on pursuing a career in the military, and it would seem fair if we could do all the same things,” sophomore Haley Parker said.

Although women were previously not allowed in combat, women were still fighting in the air, and some were already fighting on the ground without being recognized for their roles.

According to the Associated Press, before this new law was passed 152 women died, and 958 women were wounded by going over seas, commanding combat units, and being on the military bases in the midst of war. The law gives women the recognition they have been looking for on the field.

“I feel like our military has come a long way for allowing women to fight side by side

Junior Destiny Grubbs instructs the JROTC class as 2nd Lt. and rifle team commander. She believes women should be allowed front line combat roles.

Photo by Faven Butler. with men,” Command Sergeant major Daniel Reid said. “For the past 30 to 40 years they have been in supporting roles. First, women were flying helicopters in combat, then came [women] commanding units in combat. It seems only fitting to have them fighting side by side in combat.”

Reid was in a commanding position in Iraq before retiring from the army in Nov. of 2012, and has worked with several women in both commanding positions and combat units. Ten of the women he commanded were injured in combat and recognized for their service.

Combat units will have to deal with irregularities that they may not have had to deal with before the law went into action.

“It will be an adjustment for the combat units especially for the deployed units and units that train in a field environment,” Lieutenant Colonel Alvin Chandler said.

There may be an initial struggle for combat units to adjust to the new law, but the struggle may shift away.

“It [The new law] will more solidify the term ‘Army Strong’. I like the cliche ‘You should be all that you can be.’ We can now truly be army strong by allowing women to be all they can be,” Reid said.

93,637

Number of female veterans in the state of VA.

19.5

Percentage of women in the Army, Marine, Air Force, Coastal Guard, and Navy Reserves.

24

Date of Jan. 2013 when the ban restricting women to fight on battlegrounds was lifted.

54 Number of females in JROTC this year.

Source: American Memorial Foundation for women in military service.

FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 9

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BE SURE TO VISIT OUR NEW ICE CREAM SUNDAE SHOPPE!

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Call 732-0990 6335 Courthouse Road Prince George, VA 23875

Prince George Fire & EMS Happy Valentine’s Day! Volunteers do not have the time to volunteer but they do because they have such big hearts!

The best gift you can give to show others you care, is the gift of yourself.

Come Join Our Team - Volunteer! fireems@princegeorgeva.org

10 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

RNT Homes LLC

A family owned and operated business that believes EVERY person should have a place to live that “FEELS LIKE HOME!!!”

If you are looking for nice, affordable housing in the Prince George and surrounding areas, we are the people to talk to!

Wood-Dale Swim Club BECOME A MEMBER!

Give us a call over the summer!

(804) 458-6376

Our Location: 3409 Norfolk Street in Hopewell, VA Wants to remind you...

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Call 804-862-2759 New homes coming soon...

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www.pleasantgrovepg.org

Address: 3040 S Crater Rd. Suite A Petersburg, Virginia 23805-9221

ampersand For The Love Of Fashion Dates For Spring Fashion Week NEW YORK: February 7 LONDON: February 15 MILAN: February 20 PARIS: February 26

“Fashion expresses personality.”

He quotes “Imitation is suicide,” by Ralph Waldo Emerson because “imitating someone else kills off his own individuality and uniqueness.”

“Being unique defines who you are and creativity is everything; matching means nothing. You don’t always have to match to look good. You could throw on opposites and still have an amazing outfit.”

Friday 2.15.13| THE ROYAL NEWS | 11

Fashion week happens twice a year in the major fashion capitals of the world: Paris, Milan, New York and London.

Fashion weeks are held several months in advance of the season to allow the press and buyers a chance to preview fashion designs for the following season.

From Jan. through Apr., designers showcase their autumn and winter collections. Fashion week for spring and summer is held from Sept. through Nov. This is also to allow time for retailers to arrange to purchase or incorporate the designers into their retail marketing.

The latest innovations in dress designs are showcased by renowned fashion designers during these fashion weeks, and all these latest collections are covered in magazines such as Vogue.

