The Bruin- March 2005 by Wadsworth Bruin

Newspaper II/III

1870 - 2005 Wadsworth City Schools:

“Celebrating 135 years of Excellence in Education”

Wadsworth High School

The Bruin

March 2005

Reminder: Spring Break is April 2 - 10

Dance takes on controversial Volume XXX No. 6

625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio

$1.00

Is the Spring Fling date of March 26 really keeping most students from attending? BY KATE HUDSON

On March 26, our school will spice things up a bit as it hosts the Mexican-themed Spring Fling Dance. The Mexican theme was intended to invite a spicy atmosphere and fun time, but the controversial date of March 26 falls on the night before Easter. This has some people fuming. “I think it is really inconvenient and inconsiderate. I know many students who are not able to go, myself included, because of Easter church services the following morning,” said junior Sarah Hutnik. Still, some students will be attending the dance regardless of the fact that it is on the night before Easter. Though these students may have a blast at the dance, many will not be staying out late with friends afterwards. Parents are enforcing stricter rules than usual. “Usually we all go over to Kate Turner’s house and spend the night there, but now I am not allowed, and a lot of my friends are not even allowed to go [to the dance] because it is on the night before Easter,”

Attending Spring Fling?

Reason for not attending?

On March 11, a survey concerning the Spring Fling Dance was ﬁlled out by 200 randomly selected students. Each survey included the following questions: “Are you going to the Spring Fling Dance on March 26?” and “If no, why not?” All percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

said junior Amy Sobnosky. “The seriousness of the situation is a complex one. Being a Catholic, I believe it is right for us to focus on the resurrection of the Lord. Although I am all for having the dance, I think that it should have been

CONGRATULATIONS WRESTLING STATE CHAMP

moved to a different date,” said sophomore Rhiannon Renacci. Since all the decisions made in the high school ultimately come down to our principal Mr. Williams, he had the ﬁnal say in setting the Spring Fling date.

Students tested on knowledge, timing BY EMILY HOOVER

Senior Miller ﬁnished ﬁrst at the State Wrestling Tournament in his weight class, 171. Also placing at State were Derek Foore (2nd place, 135), Josh Kallai (3rd place, 152), and Jamey Srock (5th place, 189). PHOTO BY LIZ MYERS

Student Council came to him early in the year to get the date of March 26 approved. “It was a very difficult decision for me. I’m a practicing Catholic, and the Easter holiday is a very important one. We just tried to avoid school conflicts,” said Mr. Williams. Any other weekend would have caused conflicts with sporting events and other school functions. Plus, if the dance was moved back, it would have been too close to Junior Banquet. However, Williams also mentioned that he does not believe something like this will happen again in the future. “People should just go, have fun, and attend church the next morning, whether they are tired or not,” said senior Ashley Veal. Though the date of March 26 is keeping some students from attending, it is clear that many students will still be at the dance. For those students who are unhappy with the date, keep in mind that it is unlikely such controversy will happen again. It was a difficult situation, and the decision was made with a lot of thought. The theme was meant

Each year, standardized tests monitor the progress of students throughout the country. This year, however, was a little different. Members of the Class of 2007 were the first to take the Ohio Graduation Tests, which took place the week of March 7. “Things went great,” stated Mr. Williams. “The kids all worked hard.” The state of Ohio changed the assessment from the Ohio Proficiency Test to the Ohio Graduation Test. The reason for this may be that the Proficiency was not an accurate assessment of what students learn, considering it only tests through an eighth grade level. The bell schedule was changed to accommodate the 130 minutes of daily testing. Juniors and seniors who have passed the Ohio Proficiency Tests were not required to report to school until 10:00a.m. Those who arrived a few minutes early were held in the East Gym. Most of the upperclassmen loved the schedule. “[The schedule] was amazing,” said junior Joel Cavanaugh. “I think school should always start at 10:00a.m.” There were several reasons for the sched-

ule change. “We changed the schedule in order to provide the best testing environment for the freshmen and sophomores,” stated Williams. “The best situation is to have them in smaller groups, and in order to proctor tests in that many rooms, we needed all of the teachers.” Each period lasted 25 minutes. As some students noticed, the lunch periods were also lengthened by five minutes. This part of the schedule was an experiment; the administration is considering adding five minutes to the lunch periods next year to allow students more time to stand in line and eat. Freshmen and sophomores were tested in English, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. The freshmen took the test as practice for next year, when it will count towards graduation. Students must pass all parts of the test in order to earn a diploma in the State of Ohio. They have five chances to pass, compared the Proficiency’s eight. So can students look forward to a latestart schedule for other school events? The administration is committed to providing the best environment for students, so if a late start would be beneficial, it would be considered.

Arts & Clubs Page 5

Features Page 6

Music Page 11

Sports Page 12

Check out what made the spring musical Footloose super rad.

Read about Ginnysuccess in the Ohio Junior Miss State Final.

Find out what happened to those bands that were so popular in the ‘90’s.

Check out how the lives of multi-sport athletes never slow down.

EDITORIAL

March 2005

Editorial

OGTs: Hazard or help?

