August/September 2016 by The Hi-Times

VOLUME 75 ISSUE 1

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL

4125 GOLDEN WAVE DRIVE, TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI, 38801

THE HI TIMES

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

INDEX:

NEWS...2

FEAUTURES...4

OPINIONS...6

ART&ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS...7

THREE STUDENTS, ONE GOAL

WHITNEY CAMPBELL

From left, band members JD Dunklee, Kyle Woodward and Mason Keopradit turn their goals into an exciting reality.

Whitney Campbell @whit_alexc Business Manager

BAND MEMBERS GO INTERNATIONAL

ast school year, three current students at Tupelo High School had the honor of auditioning and being accepted into the Mississippi Lions All-State Band. The Lions Band is a very prestigious honor band that is known all around the world. It is the most difficult honor band in the state of Mississippi in which to be accepted. Every year the Lions Club holds strict auditions in November for students in high school bands across the state wishing to play and perform professionally. Junior JD Dunklee, and seniors Mason Keopradit and Kyle Woodward were three of the 145 students from all over Mississippi to get accepted into the Lions Band and travel to Japan in June of 2016. All three students were determined to be accepted into the program and spent months practicing their requirements to prepare themselves for the challenging auditions. D Dunklee unklee, head snare and section leader of the THS drumline, spent hours every day for two months working to perfect his given audition solo with the guidance of former drum instructor Darius Fant. Even at Dunklee’s advanced position, he admits that the audition piece was very difficult at first. The solos are crazy hard and very fast. In high school, you never play super fast solos,” he explained.

For more photos and stories. visit www.thscurrent.org.

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PEOPLE OF THS...8

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fter auditioning his freshmen year and getting fifth-teenth chair for call backs, he worked and pushed himself even harder to be better than before. I recovered better than I did freshmen year. That year I had a frozen moment that was long, I promised to never do it again,” he said. few weeks later, he realized how much the hard work paid off, being that he was chosen as a Lions Band bass drum player. ason Keopradit eopradit is the weapon lieutenant for the THS colorguard and he too practiced daily, aiming for a perfect audition piece. He auditioned for Lions Band drum major two years in a row, getting accepted the second time. The drum major is required to be able to spin the mace in a professional 2 minute routine. You go and learn half of a routine and have to make up the other half,” he said, “it took about two weeks to write the other half.” eopradit is the first drum major from THS, since 1974, to be acquired in the Mississippi All-State Lions Band. See Lions Band PG 3

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WAVES WASH OUT WILDCATS

KARLEE AVERY/CHEIF PHOTOGRAPHER In the Aug. 19 game against Clarksdale, Golden Wave wide receiver Austin Watkins attempted to find a passageway to the end field.

2FEATURES /NEWS

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A BLAST FROM THE PAST

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WHAT’S COMING UP

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• August 3 2016-2017 School Year Begins • August 12 @Tupelo vs. IAHS Jamboree, 6 p.m. • August 12-14 Flea Market • August 17 Trivia Night @South’s • August 19 @Tupelo vs. Clarksdale, 7 p.m. • August 20 Intrasquad • August 26 Club Fair @THS Rubber Floor Gym • August 26 @Tupelo vs. Corinth, 7 p.m. • August 27 Myrtle XC Invitational • August 8 Travis Tritt @Bancorpsouth Arena • August 31 - September 1 Tupelo Summerfest Fair • September 1 Open Mic: Spoken Word Poetry @Link Center