Senior Basheen Marshall has been known for his outrageous outfits whether it be for the gauges, the extremely big glasses he wears or the Vans and Jeremy Scotts he may have on his feet.

Marshall gives a couple of reasons to the fashion world on why he wears things the way he does and why he would not wear them any other way.

Design by Tiana Kelly

12 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

“Royal”

Design By: Danielle Marshall

With February 14th

Mr.Seely and Bauman-Seely

G

Married 7 Months

uidance counselor Tara Bauman is newly married to her former co-worker and longtime friend, Brian Seely. They have currently been married for seven months with their anniversary on July 3rd, 2012.

They chose to get married in

Central Park, NY. “We go to Central Park every Christmas so it made sense to get married there,” Bauman-Seely said.

Bauman-Seely believes the key to a long lasting relationship is to trust and have fun with one another.

“There are so many serious things that come with marriage, you just have to be able to have fun and be good friends through it all,” Bauman-Seely said.

Her favorite traits about her spouse include his caring nature and sense of humor. She met her spouse in Pennsylvania, where they used to work together. They moved here and made the decision that

The Barn

B

Married 8

enjamin and Chrystal Barnwell married on June 19th, 2004. Chrystal Barnwell teaches tenth grade biology, while Benjamin Barnwell teaches both biology and ecology. After eight years of marriage, they now, not only teach science courses, but also have a 7-year-old son named Isaiah. Benjamin believes the thing that should always permeate in a relationship is respect for

it was the right time to get married.

“It’s always been comfortable between us,” Bauman-Seely said. “He is definitely my best friend. He’s funny, smart, there’s never a time where I have to second guess how he feels about me. He’s caring and I know he loves and supports me.”

one another.

“Nothing bothers me more than seeing someone disrespect his or her spouse. It carries out a long way and when the dust settles, people remember you gave them respect,” Benjamin said.

Chrystal believes in communication.

“You cannot move forward without expressing the way you feel,” Chrystal said.

What Benjamin admires most about Chrystal is her patience and the fact that she does not allow people to upset her easily.

“She is kind and considerate even when people haven’t earned it,” Benjamin said. She doesn’t lower herself to the actions of others.

When I met her, I met someone who was able to bring me strength.”

Chrystal admires his intelligence and sense of humor.

“He’s caring and always giving,” Chrystal said.

Throughout their marriage, Benjamin learned how not to over-

step

“ befor W ing. “

FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 13

” Marriages Test Time

h being Valentines Day, couples within the county explain the meaning behind a marriage and their secrets to making a strong relationship work

nwell’s

Faven Butler features editor

8 Years

his boundaries.

“My wife is very independent, so I had to let her ask me for help re jumping into things,” Benjamin said.

With Chrystal being an only child, she had to get used to shar-

“My husband and I are a team now. He is my constant sup port

R

The Massey’s Married 19 Years

ichard and Mary Massey married on June 10th, 1993. They have now been married for 19 years. Both Mary, a history teacher, and Richard, the vocational technology teacher, teach at J.E.J. Moore Middle School. They dated for three years before getting married.

“I remember one of my students saying ‘I think Mr. Massey has a crush on you,’” said Mary. “When I asked why, he replied ‘Because he always changes your oil for you in the shop!’”

Richard Massey believes one has to learn to give and take in a relationship.

“I tell my younger buddies who are just beginning their relationship to remember the 3 C’s: Communication, Consideration, and Compromise,” Richard said.

Mary’s favorite character trait about her husband is his sense of humor and willingness to get along.

“If you count the years we dated, we’ve never had a major argument,”Mary said.

She admits they hardly ever see each other during school hours, but it is also convenient to work in the same place.

“When we get home, we can discuss the day and understand

where we’re coming from. Plus, I get to borrow lunch money,” Mary said.

Richard likes the fact that they can have the same days off, including weekends, snow days, and summer holidays. Mary says the best thing about being married is having someone to talk to and always be there for you.

14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

Wyatt’s Florist Visit us for Winter Arrangements!

Yankee Candle Spring Collection Now in Stock!