IOWA, ACT, SAT, OGT. Sometimes it seems like the acronyms are just too much. How many more tests are students going to be forced to take? Are all of these tests really what is best for the students? This month, the freshmen and sophomores in our school took the Ohio Graduation Test. While it was just practice for the freshman, the sophomores must pass the test in order to graduate. And while no one is complaining about the late start for juniors and seniors, the disruption to the school week seems somewhat contradictory to what these tests are supposed to accomplish. They interrupt an entire week of learning just to force another set of standardized tests on students. Students have to cram regular tests into shortened 25-minute periods, and the homework load has increased because the teachers cannot fit all the material they need to teach into the shortened period. And for what? Just to make sure our school passes another government standard? It all seems a bit much. How many times have you heard a teacher say something like, “We need to go over this because it will be on the OGT,” or “We have to cover this for the proficiency test”? It seems that teachers are being forced to teach specifically to cater to the material that will be on the tests. This means, the government, not the school system, is deciding on the curriculum. It would be much smarter to compile all of these tests so students only have to take one test. The continual bombardment of standardized tests needs to stop so that teachers can do what they are meant to do: teach, and students can focus on what they are meant to do: learn.

The Brewin’ Debate Should standardized tests really hold the key to your future? YES

In Ohio, standardized tests hold people accountable for their success. Many people stress about passing these tests in order to get a high school diploma and move on to bigger and better education. By putting the burden of these tests on the shoulders of teenagers, they realize that they are holding the key to their own future. Academic success must be measured by something. While many disagree that this is unfair, how are colleges suppose to judge students? It is sad to say, but colleges have no time to look at each applicant individually. If another form of assement was used, or if colleges relied on personal interviews, the application process would take much longer. We would be applying for colleges as a freshmsn or sophomores just to get an appointment for an interview as seniors. Standardized testing does seem unfair, but as of now, nothing better has come along to replace it. But never fear college bound students, standardized tests are only a snapshot of your future college performance. Once you are accepted, you will have the opportunity to prove yourself using more traditional academic measures. BY KATY WILSON

Thirteen years of school and for many it will all come down to their performance on a standardized test to determine if they will graduate or not. Does it really seem fair one must pass this test after all the hard work they have put in? Many students classify themselves as “bad test takers.” So is it fair to hold these students accountable for passing a test, which is the exact same for someone who is a “good test taker”? Different people will work at different paces, and the same amount of time is allotted to everyone for this test. If they do not pass, they will not graduate. With the up and coming OGT for freshman, this issue is getting more attention. It is not fair to base a student’s entire school career on one or two tests. Different subject areas may be harder for some students, and if they can not pass, they should not be denied a diploma. Standardized testing should not hold the key to a students future. There are many other factors that should be taken into consideration also. BY KATIE DAVIS

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I was very disappointed when I read the article about the cheerleading squad. Out of all their accomplishments, all you can write about is the typical misconceptions of their intelligence. The entire article was about how a select few have surpassed the beliefs of what people think. I’m pretty sure that there is an equal ratio of good and bad grades on every sports team here at Wadsworth, but I have yet to see you write about that. You are able to write about what all they have done without including their grades, but you are unable to write a story about how the cheerleading squad has reached the state competition for the first time in five years. Not only that, they have helped out with multiple functions that take place and the school, and do they get any credit for that? No, all they get is an article about a hard time about it. I am a girl who’s lifting their IQs. in the weight room with mostly guys, and it seems like I don’t get the respect that I Dear Editor, deserve. So maybe if you’re a dedicatedPeople who are in season for their sport out-of season lifter who is reading this, are supposed to have first dibs on the equip- please be considerate of other in-season ment in the weight room. However, when I female athletes, such as myself. go into the weight room, other out of season -Dedicated Lifter athletes are using the machines that I need to use to get my workout done. When I ask Dear Editor, someone how many reps they have on a I think there is a serious problem at certain machine bench press, they give me WHS, and it dates back to when I was in

Bruin Staff Editor-in-chief: Kate Waanders Associate Editor-in-chief: Jamie Kauffman Front Page: Page Editor: Emily Hoover Reporter: Kate Hudson Features: Page Editor: Elizabeth Myers Reporter: Claire Davis Reporter: Ali Davis News: Page Editor: Ashley Brown Reporter: Emily Lyren Editorial: Page Editor: Katy Wilson Reporter: Katie Davis Opinion: Page Editor: Jamie Kauffman Reporter: Laura Hlavaty Speakout: Page Editor: Nick Solitario Reporter: Mike Jack Picture Page: Page Editor: Courtney Harris Reporter: Scott Siesky Sports: Page Editor: Maxx Matheny Reporter: Justin McInturff Reporter: Ashleigh Ralston Reporter: Shelly Anderson Entertainment: Page Editor: Ben Nied Reporter: Aaron Mueller Reporter: Pat Brink Music: Page Editor: Cameron Cornelius Reporter: Kyle Kurowski Reporter: Caitlin Saniga Variety: Page Editor: Lisa Dente Reporter: Trisha Brady Community Spotlight: Reporters: Drew Knight, Laura Myers, Ryan Renacci Career/Technology: Page Editor: Margret Wheeland Reporter: Cody Steigerwald Ads/Business Manager: Katie Davis Photography Editor: Liz Myers Copy Editor: Caitlin Saniga Asst. Copy Editor: Ben Nied Proofreaders: Newspaper/Yearbook I classes