Mary Preston Evers Staff Writer @marypreston_18

upelo High School introduces AP U.S. History Dual Credit and welcomes back regular U.S History Dual Credit. Dual credit is a program that allows high school students to enroll in college courses for credit prior to high school graduation. This is the third consecutive year for regular U.S History Dual Credit. The college courses are accredited by Itawamba Community College. The AP U.S. History Dual Credit combines AP U.S History I and II content with the ICC American I and II course. The program is two semesters long. The regular U.S. History classes are divided by American I and American II. Each class is nine weeks long. The AP course’s curriculum begins in the Pre-Columbian Age and ends at present time. The regular U.S. History class starts at the beginning of the Civil War and ends at present time. here are several benefits these classes have to offer. The classes are smaller and have an instructor, unlike if one took the course at a university. The course better prepares students for college. The graduate would have a few requirements as a freshman in college already completed. Students who enroll in the regular U.S. History course are guaranteed six hours of college credit, while students who take the AP course are guaranteed six hours of credit along with additional credits from scoring well on the AP U.S. History State test. The state test has a 52 percent success rate. If these courses were to be taken in college, they would have cost the student an estimation of $100 per hour.

• September 2 Tupelo vs. @Shannon, 7 p.m.

• September 4 Tupelo Marathon

• September 8 1st Quarter Progress Reports • September 9 @Tupelo vs. Brandon, 7 p.m. • September 9 THS Community Wide Tailgate, 5-7 p.m. @THS Practice Field • September 9 WWE Live @Bancorpsouth Arena • September 10 Touch-A-Truck @Ballard Park • September 11 Grandparent’s Day • September 15 Down on Main Concert @ Fairpark • September 17 TCT Auditions for Haunted Theater • September 22 Autumn Begins • September 22 Tupelo Homecoming Parade @ Downtown, 4 p.m. • September 23 @Tupelo vs. Hernando, 7 p.m. THS 2016-2017 Homecoming Presentation • September 30 Tupelo vs. @Columbus

$100. When looking at the big picture, taking the dual credit program in high school is much cheaper. arlo Hendrix and Jeremy Turner are the two teachers selected to instruct these courses this year. They were chosen to teach these curriculums because of their master degrees in history. endrix has been educating students for 20 years. She taught 16 years at Tupelo Middle School and is now teaching for her fourth year at THS. Mrs. Hendrix has taught seventh grade World History, eighth grade U.S. History, Mississippi Studies, World Geography, and 11th grade regular U.S. History. Her favorite part about teaching history is making the learning experience interesting for the students. She enjoys relating the past to the present. Mrs. Hendrix is pleased to teach AP U.S. History Dual Credit because of its rigorous pace and higher level of thinking. urner has been teaching for 17 years. And for all of those 17 years, he has educated students at THS. He has taught every single history course available here except for,sociology, psychology, religion, and law. His favorite part about teaching history is “he wants to show how the past affects the present and how the present affects the future.” He is delighted about teaching this dual credit class because it administers students a credit to use later on. The course is of value to the student’s college education. hese classes offer a valuable opportunity to students. Those who participate in the course reap the benefits in the near future.

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MARY PRESTON EVERS

AP U.S. History Dual Credit teachers, Turner and Hendrix, smile for a picture.

AN ATHLETIC HAVEN FROM STORMS

• September 3 Tupelo Cross Country Invitational @Veterans Park

• September 5 Labor Day

he cost of enrollment for the courses in high school is one payment of

Michael Williams @Chael_Williams Freelance Writer

his fall Tupelo High School will be breaking ground on a new gym that will serve a dual purpose as both an indoor athletic facility and a storm shelter. The facility will be built near the art building. This 24,000 square foot multi-purpose will serve as the new basketball and volleyball gym as well as a registered storm shelter to protect students from such threats as heavy thunderstorms and tornadoes, that may occur during school. The gym will be able to hold around 4,500 people at a time, making it the largest building on the campus. The new facility will be used for a multitude of different activities,” said THS Sports Informant T. Braden Bishop, “With the old gym reaching almost 25 years old, THS deserves a new building that can serve as a new athletic venue as well as a protective structure during emergencies.” he new facility will be a much needed upgrade from the gym we have now. After 25 years, a new facility is just what this school needs to get pumped up about basketball. This is very similar to when the football field was given blue turf. It caused the student body as well as the community to rally and support the football team with excitement. The same effect is expected with this new basketball facility! he Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, or MEMA, will fund the project, be key in creating the building and will pay for 2.1 million dollars of the total 6 million dollars; with Tupelo Public School District paying for the rest with approved 2014 bonds. Only a little less than $100,000 will come from local taxpayers. ornadoes and storms have always been a big threat to Tupelo and thus, the multi-building high school. Although the buildings at Tupelo High are, in fact, very safe and sturdy, having a designated