4712 Ownes Way Prince George, VA 23875 (804)458-6392 (800)458-6392 Available Online and Delivery! http://www.wyattsflorist.com/

Friday 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15

Warm Bodies Inspires Love

W

arm Bodies looked like a love story with a twist, the additions of decaying zombies and anorexiclooking skeleton monsters bringing an interesting new take on the classic romantic movie.

Unfortunately, even with the dark humor and zombie warfare, this one was not all it cracked up to be.

It begins with a lonely, brooding zombie, who walks around feeling sorry for himself. Turns out teen angst sticks around even after death.

He comes across this pretty human girl, Julie, who he immediately falls in love with after he eats her ex-boyfriend. He protects her from the other zombies, and they do lots of cliche bonding stuff, like dancing around, talking about their feelings, and staring awkwardly at each other.

Soon they fall in love, and his heart starts beating again, and the other zombies see them together and come conveniently back to life too.

Julie lives at a walled-in facility, along with other survivors, like her dad, who happens to be their leader.

After her zombie boyfriend, who she named R, confesses that he ate her ex, Julie returns there, broken-hearted and missing her zombie.

R gathers his zombie friends when he realizes that some ugly skeleton things are after Julie and goes to her home to help defend it. Unfortunately her dad, in true father’s fashion, tells her they can’t be together, and nearly shoots R in the head. This is the main conflict. Will the zombies and people work together to destroy the skeleton things? Or will the people just shoot everything like they usually do in these situations?

Warm Bodies is so full of cliche moments, it puts Hallmark movies to shame. The only thing that makes it worth watching is the zombie violence and angsty humor. Unless you like cheesy romance or have a cute date to go with, I suggest picking a different movie.

A&E

Beales Puts On Show For Cause

Mallory Cox

With knowledge of the stage Beales helps her students put on fashion show Genevieve Perez trn writer

A

s she gently sets her schedule down with a smile, Kimberly Beales tells stories about her experiences. Big fluffy bridal dresses, number crunching, and struts were all involved in her daily life style. This fashion marketing teacher in our school, is helping her students put on the fashion show together.

“We start by planning it in September,” Beales said. “That is when we decide what scenes we do and what we do with them.”

Planning starts in the class with all of her students from all of her fashion marketing classes. These students come together and decide what they want to be in the show as a big team. They all know Beales is the best for the job because of her fashion history.

“Appalachian State University in North Carolina is where I earned a Clothing and Textile merchandising degree with a double minor in marketing and management,” Beales said.

Thanks to her college degrees in Appalachian State University, she is able to teach many students about fashion and how ordinary life all ties in together. These principles of fashion can help you stay organized and

become a role model.

“While working with Belk, they put me into the Bridal Department and I found out that I enjoyed it,” Beales said, “Afterward, I became the Operations Manager at Tiffany’s Bridal.”

Her experience in the fashion field has made it possible for her to pull extravagant shows together in many different regions.

The rehearsals, which include each models’ blocking techniques, were all the same.

“I have done shows in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville and Norfolk,” Beales said.

Fortunately for the students, this is not the ‘normal’ runway. There are going to be different scenes all under one theme. Each category will hold different contemporary fashions that are new and trendy. Some of the scenes are reflecting off of famous songs and movies, grabbing the attention of many parents and students.

“People should be looking forward to all the entertainment,” Beales said, “There will be tons of music with dancing and funny scenes.”

People sitting in front of the stage can see an organized show after Beales and her students pull everything together. Something that observers do not see is the behind the scenes chaos like the clothes and makeup are scattered back stage.

“Organization and all the behind the scene stress is the most stressful part about putting a show together,” Beales said.

There is much more to planning a fash-

Beales instructs models on how to walk in the Fashion Show on Mar. 13. The preparation for this show started in Sept..

Photo by Deborah Gardner. ion show than just deciding what scenes to put in. To be in the show you need knowledge of the stage and tempos of music.

Teamwork is also a requirement to hold the show together.

“After all the planning, we do rehearsals so the students know where to stand, how to walk, and have timing down,” said Beales.