BY PAT BRINK

elementary school. When I was at Valley View, like most children, I was a huge fan of recess. Now there is no recess, and everyday it seems that I miss it more and more. All we get is maybe ﬁve minutes to be outside and that is only if you are really swift. I think they should deﬁnitely make a recess period and build a jungle gym. I need that Wadsworth fresh air, exercise, and a tunnel slide to enjoy and love. -Nate “brother” Brown, 11

Dear Editor, There has been a drastic change in the teachers since they have added computers to their classrooms. Now that they have the world wide web at their ﬁngertips, they have become less helpful with the education of their students. I understand that they need to complete their grades but all day? Maybe they should ban their access to their computers during the day to help the students and make the teachers more effective. -Jeeves, 11

Editorial Policy The Bruin is a monthly publication produced by the Newspaper II and Newspaper III students at Wadsworth High School. The Newspaper I class produces the May issue. The staff will do its best to inform the student body and the community of intra-school, community or national events that affect the student body. This paper provides on-the-job training for the staff members. All decisions are made by the staff members with the advice and suggestions of the advisor. The school administration may censor this publication upon their discretion. We, as the students of journalism, hold the same rights and the same responsibilities as professional journalists as we strive for professional standards. These rights include the right to print any material that is not libelous, obscene, or excessively disruptive to the school process. The Bruin will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, color, creed, or sex. The staff members accept full responsibility for everything appearing in this publication. The staff strongly encourages students to express their opinions through the letters to the editor column, which is printed every month. The staff also encourages the members of the community to express their opinion as well. Space permitting, all letters will be printed. Because the staff accepts the responsibility for the contents of the paper, we must reserve the right to edit or omit any portion of any letter. All letters must be signed, but the name will be withheld upon request.

opinion

March 2005

Holidays you never hear about Most people celebrate the traditional holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Independence Day. Even holidays like Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day are widely celebrated. However, not as many people celebrate National Kazoo Day or World Hello Day. Here are some fun holidays that you should celebrate (or even get off school for!). •

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•

• • • • • • •

National Nothing Day (January 16), created by a

journalist to give people one day when they can just sit, “without celebrating, observing, or honoring anything.” National Kazoo Day (January 28), a day to appreciate that handy musical instrument. Get a Different Name Day (February 13), for those with boring names. National Honesty Day (April 30), when “Honest Abe” Awards (named for President Abraham Lincoln) are presented to honest people and honest companies.

Yell “Fudge” at the Cobras in North America Day

(June 2), because — according to the holiday’s sponsors — the word fudge makes cobra snakes gag and slither away. Hug Holiday (June 15 to 22), to show appreciation of others in any way you can, but especially with a simple hug. Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day (July 27), because your houseplants will become healthier from knowing their environment. National Mustard Day (August 5), a day when mustard lovers can slather their favorite spread on everything, pretzels and ice cream included. Middle Children’s Day (August 13), to salute kids born between brothers and sisters. World Hello Day (November 21), a day set aside to advance peace by saying hello to at least ten people you meet that day. Underdog Day (December 16), honors all the underdogs and unsung heroes who give so much to people. Noon Year’s Eve (December 31), celebrated in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for early risers who

Students must learn to set an example, make smart decisions I always thought the older you got, the more knowledge you would gain. But if that is true, why do I look around and see so many of my peers making senseless decisions? Making mistakes is a part of growing up, but only if you learn from the mistakes LAURA and are able to grow from OPINION STAFF them. It seems like too many high- schoolers are falling into the partying scene and forgetting to use the brains that schooling helped to give them. There is no such thing as a good reason to do drugs or drink alcohol. Maybe it seems cool or “everybody is doing it” can tempt people, but these reasons are not justiﬁed. When asked if the majority of teen partiers were pressured into partying, Ellie Hansen, junior, had but one thing to say, “I think they are bored and too unimaginative to think of something productive to do.” Nothing is cool about drinking or doing drugs, but, hey, if you want to destroy your life, go for it. “I think it is horrible that teens disrespect themselves by committing illegal offenses and think it is attractive,” said Shannon Carps, junior. Although it seems like most high-schoolers are drinking or doing drugs, there are still a few good kids out there. Groups like NHS, HUDDLE, Mentoring, and Side Kicks are out there to inform younger kids, including underclassmen, on the dangers of bad decisions and set a good example. However, all of the clubs at WHS do have one thing in common: the code of conduct. Now, whether students choose to follow this or not is up to them, playing a game of risk is a real rush every now and then, but being smart is always the way to go.

Did you Know? ♦ Alcohol is involved in 50% of all driving fatalities.

♦ In the United States, every 30 minutes, someone is killed in an alcohol related trafﬁc accident.