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pace for students to go in an emergency is a huge deal. hree elementary storm shelters will also be built and serve dual purposes for either art, music, and or physical education classes. Each of these are about one million each, which will total in three million for the elementary schools together.Tupelo is moving to make schools safer for students, staff and for the community as well. The new facilities will be protective for all, while also being a beacon of hope, life, and fun for THS sports players, coaches, lovers and fans.

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COURTESY OF T. BRADEN BISHOP

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3NEWS

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THS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS TO WAVE FAMILY

Mary Preston Evers

McNeal takes a break to pose for a picture. Madeleine Toole @maddie_toole Freelance Writer

upelo High School welcomes three new administrators, Candi Moore, L.V. McNeal, and Mark Enis, in the 2016-2017 school year. oore, located in A building, is originally from Memphis, TN. Moore has 14 years of experience in the field of education and was previously a principal at West Teals High School located in Meridian, MS. Moore graduated from West Point High School and earned her associate’s degree at East Mississippi Community College. Moore went on to receiving her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and her master’s and specialist degree from Union University. “I enjoy the family oriented environment between student and staff, and appreciate the pride and school spirit that can be found all around campus. I forward to utilizing my work experience throughout THS, and going and observing instruction and collaboration between student and staff.” Moore stated. cNeal, located in the Administration building, is from Leakesville, MS. McNeal was previously the vice principal at Milam and has 11 years of experience the the field of education. McNeal attended Greena County High School, Jones Jr College, and the University of Mississippi. “I am proud to be

Moore smiles for a picture while sitting at her desk.

MARY PRESTON EVERS

Enis looks up from his desk to take a picture.

KEYWANNA ROGERS

a part of the largest high school in Mississippi, and am impressed with the multitude of art and music programs Tupelo High School has to offer,” McNeal said. I wish to promote safety in teaching from bell to bell, to be a positive influence, and to be a problem solver. I also look forward to watching students continue to grow into young adults,” he said. nis, located in B building, is from Tupelo, MS. Enis taught at Tupelo High School for 15 years before transferring to Lawndale Elementary School as an Assistant Principal for 2 years. Overall, Enis has 17 years of experience in the educational field. Enis graduated from Tupelo High School before attending Itawamba Community College for 2 years and earning both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at William Carey University. Enis enjoys all of the interaction between students and staff and the variety of students that can be found in a school of 2,000. “I hope to bring a sense of tradition and culture of what THS used to be like in the past and incorporate those aspects into the current and future Tupelo High School. I look forward to observing and taking part in building relationships between students and staff in a learning environment,” Enis stated. upelo High School welcomes these new administrators and looks forward to getting to know each of them better.

LIONS BAND Continued from PG 1

yle Woodward is currently one of two drum majors leading the THS marching band in the 2016-2017 school year. He auditioned for the Lions Band on his contra alto clarinet and was accepted to play it during the final Lions Band concert after the band camp at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, MS. Two separate prepared pieces were assigned, one was melodic and one was technical,” he stated. “You also have to do all 12 major and chromatic scales in under three minutes and do sight reading.” uring the parade, Woodward marched the banner in front of the rest of the band. he main reason for the band’s trip to Japan was to participate in the Lion’s Con International Parade in Fukuoka, Japan. Participants in the parade consisted of Lion’s Club members from Spain, Pakistan, Brazil, China, Africa, and more global locations. n Japan, the band travelled to the island of Hiroshima, the island of Miyajima, Fukuoka and Tokyo; spending most of their time in Tokyo and Hiroshima. While in Tokyo, the band made a fun stop at Tokyo Disney. From staying at five star hotels, to taking every method of transportation possible, all three students agree that the incredible experience will be unforgettable.