At times there can be mishaps backstage, which can include the models becoming sick. Probably, even having broken heels can set the flow for the show. Beales has plans for the things that may happen such as these.

“The models always have back ups,” Beales said. “Back up shoes, clothes and I have an emergency kit which include duct tape, needles, and thread.”

If any model accidentally falls or loses a shoe, Beales coaches them enough to make it seem as if it was meant to be. Acting nonchalant is the best technique these models have before getting on the stage if any accidents happen to them.

“On with the show because I need divas on stage not off,” Beales said. “I have had students pretend they are taking their shoes off on purpose.”

The fashion show takes place Mar. 13, at 7:30. The tickets are on sale for three dollars in advance and five dollars at the door.

16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

Grea Cont t BBQ! act J Nan eff at nysb bq2@ to ha g mail. ve N com your anny’s ca t next event er .

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11900 South Crater Road - Petersburg, VA 23805 (Prince George County, VA) (804) 733-6619

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FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 17

Talent Show

Contestants What? Talent Show When? February 15 @ 7p.m.

Where? High School Auditorium

Who: Senior Ashley Wilkes What: Playing “Apologize” by: OneRepublic on the piano as a solo Why: “I want to bring a new aspect to the show this year. Because it is my senior year, I just really want to show what I can do.”

How long she has practiced: This song in particular for the past few weeks, so she could get a better feel for it.

Who: Sophomore Isaac Bland What: Singing “Broken” with Joanna Mayes Why: “The song is a great one, and sounded pretty. Joanna really wanted to sing it with me, so I am helping with it. Doing a duet is also interesting. It is different.”

How long he has practiced: 1 month

Who: Sophomore Samantha Martin What: Singing “Someone Like You” by: Adele, while playing the guitar, as a solo.

Why: “I love singing songs by Adele, and I think they compliment my voice very well.”

How long she has practiced: I have known what song I have wanted to do since November.

Who: Senior Joanna Mayes What: Singing “Broken” by: Seether featuring Amy Lee as a duet with Isaac Bland Why: “I thought it would be a good match for the two of us to sing, it’s just a really great song in general.”

How long she has practiced: 1 month

Who: Senior A’marah Hawkins What:: Singing “The Closer I Get to You” by: Luther Vandross as a duet Why: “Singing this song shows variety, and what I can do when I am singing with someone else. I chose to sing it as a duet because it’s really different for my senior.”

How long she has practiced: Approximately 3 weeks

Who: Sophomore Mackenzie Glasscock What: Singing “White Liar” by: Miranda Lambert Why: “Mrs. Barkley suggested it. I like Miranda Lambert and I knew the song.”

How long she has practiced: More than 4 weeks

Graphic Design by Kristen Schwalm

18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

Container First Services www.containerfirst.com (804)748-8324 866-587-HAUL 333-B Industrial Drive Petersburg, Va 23803

FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19

Gamer's Corner

A&E

Lara Croft : Just About Getting By In Gamer’s World

L

et’s take a moment to talk about Lara Croft. She’s pretty much the iconic woman that people think of when asked about strong female characters in gaming (perhaps barring Samus of Metroid fame and Alyx Vance of Half-Life 2). She’s independent, tough, and enjoys mindlessly slaughtering animals while running around in a not-quite realistic crop top and extremely short shorts.

She has a tendency to Alex Crowder vilify people who are doing the same thing that she is for simply getting to the treasure first.

To put it simply, she’s kind of a horrible person. She’s hard to like and even harder to sympathize with. She’s horribly overly sexualized. Yet, and I’m well aware of the fact that this is an unpopular opinion, I still prefer her to the new Lara coming out this year.

Square Enix’s goal was to bring forth a

Lara Croft that was new to adventure, still innocent and not as morally bankrupt as her older self. This Lara did not lose her mother to a plane crash, though she is thrown into a similar survival situation - she ends up shipwrecked on an island.