♦ Over 15 million Americans are dependent on alcohol. 500,000 are between the age of 9 and 12. ♦ Americans spend over $90 billion dollars on alcohol each year.

♦ On average, Americans may consume over 25 gallons of beer, 2 gallons of wine, and 1.5 gallons of distilled spirits each year. ♦ Alcohol is the number one drug problem in America. ♦ Over 80 percent of all adult smokers started smoking before they turned 18.

♦ 2,000 teens start smoking everyday. Information taken from www.usnodrugs.com and thetruth.com

Next time you are pressured into going to a party where you know there will be drugs or alcohol, stop and think about the consequences. “Who wants to someday be asked by their kids about partying? Either you have to tell them about your mistakes or ‘I do not remember,’” said junior Taylor Dungjen. If hanging out with friends or just hanging out does

Time to start school later I could deﬁnitely get used to the idea of starting school at ten o’clock. I felt more rested and more awake in all my classes (granted, they were only 25 minutes long). The week of Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) testing, while its purpose was to test the academic abilities of freshmen and sophomores, was also a sort of “test run” for a later starting time for school. Now, don’t get too excited. This is NOT really a proposed change; this is just my argument that a change like this would be beneﬁcial to students. Studies have shown that teenagers need more sleep than any other age group. While later start times do not guarantee that students will sleep more, they do give students the opportunity to get more sleep. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Most students will eat very little for breakfast in an effort to make it to school on time; some will even skip it if they are running late. With a later start time, these students will be able to eat a good breakfast, or at least have the time to eat. Another reason students give for not eating breakfast is that they are not hungry that early in the morning. By starting school later, these students are more likely to be

hungry before school and will eat some form class schedule was changed to block of breakfast before they come to school. scheduling---scheduling in which stuAlso many students have taken advantage dents only go to some classes on a few of the later start time by going out to break- days a week and the others classes on the fast. This promotes local businesses and other days. Start times at nine o’clock gives them proﬁts they would not normally could be a possibility or even 8:30 would receive with the early start for school. work with the current class schedule. Some schools around the country start at A later start time would also mean a a later time to take into account these vari- later end time. This could affect students ous needs of teenagers. The Edina Public in after-school activities and those with Schools in Minnesota made the schedule jobs. change to start school at 8:30 a.m. rather I would certainly like to see this policy than 7:20 a.m.; teachers and students alike enacted, even though I would never get noticed the difference and liked it. to experience it ﬁrst hand. As a student, As with any issue on school policy, there I feel that I do my best when I am well are disadvantages with the policy of having rested and have a good mental attitude at a later start time. school. First, classes are only approximately Throughout the hallways, I have heard 25 minutes long (except 5th period). This nothing but positive comments about means that teachers only have about half starting school at ten o’clock. that time to teach their lessons. It’s really “Starting school late was the greatest only enough time to take attendance, go over idea our school ever had,” said senior homework, and pass out a work sheet before Caitlin Wise. the bell rings. Also, it is nearly impossible It is clear to see that this start time to take a full test during these shortened policy would have many enticing posiperiods. tive attributes. While there would be If a later start time is to become a reality here at Auto Service Center, Inc. Wadsworth, it 226 High St. Wadsworth will not be at ten o’clock. Custom Bending - Brakes It just would Struts & Shocks - Front End not work unCooling System less the entire 336-7339

Picture of clock coming tomorrow!

Every junior and senior gladly came to school when the clock struck 10 o’clock. MYERS

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH

other necessary changes made to the schedule to make this plan work, it would beneﬁt the students the most. Students would be well rested, well fed, and have a better mental attitude towards school. These advantages could then translate into students who get better test

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Speakout

March 2004 s:

t en

u St

If you could add any subject to the curriculum, what would it be and why? Ohio State Buckeye sports knowledge so I could get an A+ for once!

Dodgeball! A class all about dodgeball would rock the hizouse. -Zach Berger, 10

An accent class. Then you could learn everything from a southern drawl to a British accent. Plus, it would be really good for the guys because girls cannot resist a man with an accent!

I would definitely add a class called LTBLC. Learning to be like Cal. We would study how to be like my favorite teacher Mr. Callaghan, and attempt to reﬂect his greatness. That would be a great class! P.S. I love Orals (Concept Connections)

-Mandy Pearson, 12

I would add a class that would help juniors and seniors discover what they are good at and decide what college attributes are important to them. The class can also explain differences between colleges, universities, and technical institutes. I think this class is needed! -Kelly Sipp, 12

I walk through these halls every day full of intelligent, young, good-looking, available men, and I realize that my game is a little rusty. My man lovin’ magnet is wearing a little dull. So if I could add another subject to the curriculum it would be “Dating101.” Then I would add a class of “Advanced Dating” once I got my magic back!