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Junior JD Dunklee plays through the parade’s tune in Japan .

COURTESY OF JONATHAN SCHWARTZ

4 NEWS

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THS FINE ARTS TEACHER PUTS TALENT INTO MOTION

Mary Preston Evers Staff Writer @marypreston_18

he Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi strives to let young people know that someone cares about them. The club’s programs mentor the development of boys and girls by teaching them a feeling of usefulness and acceptance. Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow – all while having fun. ancing Like The Stars is a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi. It is a community event annually held at the BancorpSouth Arena. Local “celebrities” are recruited from the surrounding communities and partnered with professional dancers from The Dance Studio, which is located in downtown Tupelo. The competition is much like the popular television show, “Dancing with the Stars.” uch like the well known show, there is a panel of “celebrity” judges who select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for the Judges Course Category. The “celebrity” that raises the most funds is awarded the Grand Champion Award. Each group has to collect $200,000. The groups use social media, businesses, and letters to benefactors to collect profit. The event has raised over $1.1 million in 10 years.

IN THE HALLS

KARLEE AVERY/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Show Choir director Danielle Frerer poses for the camera.

he dancers are raising sponsorship dollars for Boys and Girls Club of North Mississippi to aid in education, leadership, life skills, and various art and recreational programs. The mission for this organization is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.” his year Tupelo High School has oof its very own dancing in this much anticipated event. Ms. Danielle Frerer teaches General Music, Dual Credit Music Appreciation, Music Theory, and AP Music Theory. She is also the director of THS Show Choir and Synergy. Frerer reflected on her experience as a part of the event.

rerer began dancing at a very early age. She took numerous classes and was a member of several dance teams. She enjoys dancing, with hip-hop being her favorite style. She finds delight in dancing because of the exercise, fun, and rhythmic components. The performing arts has always been close to her heart. ancing Like The Stars means a great deal to Frerer. She has had several students that attend the Boys and Girls Club and finds great pleasure in helping out with this program. She states that she is extremely gracious to have been asked to dance for this worthy cause.

WHAT DID YOU DO OVER THE SUMMER?

“I went to Panama City with friends.”

“I went to New York.”

“I had a birthday party, went shopping, and went swimming.”

Garrett Grayson

Jot Singh

Zykiyah Young

Senior

Junior

Senior

5FEATURES /NEWS

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THS INTRODUCES...

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KEYWANNA ROGERS

Stephanie Spires, the new Hi-Times adviser, smiles for a picture at her desk.

A NEW HI-TIMES ADVISER

Keywanna Rogers @keyylashay Sports Editor

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upelo High School is excited to introduce its new Hi-Times adviser, Stephanie Spires. pires has been teaching at THS for six years now. In 2010, she started as a long term substitute teacher, but later pursued her profession as a full-time English teacher in 2011. pires is originally from Batesville, MS, and she graduated from South Panola High School in 1989. She later went to Mississippi College in Clinton, MS for four

years where she received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication. Although she has never taught a journalism class in all her years of teaching, she does have some background in broadcast journalism. She talked on a radio show in college for three years and continued for two more years after she had already graduated. It has been six years since she has done anything that involves journalism and is now ready to begin her journey as the new advisor for the THS newspaper. I love the thought of marrying the two” said Spires. “I have enjoyed teaching English these past few years at THS, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to transition back to my experiences

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A NEW BELL or returning students of Tupelo High School, there was something that was off. The bell had changed to a different sound. In my previous years, I had adjusted to the thundering bell ringing after every class and lunch period. But, this year is was very different. n the first day of school, I had awakened early and prepared my mind to go through yet another year of high school as a junior. I remember trudging toward “A” building, trying to wake myself up by rubbing my eyes furiously; but that did not help at all. As I was regretting my poor decision of staying up all night watching Netflix, I heard a shrilling, high-pitched noise that instantly woke me up. noticed that others were looking around in all directions with puzzled faces, and that is when I realized that THS had changed the bell. At first, I thought that this peculiar noise was an emergency siren because of the similarity; it also rang three times just like the tornado drill signal.

so.“I am optimistic about the possibility of the Hi-Times winning awards at the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association in the spring.” Spires said. “Several members of our current team have won awards in the past, so I think our chances are pretty good.” pires is determined to continue to carry out the newspaper staff’s goals and make sure that the Hi-Times team is headed to the next level while staying on track.