I was all on board, ready to embrace a Lara with flaws and feelings that don’t consist entirely of needing to punch puppies in the face. This immediately came screeching to a halt at the sight of the gameplay trailer. Other than having a terribly grating ‘British’ (in the loosest term) accent, Lara was also brutalized pretty badly. In no particular order, she was: - Kidnapped.

- Having an emotional breakdown as she was forced to kill a deer for food.

- Attacked by wolves.

- Kidnapped again.

- Falling down and bleeding all over the place.

- Getting shot at, falling, then bleeding all over the place.

- Crying for the male characters to come and rescue her.

http://turntherightcorner.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/ tomb-raider-reboot-delayed-2013.jpg?w=500&h=263 - Yeah, she falls more than Commander Shepard does in Mass Effect 3.

There’s a difference between making a character vulnerable and making a character that basically just goes through torture. It confuses me that so many people are aboard with this transformation after the Metroid: Other M debacle which did pretty much the exact same thing to poor Samus and effectively killed the Metroid series.

Is it because Tomb Raider is a more

mature series? Does mature have to involve lots of blood and crying in order to be a good game? Was Lara such a terrible person that this is karma for all the horrible things she did in her former life?

I was never a fan of Lara Croft or anything she did, but does this redesign really fix anything? The fact that this is getting such positive feedback worries me for the future of both female characters and future reboots. I’m not exactly concerned about whether it’s going to be a good game - the gameplay looks solid enough, at least - but I don’t personally know if I can stomach going through it if the entire game is Lara being horribly mauled. It’s kind of a justified worry when all of the promotional art shows her bleeding and having to patch up her wounds (or her falling off of things in a lot of released screenshots).

I’m going to give Tomb Raider a pass for now, but the gameplay looks solid at least. If you don’t mind everything that I listed above, or even think it’s refreshing for the character, I recommend checking it out.

ROYALS Football Weight Training

Monday - Thursday 3 PM to 5 PM

MonDAY - WEDNESDAY 10th - 12th Graders Tuesday - 9th Graders

THURSday Everyone

20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

PhotoGallery >RIGHT: Senior Malik Alexander drives around a Colonial Heights defender in an attempt to score for the Royals. His effort along with many others helped contribute to the Royals victory. >BELOW: Junior Brian Fullman crashes the board to rip down a rebound.

Fullman contributed seven points to the Royals win against the Colonials.

>ABOVE: Senior Alex Turpin stretches for a rebound against a Colonial Heights defender. The Royals won this game 88 to 68. >LEFT: Junior Devan Rose drives past a pair of Colonial Heights defenders to get to the paint. Rose put up three of the Royals’ 88 points on Fri., Feb. 1.

All photos by Blier Smith.

Boys Basketball

vs. Colonial Heights 2/1/13

FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 21

“Good luck Girls Soccer!”

Best Wishes, JAAAT Green:

Abria Humphries Dianne Overstreet Lillie Bohatec Taylor Cowan Jeffrey Witt Roy York Art Club Sue Bell Monica Curtis Philip Jones Chris Romig Brittney Weidman Rebecca Thomas Clarisa Wilson Brian Burton Donald Newbold Melissa Face Kevin Moore Mr. Owens Megan Thomas Karen Miller Kandie Bradshaw Jordan Everett Brandon Howard Tiffany, Samantha, and Susan Howard Cameron Schwalm Kingsmen Softball Amber and Clint Pate

Thank You Patrons!

The Dunn Family Lindsey Comer Anh Tran Joe Keeney Pooja Panchal Western Heights Baptist Kathy Alexander Teresa Clary ClaiborneRhodes

Patron: Mark Dailey Bryan Griffin Lynn Cummings Will Ricks Emily Gitchell Karen Webb Chrystal Barnwell Debbie Semien C. Brown Thomas Carwile Lynn Bland Carolina Bae Sue Keefe Dee Cristobal Kay Warren Shirley Ryder Iris Hardy Ronna Lackey K. McDaniel Justin Tyson Kristi Franchok Taylor Stevenson

Super:

William Havard Tracey Smallwood John Jones Sue Seay Stephanie Bishop Albin and Jeanine Majewski CrimeSolvers Patrick Dunford Robert Shumar Rock Church of Petersburg Jesse MacLelland Joyce Marshall Master’s & Sons Plumbing Quality First Carpet Cleaning Childress Family

Gold:

Roscoe Jones Kim Carneal Louise Thornton John Pelter Stream Team Tim and Janet Schwalm Deran Smith and Angela Pollard John Seay Sr. Harold Pugh The Wettstein’s Vickie Cosgrove S.B. Jones The McCoy Family Pamela Alley Daryl Phillips Marcia Edmundson Mrs. Simmons Cathy Dancy Wilda and Bill Sherrick The McCann Family Lisa Carrier Brian Taylor Lisa Taylor WHBC Barbara Shumar Julie Pugh Brenda and Johnny Smith Stephanie Poe The Nerds of C-Lunch Sarah Diaz Called to Worship & Praise Center Paula Pugh

22 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 2.15.13

Be sure to visit us before Prom!

Be sure to visit us before Prom!

Contact Us:

FRIDAY 2.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 23

Springsports

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Smith Signs Contract

Trevor Hargrave Wrestling

Senior Dallas Smith continues soccer career with VCU Rams Devan Fishburne trn writer

A

s a four year old in kindergarten, senior and center midfielder Dallas Smith developed her lasting passion for soccer.

“It’s what I enjoy most, if I’m bored I just go out and play soccer. It’s just what makes me happy,” Smith said.

Anyone who had seen her playing those many days in the yard could notice the joy she had when playing, but no one could have foreseen her future as one of the select girls chosen to become a member of the Virginia Commonwealth University girls’ soccer team.

It all started when Smith was spotted by a recruiter at a soccer showcase event in Orlando, Florida. “[VCU] emailed me after they saw me play at the Disney Showcase in Orlando and they invited me for an unofficial visit,” Smith said.

The recruiting process puts butterflies in the stomachs of athletes. and it was no different with Smith, even after playing well in the showcase.

“It was nerve-racking because it is hard to decide where to spend the next four years,” Smith said.

The decision was not an easy one to make, but with some inspiration from her travel soccer coach and the girls on her travel team, the choice was clear.

“Because my travel team is so family oriented I was looking for somewhere close.” Smith said. “The coaches were really nice and they wanted to build a personal relationship.”

Smith feels “privileged” and “excited” when she thinks of the magical moment in which she will adorn a VCU Ram along the front of her jer-

When did you first start wrestling? Why? “In eighth grade because my cousins did it, so I tried out and I wanted to try something new. I thought I would be good at it.”

sey for the very first time, but not for one second is she underestimating the amount of talent she will face in the college league. “[College soccer] is extremely competitive, everyone’s at the same level,” Smith said.

The challenges of transitioning from high school to college sports has eaten many sports prodigies alive, but Smith understands how hard she has to work to be successful.

“I have to give 110% and work harder than I have before because I’m surrounded by such talent,” Smith said.

Success can be hard to find on your first try, so Smith has made her goals more personal.

“To become a better soccer player, to get playing time, to grow close with the team, and become a better person,” Smith said.

While the countdown to that first game on Sports Backers Stadium is present in Smith’s mind. This joyous thought is often replaced with a sad one, the fact that this will be Smith’s last year on the Royals’ soccer team.

“I’m sad, we’re a lot different from any other high school, we do everything together and I’m going to miss Mr. Warren,” Smith said.

The notion of leaving the people you call a second family can be tough, but Smith is comforted by what she feels will be her lasting impression on Prince George soccer.

“Just knowing that I helped the team and we

Senior Dallas Smith signs her letter of intent to play with the VCU Rams in the fall. Smith signed on National Signing Day, Wed., Feb. 6. Photo by Kristen Schwalm. played as a team, I don’t want to stand out as just me I want to know we learned to play as a team,” Smith said.

The love for soccer Smith possesses has helped her become successful in high school, and is aiding in getting the opportunity to play in college, but she has no aspiration to go to the pros.

“After college I want to do something in the field of sports,” Smith said. “I want to major in nutrition and fitness.”