-Dan Otanicar, 11

- Rhiannon , 10 I would add two extra periods to the curriculum. They would be Brunch and Lunner. We need them because we need all of the nutrition and food we can get because we are growing. -Justin Doyle, 11

r he

a e T

Scuba Diving! I’d love to learn how so I could try it on vacation. -Betsy Bauer, 10 Naptime! I would like naptime because I love to sleep. -Zack Budinscak, 10

Photography, I love taking pictures, and I know a lot of my friends do also. If we had this class, I could better decide if I wanted to go into a photography ﬁeld. - Lauren Mesick, 11

A class to design computer and video games because people love new and interesting games, and you could sell them for money around school.

Dream Studies- one day we sleep, the next day we discuss the dreams we had. Unless we did not have any dreams, in which case we try again by sleeping another day. - Laura Myers, 10

I would add a sports period where the different athletic teams during their season have a class period to practice so not as much time is spent practicing after school. - Megan Fritz, 11

If you could teach any subject what would it be and why?

I would stick with science. I truly enjoy reactions that produce minor explosions and ﬁre. I don’t think this would be a possibility in other subject areas.

Cosmetology- I love to do hair, and boy, would it be fun to use the scissors and the color too. - Mrs. Swanson

Side Note: No matter what Mr. Smith says, I did not start the dumpster ﬁre a few years ago. P.E. because it might help me get in shape, and I could dress like Ms. Althaus.

-Mrs. Hutchinson

- Ms. Allison

I would teach U.S. or World History! I had an excellent World History class as a Senior here with Mr. Miller-not the present Mr. Miller. We had great class discussions. -Mr. Collins

I would love to teach a Spanish Phonetics course. I did not take it until my senior year at OU, but wish I could have taken it soon because it really makes sense and makes Spanish pronunciation and spelling so much easier. I also think it would be fun to teach phys ed- I’d play all the time! No tests, stretching, learning how to keep score, or anything about a good diet- JUST PLAY! -Mrs. Beavers

Exactly what I am teaching. I have known since high school I have wanted to be a foreign language teacher and love sharing a subject I love with my students. I love speaking other languages, learning about other countries, and traveling. My job is like my hobby. -Mrs Petrie

Arts & Clubs

March 2005

Students cut Foot-

BY EMILY LYREN

The directors chose Footloose as their next mission to conquer. Since early January, the Drama Department prepared and rehearsed for itsdebut. In the beginning, the competition for the lead roles was so great that it was hard for the directors to decide who to give which parts to. In fact, they had no choice but to double-cast the lead roles of Ariel Moore and Ren McCormick. Mandy Pearson and Aaron Schoonover alternated nights with Megan Wintersteller and Matt Herold. “It was difficult to finally bring everything together on stage when we had continuously alternated at rehearsals,” Aaron Schoonover stated. Kalyn Yocum claimed that it was challenging to get through all of the scenes in one rehearsal. This is the first play to be double-cast in the history of Wadsworth’s Drama Department, and since there are so many members, they had to find their own costumes. With an enormous cast of about 40 members, technicians, and the pit band, most claim that the play took a lot of time and effort. Mandy Pearson stated, “We had to put forth a lot of effort in order to learn our lines and, on top of

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT WHS ******** Spring Fling will be held Saturday, March 26th from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Don’t forget the theme is Mexican! The ACT will be held on April 9th, 2005. Don’t forget to study! Kate Wilson entered a writing contest this past December sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. She won ﬁrst place at the local level and placed second in the state of Ohio. Congratulations Kate! Listen to the announcements daily for information about the time and location of meetings for clubs you may be involved in.

that, all of the dances!” Julie Vandersommers, who played the role of Elenore, said, “Even though I have a smaller part, I had to juggle learning songs and lines with school work, and it’s not easy!” But dancing wasn’t such a challenge for everyone. In fact, many cast members are heavily involved with dance programs outside of school. Pearson, who also took the role as choreographer of all the dances, has been dancing for as long as she can remember. “Dancing is my life and taking on the role of choreographer was just another challenge. It was very difficult to teach to some people,” stated Pearson. Kelsey Hill, Lindsay Massau, and Michelle Oyakawa also claimed that it was easy to pick up on all the moves because of their past experiences. Hill, who is also a member of the chorus, said, “My favorite part about the play was going out and finding our costumes, even though it was a struggle to find everything.” As always, the play was a major success. “Our hard work has certainly paid off, and I hope everyone enjoyed the show!” said Lindsay Massau.

Aaron , Mandy (left), Megan , and Matt(right) showcased their talents in the school’s hit production of Footloose. PHOTO BY KATE WAANDERS

Fine Art Student of the Month

Mandy

Q: Who are your most inﬂuential teachers? A: Mr. Callaghan and Mrs. Csaky

Q: What is your favorite movie? A: Hitch! I love Kevin James and Will Smith together!