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Bryan Kwag @KwagBryan Staff Writer

as a reporter and bring them into the classroom.” The Hi-Times staff only has one goal and that is to be the absolute best newspaper! Now that they have a new advisor, things have changed a little and the staff is smaller compared to last year’s. On a brighter side, this year’s staff consists of both familiar and new faces. Working with the Hi-times staff has been a wonderful experience so far.” Spires said. “It is a small staff, but everyone works so hard. I appreciate and depend on the expertise of veteran staff members, but I also admire the eagerness to learn new things that I see in those that are new.” he Hi-Times won best newspaper last year, and plan to continue being

ach ring sent chills down my spine. This is probably because when I was eight-years-old, I vividly remember the day when my brand new trampoline flew over my house during a tornado. To put it into shorter words, I hate tornadoes. fter realizing that I was going to have to listen to this sound for the rest of the school year, the mentality that I had prepared for school had completely shattered. In my opinion, I think that the old bell should be brought back because it sounds much better than the confusing one that we have now. I would prefer not to get goosebumps every time I have to change classes. ven though both bells are extremely loud, I would prefer a bell that is easier to adjust to rather than one that makes me think that a natural disaster may be coming. The old bell sounded casual, like one that you hear in movies; such as Grown Ups when the students were rushing out of the building on the last day of school after desperately waiting for it to ring. I feel like this year’s bell will be reminding me of the movies Into the Storm and 2012 over and over and over again. ust to show that I am not the only one that thinks the old bell was better than the new one, I took a survey and asked a total of 20 people on their thoughts of the new ear piercing sound and it turns out... I was not alone. At all.

Editor-in-Chief: Tayolor Witherspoon

Sports Editor: Keywanna Rogers

Design Editor: Anhthu Truong

Chief Photographer: Karlee Avery Business Manger: Whitney Campbell

Staff Writers: Mary Preston Evers Bryan Kwag Freelance Writers: Madeline Toole Chael Williams

Twenty students voted “no” on liking the new bell.

Adviser: Stephanie Spires

100% See more news and photos at: www.thscurrent.org Follow us on Twitter at: @tupelohitimes

Corrections

The Hi-Times newspaper staff is committed to writing the most accurate and compelling news. We strive for integrity. If there is a misprint in an article, photo cutline or infographic, please tell us, and we will correct the mistake in the issue.

Editorial Policy

It is the intent of the editorial staff to provide Tupelo High School students with an opportunity to create a productive forum to further enhance at the school. The opinions expressed on the editorial page reflect the feelings of the entire Hi-Times staff unless otherwise bylined. Guess editorials may be submitted to The Hi-Times and will be published according to available space and relevance. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.

6OPINIONS

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HE SAID, SHE SAID Bryan Kwag @KwagBryan Staff Writer