Visit www. trnsports.org to view the latest sports photo galleries.

What inspired you to wrestle?

“I used to watch WWE and UFC when I was a little kid.”

What is your favorite thing about wrestling?

“I like showing a sense of dominance and skills. It is also a huge stress reliever.”

What was your favorite match?

“When I went to a tournament at Franklin High this year, there was double overtime, and my shoes were half-ripped off. I had the will to keep going that helped me win the match.”

What do you do to train for wrestling season?

“I play football, do P90X, yoga, weights, lift, run, and stay away from fatty foods.”

Where did you place at districts?

“I placed third in my weight division.”

Upcoming

Tryouts

Girls soccer tryouts will be held starting Mon., Feb. 18 for high school students. Junior high tryouts will begin Tues., Feb. 19.

Boys soccer tryouts will begin Mon., Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the PGHS gym. Feb. 19-22 tryouts will continue at the PG Ed Center from 3-5 p.m.

Girls softball tryouts will be held beginning on Tues., Feb. 19 and will continue through Fri., Feb. 22.

Sophomore Ariel Stephenson Ranked Kristen Schwalm sports editor

D

ribbling down the court, sophomore Ariel Stephenson looks for an open lane to take the ball to the hoop. Stephenson has been ranked on the 2015 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings- Terrific 25, ESPN’s list of the 25 highest ranked sophomores in the entire country.

Stephenson plays on the varsity team as a guard. She is 16 years old and is 5’10. Stephenson has been playing basketball since she was an infant. She has been on the varsity team since she was a freshman.

“The first time I played I was four,” Stephenson said. “It was in a recreation league in Petersburg.”

The rankings were released on Jan. 24, 2013. Stephenson was proud of herself when she found out she was ranked number 25.

“At first it was exciting, but ultimately I am still the same person I was two weeks ago,” Stephenson said. “Being ranked does not really mean anything, it is just a number.”

Although this ranking is a major accomplishment, Stephenson still continues to push herself to do better and work as hard as she always has.

“Being ranked number 25 does not make me work any harder,” said Stephenson. “I am always working hard, and honestly, 25th is not enough.”

By saying 25th is not enough, Stephenson plans to continue to work hard to better her rank.

“To get a better rank, I work hard everyday,” said Stephenson. “I do not take breaks. I keep a good mentality.”

Stephenson’s teammates and coaches are very proud of her and continue to push her to do better on and off the court.

“Playing with Ariel is really fun, she’s really humble and she encourages us all to do better,”

senior Tayla Smith said. “It is defiantly cool to say that I played with her.”

Stephenson is a natural leader on the court.

She helps her teammates whenever they need it.

“Ariel gives us direction and she encourages us to do better as a team and individually,” Smith said.

Stephenson is inspired by everyone who has helped her along the way, “I am inspired by my teammates,” said Stephenson. “I look up to Lebron and the memory of my dad’s inspiration.”

The following was Stephenson’s player evaluation from the AAU Nationals- July 11.

[She] is a slight framed guard who plays the game with a lot of energy. [She] finishes with either hand and likes to attack off the bounce.

[She] thrives in an uptempo style of play. [She] was really good here as she showed the ability to score the ball in both the half court as well as in transition. [She] plays with toughness you just don’t normally find in players her age.”

Head Coach Billy Gray is proud to have the honor to coach such an exceptional athlete.

“Ariel works harder than any player I have ever coached,”Head coach Billy Gray said in a phone interview. “She is a pleasure to be around and she is a great young lady.”

Stephenson is extremely proud of herself and all of the accomplishments she has achieved in her lifetime. She plans on continuing to play basketball and to see where it will take her in the future. She is thankful for everyone that has helped and encouraged her along the way.

“I would not be here without my teammates and my coaches,” said Stephenson.“ They have helped me tremendously.”

Sophomore Ariel Stephenson receives her award at the pep rally on Fri., Feb. 1.

Stephenson was ranked number 25 on the ESPN’s list of the top 25 girls basketball players that are sophomores.

Photo by Genevieve Perez.