Q: What activities are you involved in? A: Drama Club, Cheerleading, Show Choir, Speech and Debate, Key Club, Student Council, Dance Team, NHS, HUDDLE

Q: What are your Words of Wisdom? A: “May you LIVE everyday of your life.” Jonathan Swift Q: What are your plans after graduation? A: I will be attending Arizona State University where I will

No debate on team success BY ASHLEY BROWN

The Speech and Debate Team ended a very memorable season with a great post-tournament run. The team had many outstanding individuals with great depth. As the team headed into Little Districts, which is the State qualiﬁer, they far exceeded their expectations. Qualifying an outstanding number of 22 members, the Speech and Debate Team broke the previous record of 20 set in 1997. Last year, the team sent 15, and the average number that goes to state is around ten to 15. “This is not like sports because we can send up to 37 people to Little Districts. We send our best, and here is where the state qualiﬁers are determined,” stated head coach Mrs. Mathews. Mathews has been the head coach for the past three years and was the assistant coach for seven years preceding that. The Speech and Debate Team had its share of individual cham-

pions as well. Mandy Pearson and Justin Manning were district champions for their duo piece. Aric Stano also took first with his Foreign Extemp piece, and he also placed sixth at Big Districts, which is the National Qualifier. Jami Riesebieter, who is a captain for the team, had an exceptional season and career of her own. For the fourth year in a row, she qualified for the State tournament and placed in the top 24 with her humor piece. To top off this achievement, she also qualified for the National Tournament by placing second in Big Districts. The competition, which she will be attending this June, will be held in Philadelphia in It takes a lot of hard work and time to get ready for the meets. The team puts in countless hours practicing, where they read a lot of material and organize their parts. Not only does Speech and Debate allow you to display your acting and speaking skills, it is also

State Qualiﬁers Ginny Braizer Megan Collins Abigail Ledman Joel Wozny Jon Losh Jessica Reno Michelle Oyakawa Halle Senger Aric Stano Dan Woods Ryan Walker

Mandy Pearson Justin Manning Christine LaDu Audrey Wallis Mattie Post Gina Maasarik Paige Vacha Brittiny Morrison Ashley Cranston Jami Riesebieter Stormi Thompson

National Qualiﬁer Jami Riesebieter

a great experience. “Speech and Debate allows people to become more outgoing, and you get good public speaking skills. You also make some very good friends and get the experi-

ence of being a part of a team,” said Jami Riesebieter. “I love seeing kids improve and being able to work with kids who are responsible and come in every week,” said Mrs. Mathews.

Features Who is violating whom when dress code goes overboard? March 2005

With spring approaching and the weather changing, students’ apparel is also changing. This means more students are likely to be sent to the ofﬁce for a dress code violation. Each day, I hear of someone getting in trouble for dress code. At lunch, you often see the administration walking around the cafeteria looking at each student to make sure their apparel is appropriate. What I do not understand is that if a teacher does not send a complaint to the ofﬁce, then why do the “lunch lookers” go around looking for violations? Whether is it because a girl’s skirt is

is ridiculous,” said one student. I will admit that I have also been a victim of disapproval in my clothing a few times in my years at Wadsworth. A hole in my jeans, my shirt being too high showing my midriff, or my skirt being too short, each time I was sent to the ofﬁce. Each time my mom brought me something new to wear, she was not sure what was wrong with what I already had on. She questioned the administration that if a hole in the knee of my pants was a distraction, then why were the multicolored hair and Halloween costumes not a distraction? Every day I walk through the halls and pass by students with long silver chains dangling from their pants. How is it that my pants having a hole or two in them a safety hazard, but these long silver-linked chains are okay? What about the kids who walk around with pants

too short or a guy has a hole in the knee of his jeans, students never seem to please the staff. Eleven students who have been in trouble for dress code were interviewed. Each stated that the administration goes overboard with the rules. “I feel that the holes in my knees and the small holes are reasonable, you see peoples legs when we wear shorts and when girls wear skirts. It should not matter if you can see them through a hole,” stated junior Seth Mann. “I agree with short skirts and shorts, but I do not see how over the shoulder shirts are distracting. There are kids walking around in chains and piercings and say they are just expressing themselves, what if a shirt that goes over my shoulder expresses me? It

Brazier experiences pageant life BY CLAIRE DAVIS

“She is beauty and she is grace… she is Miss United States.” This opening theme song for the Miss United States Pageant in the movie Miss Congeniality accurately describes pageant contestants. Growing up, many little girl dreams of being in a pageant. Our very own Ginny Brazier, a senior, was lucky enough to represent Medina County in the Ohio Junior Miss state final pageant, where she won the talent contest and $1,200. This state competition, sponsored by CocaCola and Tyson Foods, was held in Mount Vernon, Ohio. There were 20 contestants. Brazier said she lived with a host family for a week while participating in this pageant. All money raised went to each girl who won a category. Everyday the girls practiced from 7 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. They had to learn dance routines, music, and other routines used in the contests. Brazier said it was very hectic. “I was in the newspaper every day, and I gave a speech at a fancy lunch in which I told about life back in Medina County,” she stated. Brazier and her fellow contestants were judged on scholastics, talent, interview, self expression, and ﬁtness.