Mary Preston Evers Staff Writer @marypreston_18

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ho will become the next President of the United States is a common topic in our society today. Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is the million dollar question. linton and Trump have been nominated from their respective conventions. Clinton became the first woman to be designated as a democratic candidate.The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The Democratic Party encourages more government programs. They believe in equal opportunities and rights. Their mission is to renew a sense of community among us fellow Americans. linton took various positions on political issues during the time she served as First Lady of the United States. She is the wife of Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. She was the First Lady from the year 1992 until 2000. Clinton first rose to an elective office in 2001 and stepped down from an elected position in 2009. She served as an U.S. Senator of New York. In 2008, Clinton ran against Barack Obama for presidency. But, Clinton did not receive the nomination of the Democratic Party. Instead, Obama was appointed as the Democratic candidate and became the 44th President of the United States. Clinton was appointed by President Barack Obama to become Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013. She served as the 67th Secretary of State of the United States. She used her position to bring women’s and human rights to light. However, she faced major controversy and criticism for using her personal email address for official government business during her time as Secretary of State. uring the spring of 2015, Clinton announced her decision to run for President. 17 major candidates entered the race, however; only Clinton and Trump are left standing. Her campaign revolves around immigration, abortion, guns, healthcare, foreign policies, taxes, and national security. She has stated that two of her top priorities would be redoing the immigration system and spending hundreds of millions more on infrastructure. Policies that would affect working women in particular, such as mandatory paid family and medical leave are also at the top of her list to do he presidential election is just around the corner. The man or woman you decide to vote for will lead this country for at least four years. A lot of you will have just turned 18, and will be able to register to vote for our next president. Please do research on the candidate you decide to vote for. Do not follow what the previous generations have done before. Vote for the candidate that seems like they could run our country best. Our forefathers specifically spoke against splitting the country into different political parties, so make the right choice. Do not listen to the biased news reports. Do some actual research on the candidate you vote for. So many people choose to vote for a candidate simply due to the (D), (R), or (I) next to their name.

t’s August 2016, and every news channel out there is talking about who will be the next president of the United States of America. One of those candidates is Donald Trump, the Republican Party nominee. Personally, I do not care for politics because I believe that it can cause multiple problems among individuals; therefore, I tend to avoid anything politically related. owever, whenever I do choose to read or watch the news, or even get on social media, I keep seeing articles and posts about Trump’s presidential campaign. At first, when I glanced at the pictures of Trump, I felt like it was not essential for me to consume that type of news. I initially doubted him of being the nominee of the Republican Party. Eventually, I started hearing the name “Trump” more and more from my fellow classmates and those around me. At this point, I began wondering what was so special about him besides the fact that he is a multi-billionaire. I later realized that people were talking about him because he had been nominated as the GOP representative. was shocked to hear the news because the Trump that I first knew was in The Apprentice. My first impression of him was that he was a successful businessman who was arrogant and loved yelling his famous catchphrase, “You’re fired!” By then, I started to ask myself if this was the same Trump that I had seen years ago on a TV show. I became curious of what his goals were as a possible candidate for the President of the United States; therefore, I researched him and gave my opinion about it. e stated that if he were elected as the new president, he would build a wall along the U.S. southern borders and make Mexico pay for it. Although illegal immigration is a continuing problem, I do not think this is the best way to solve its issues because those people are simply and desperately trying to find a better life here in the US. Besides, some of them escaped their country through numerous of ways, so adding a wall would probably not be a permanent solution anyway. lso, Trump’s slogan for his presidential campaign is “Make America Great Again.” The last time this slogan was used was during Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign. However, this term was made when the U.S. was experiencing a declining economy by high unemployment and inflation. would have to give my respect to Trump for being where he is today, but I am not on the same page with some of his goals. As of now, it is a completely different story. America is the leading country in the world, and I believe that America has always been great and will remain the best. In my opinion, for Trump to adopt this slogan, is only degrading the view of the America that I, along with many others, picture.

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& ENTERTAINMENT / 7 ARTS SPORTS

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n the summer of 2016, Starbucks coffee finally built a brand new coffeehouse located on the north side of Tupelo on North Gloster. The new addition of the hangout is praised by the people who live near the mall and had to either settle for the miniature Starbucks in Barnes & Noble or travel about twenty minutes to the location on West Main. hen I visited the new Starbucks, I was expecting to have to eat outside due to seeing how busy the drive-thru was; but instead, when I walked in, there was no order line and only a few couples were seated and chatting. It was quiet and cool and made me feel nice, as if I was at home. I was able to order right away; and with the help of the very nice cashier, I ended up deciding on a venti iced white chocolate mocha, an egg and cheddar english muffin, and an apple fritter. When in doubt, I always stick with a classic iced white chocolate mocha, and it tasted just as good as all the other drinks I have had. They also spelled my name correctly, which were a plus. he new Starbucks is not only convenient for those who would rather not travel long distance, but with it’s spacious area and wood detail it also provides a quiet, cozy atmosphere for those looking to relax or quietly get some work done. The wifi connects almost immediately and is very fast, making it easy for people to use their laptops while they relax in the modern environment. Most of the traffic on North Gloster is rushed, causing the drive-thru to become congested. But if you have time to spare, on a normal day, you should not have any trouble finding a nice table to sit at to work, chat or just enjoy your treats. ans of Starbucks merchandise and coffee products will find all they are looking for with their stocked selection of travel cups, coffee grounds, well known refreshers to-go, and more. All of the snacks and cakes are the same and just as tasty as any other location, and the drink menu is still full of famous Starbucks coffees and teas. I very much enjoyed my food and drink ,and I am sure you will as well.

Mary Preston Evers Staff Writer @marypreston_18

Karlee Avery @karleeavery Chief Photographer

Whitney Campbell @whit_alexc Business Manager

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ita’s, a new Mexican restaurant, opened on February 22 in Tupelo, MS, between Verizon and IHOP on North Gloster at 789 Moncrief Drive. he building itself is nice and very inviting. When I walked in, I was immediately surrounded by a friendly atmosphere. The staff was incredible! Once seated, before I had even had the time to breathe, chips, queso dip, and salsa were already placed on the table before me. Soon after that, my server came back to the table to take my order of cheese fries and a cheesesteak burrito. He carried on a conversation and picked on me a little; he also checked on me every few minutes to see if I needed anything. hen my food arrived, the cheesesteak burrito was as big as half the plate. The burrito also came with a side of lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and refried beans. The burrito itself was smothered in piping hot cheese dip and filled with steak. With the tortilla shell absorbing most of the cheese dip, it was hard to get down at times. The flavors were rich, and it tasted exactly how I thought it would: a philly cheesesteak sandwich in burrito form. hen I saw the cheese fries sitting on the table, my face fell because I knew the crinkle-cut fries would not be any good. They were too dry for my liking. There were too many fries and too few toppings. The toppings consisted of melted cheddar and mozzarella cheeses along with delicious bacon pieces that were to die for. would definitely recommend the cheese steak burrito to anyone who may be interested in going to Rita’s for the first time, or the 20th time. However, I would not recommend the cheese fries to anyone. They weren’t up to par with what I had in mind for them to be. y experience at Rita’s was fast, simple and enjoyable. The food came out faster and was of better quality than I could have ever imagined. I would definitely recommend Rita’s to anyone who is looking for a new restaurant to try out.

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espite a captivating cast including Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Jared Leto, Suicide Squad never developed to it’s full potential because of the weak plot. The movie was not worthy of the exaggerated publicity that was given. uicide Squad is team assembled of the world’s most dangerous and incarcerated supervillains. A secret government agency, led by a ruthless highranking official, recruits the most powerful arsenal to be at their disposal. The team is sent to execute a dangerous black-ops mission to save the world from an apocalyptic threat of a supernatural entity. If the villains do not succeed, the government would not be found liable and can place the blame on the “evil” people. The team are not chosen to achieve, however, it is up to the villianaties to prevail over the seemingly impossible. Such events will develop in what would seem like a “suicide mission”. he enticing cast and great expectations of the movie from the trailer were put to rest after the release. After watching the movie, I was shrouded with a sense of disappointment. The writer/director, David Ayer, created a movie that was very muddled and over-stuffed. “Suicide Squad” lacked momentum and would grind a scene to a half for a flashback. The scenes were very choppy, poses were struck, and the slow movement was misused. Even though the structure of the film was poor, the actors’ portrayal of the characters were superior. The actors played their superhero roles excellently. uicide Squad was one of the summer’s best hopes in theatres. Each super-hyped superhero movie this past year left disappointment in their wake. Fanboys and fangirls everywhere were optimistic about this movie being of higher quality. The colorful posse of antiheroes seemed as something to enjoy watching, at least on paper. The movie was a disappointment and failed to live up to its hype.