Along with winning the talent contest, she recieved awards for her interview, essay, and an opera song skit. She explained that they did not place people, but the overall winner became Miss Ohio Junior Miss. Brazier, who plans to major in musical theatre, came across this contest when she was searching online for college scholarships. “My dance teacher encouraged me to enter because she thought I’d do well,” she stated. Brazier made many friends during this thrilling one week period. “It was so awesome to be around such smart, talented young ladies. My roomate ended up winning and I was so happy for her,” she exclaimed. The pageant is open to any high school senior girls, and Brazier encourages anyone who has the chance to participate because it is a great experience. “Everyone has dreams, goals, and talents for a reason. Follow your heart and do not let anyone stop you!” Brazier said. Wadsworth is very lucky to have such an intelligent young woman positively representing our school.

Ritzman’s Health Bar BY ELIZABETH MYERS

Organic granola, gluten-free bread, protein bars, and dried vegetable chips may not sound like the most appetizing snacks around. These are some of the products sold at Ritzman’s Natural Health Pharmacy in downtown Wadsworth. However, the word ‘pharmacy’ is slightly misleading. Even though the shop has a full-functioning pharmacy in the back, the front of the store has a much different feel. With tables, armchairs, and even a counter-top, it feels much more like a health café. This ‘café’ offers coffee, tea, vegetable juice, and most importantly, smoothies. These smoothies come in all flavors and colors. Most are made with organic apple juice and a banana, then the fruit of choice. Employee Kendall Kaufman has worked at Ritzman’s for eight months and has convinced several students to become ‘regulars’ who have tried many of her smoothies. Some of the more normal ﬂavors include strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry. And if you can’t choose between these three delicious flavors, just try the Fruity 4 which includes all three plus a banana. “It is a great blend of strawberries, bananas, and

apple juice,” says Junior Trevor Day about his favorite smoothie, the Strawberry Splash. If you are looking for a taste of the tropics, you might want to try a mango or papaya smoothie. These are also made with apple juice, but feature fresh pineapple to give it a tangy citrus taste. For the more daring smoothie

taster, there are concoctions such as the Georgia Blue, the Omega Wonder, and the Green Supreme. The Georgia Blue is made of peaches (of course), blueberries (where the blue comes from) apple juice, and soy milk. Soy milk? Yes, it is an interesting combination but is still friendly on the taste buds. Now I’m not going to reveal the ingredients of the Green Supreme, but I will say

MOST INFLUENCIAL TEACHER:

AP Calculus and Latin IV

Mrs. Bebout, she taught me to read

FAVORITE MOVIE:

FAVORITE NON-SCHOOL ACTIVITY:

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

FAVORITE FOOD:

Driving my truck

FAVORITE FOOD:

Chocolate

Jamie

WISDOM:

“If you can dream it you can do it.” -- Walt Disney

that I have not been brave enough to try it myself. Even though it is a frequently ordered item from the health bar, I have not built up the courage needed to order it. And now the one you’ve been waiting for… The Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie! It does sound more like a name for a ﬂurry or dessert-menu item, and it can be. Made with chocolate soy milk (or dairy if the drinker prefers), a banana, and a scoop of organic peanut butter, this smoothie is pleasing to even the most skeptic of smoothie drinkers. “When I make it, it is amazing,” brags Kaufman, “nice and thick, totally mouth-watering.” Even though the low-carb phase is no longer the big craze it used to be, Ritzman’s does feature a low-carb smoothie . If you can’t seem to decide on one of these menu items, you can choose to “Create Your Own Smoothie,” where you can choose your own fruit, base liquid (apple juice, milk, etc.), and your own supplement. Ritzman’s even offers a Smoothie card, where every time you purchase a smoothie your card is punched. After nine smoohies, the tenth is free. Another regular, Jay Keener, a junior, believes, “Ritzman’s is going to be the high school hang out in upcoming years.”

Male Student of the Month

FAVORITE SUBJECT:

WORDS

key facts that lead me to believe that schools do not have a right to tell students what not to wear. In an interview, a highschool student stated, “Various court cases deal with students’ First Amendment rights as far as clothing, and the courts have generally said that students do not have to get rid of those rights when they walk through a school door.” If the administration chooses to crack down as much as they have been on certain issues such as holes in the knees, then they need to crack down on all of the other clothing issues as well, like face paint and costumes. As long as students are going to class, learning what they need to learn, and are safe in the environment, then I feel dress code should not even be an issue.

Myers’ Menu

Female Student of the Month

Students of the Month

three times too big for them with their feet not even showing because the bottoms of their pants are so wide and baggy? Aren’t their pants a safety hazard also? In our student handbooks, it states that face painting is not permitted. So why is it that as I walk to class, I see girls with face paint where their eyebrows are supposed to be, or tears running down their cheeks? I see that it also says no torn jeans or no holes, but what do a few little holes in the knee of a pair of favorite jeans cause? They are not a distraction, and they are not hazardous to other students so what is the big deal? The staff tells me that a little of my stomach is a distraction, (but the face paint is not distracting at all?) It just does not make sense to me. In a story written by MTV corporations, they stated many

What ever is in front of me.

WORDS

Bryce

WISDOM:

Pay attention all the time. You can learn a lot.