Cross Country Races Back Into Season D B

uring Intrasquad, every single person that crosses the finish line scores for their team. Everyone does their part and the winnings are fair. This year’s incentive was that the winning team gets breakfast first. The losers had 10 push-ups. oth races at Intrasquad were 5Ks. For the girls, Savannah Hudgins, a member of the Gold team, came in first place with a time of 21:20. Behind her was Brianna Newby, another Gold team member, with a time of 22:55. In third place came Zoe Lovern, a member of the Gold team, with a time of 23:07. At the end of the meet, the girls on the Blue team had a lower score of 259 as opposed to Gold’s 270. hen it came to the guys’ race, everyone was pumped up and the girls were ready to watch. Sam Sliman, a member of Team Mystic, sailed through the course to clock a time around 17:50. Team Valor’s Grant Yancey wasn’t far behind with a time of around 17:56. In third place came Team Instinct’s Koji Dijkwel with a time of around 19:18. Team Mystic ended up edging out the other two teams with a score of 171 to take home bragging rights. Team Instinct was hot on Mystic’s heels with a score of 175. Last but certainly not least, Team Valor crossed the line with a total score of 206. very year, Intrasquad is always very competitive, and this year was no different. All teams did very well, but this year, both the Blue team and Team Mystic took home bragging rights.

COURTESY OF CHARLIE MORRIS

The girls' Blue and Gold teams take off from the starting line at Intrasquad.

Karlee Avery @karleeavery Chief Photographer

F T I

or the cross country team, it is important for the runners to know where they stand on the team. Intrasquad is the perfect mock race to determine where they are in relation to top seven. he girls’ team split into two teams, Blue and Gold, to show their Golden Wave spirit. The boys’ team split into three different teams, Mystic, Valor, and Instinct; based on the smash hit game, Pokemon Go. ntrasquad is scored differently from the traditional cross country race. In a typical cross country race, the top five runners from each team earn points by how they placed overall. For example, if one of Tupelo’s runners came in first place, they would earn one point for their team. If another Tupelo runner came in second, they would earn two points, etc. All five runners’ scores are added up for a total, and the team with the lowest score wins.

COURTESY OF CHARLIE MORRIS

The cross country team smiles for their team photo that goes on the thank-you cards they send out to their sponsers.

8PEOPLE OF THS

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 - TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL - THE HI-TIMES

8 BLA BLA BLA Exero 01, 5555

Colorguard captain Whitney Campbell and weapon lieutenant Mason Keopradit perform their piece during the halftime show.

THS varsity cheer squad gets the crowd pumped .

Senior maid Tayolor Witherspoon waves to the crowd as she rides through the homecoming parade.

Senior Demiya McCoy proudly holds up a sign made for injured classmate J’Monica McCoy.

THS varsity football team sprints with school spirit onto the field.

Sophomores Sydney Bigham, Weston Phipps and Sydney Hughes support their class of 2019.

Homecoming 2016 Senior maid Lilla McGraw and her escort Drew Wright smile for the camera after McGraw was named THS 2016 Homecoming Queen.

Junior maid Anna Kate Boyd smiles for a quick photo.

Tupelo Band leads the Homecoming parade down West Main Street.

Senior maid Lexi Roberts waves to the crowd during the Homecoming parade.

Freshmen Lauren Tabbs, Rico Smith and Kya Jackson enjoy their first homecoming parade as highschoolers.

Juniors enjoy themselves on their Homecoming float.

Seniors McKenzie Young and Maya Sachdev celebrate their last Homecoming parade.

THS Varsity football players huddle after playing Clarksdale.