Variety

March 2005

Kids crave popular instant enOPINION BY LISA DENTE

Boost your morning with one of the newly popular beverage, energy drinks! These shiny cylinder-shaped cans of instant energy have overtaken bottled water and Gatorade as the most popular product in the beverage business. Is it the bright appearance of the can, the idea of being like everyone else, or the actual rush of pure energy ﬁlling your body that everyone enjoys from these drinks? The new generation has come up with yet another clever invention. These drinks are popular with all students from middle school to the college level. The beverage has even made it to the weight rooms across the nation, and to adults as well. There are over sixty types of energy drinks available for customers. The popular brand most bought is Red Bull. Everyone enjoys a drink spiked with a strong dosage of caffeine. I took a day out to explore the outsiders point on energy drinks. As I walked around Peak Performance, a known workout center in the downtown area, I found plenty of people busting open cans of various types of energy drinks. The most popular was the Mountain Dew AMP. “I drink two energy drinks, preferably Monster, before each workout. It makes me work to twice my endurance and lets me last longer as well,” said one cus-

tomer. Energy drinks have also become a big part in the way people diet these days. Dieting is usually thought of as limiting foods,

reason for people wanting to drink energy drinks. “I saw my friends doing it, it is safer than alcohol and you still look as cool,” commented one

student. The controversy of energy drinks will go on for decades. While doctors continue to tell teenagers how unhealthy is it to drink energy drinks, teenagers will drink more of them for the thrill. My mother makes me buy them myself. She informs me each time, “there has to be something in there that is not healthy, it just seems way too eerie.” But, as for the typical popularity, energy drinks will beat out bottled water and Gatorade for the time being. With a low price as simple as $1.50 a can to the compared size of a bottle of $3.99 Gatorade, energy drinks will always beat out the competition. Just make sure to review the effects before cracking open a can of energy drink. Every

Do-it-yourself: ﬁnd formal fun BY TRISHA BRADY

The past three weeks have centered around finding the perfect outfit, shoes that can weather an entire night, and a sweet ride to top off the perfect evening. But suddenly, the once prepared individual has forgotten the key part to the formal dance: the date. Even if the dance is only a few weeks or days away, there is no need to worry. Follow these simple steps and you will be anything but a couch potato on that special night. 1. Scope the prospects. Keep your eyes peeled. With potential-date radar on, it is easy to spot the prospects. Sure, a last minute looker can tell themselves there is “other fish in the sea,” but the truth of the matter is, you are dealing with a small pond. Beggars cannot be choosers! 2. Strut your stuff. To catch the eye of a lovely prospect, you need to awe them with your good looks. Your probably telling yourself ‘beauty is only skin deep,” but an occasional shower and shampoo definitely does not hurt your cause. If you can walk the walk and talk the talk you are off to a good start. When you carry yourself with pride, there is little left to do. Confidence should be one of your social commandments. Remember, confidence can be a cure-all;

Dear Daisy.....

High school years can be rough. Luckily, there is a glimmer of hope for all in distress. “What could it be?” you ask. Well, it is Daisy , of course. She is willing and ready to listen to your woes and questions.

Dear Daisy, I have nothing to do. I sit and watch television in my spare time. I realize that Wadsworth is not a hot spot for entertainment, but there has got to be something to do. What does everyone else do? Sincerely, A Bored Boy

changing eating style, or exercising. Do people ever think that simple beverages could change our diet? Sure, slim fast came and went with the diet program, but people believe energy drinks may be the cure everyone has been looking for in dietary loss. There are many of other reasons I came across of why high school students have chosen to jump on the bandwagon of energy drinks. “I do it for the energy. I am a junkie,” commented senior Jake Miller, senior. He is not the only one drinking for the energy. “I drink them for the energy, to get me through days that I didn’t get much sleep the night before,” commented Felecia Ward, senior. Besides the typical answers of energy gain, I came upon an odd

Greg , senior, practices step ﬁve with his possible date, Caitlin , senior.

LISA DENTE

however, please use in small dosages. 3. Debate the Possibilities. A good old-fashioned pros and cons list will come in handy right here. By simply debating the possible outcomes of a date with this person, your a step ahead of the game. With this step behind you, you are sure not to regret any choice you make. 4. Form a Plan. Asking your hopeful honey to share a little down time is a perfect way to break the ice. Melt awkwardness by keeping things casual and friendly. Use this evening to predict how good of a date they

PHOTO BY

could be. After this, you can make a plan on how to ask this certain someone. With a plan at hand, your sure to not screw up the situation. Remember the more creative you are in this step, the better the out come can be. 5. Pop the Question. Keep in mind that both guys and girls can talk; therefore, both sexes can ask a signiﬁcant other to a night of formal fun. Stay calm and remember you have nothing to lose. If worst comes to worst, repeat steps one through ﬁve. Good luck!

Dear Bored Boy, Most people our age occupy their time with rounds of cards or computer games. If this does not suit your fancy, I suggest sitting down with a good ol’ copy of The Bruin and read away. Dear Daisy, Studying is a tough thing. Whenever I study a whole lot, I always do worse on a test. On the ﬂip side, when I never study, I always do fairly decent. I have to be doing something wrong! Yours truly, Physics Failure Dear Physics Failure, Tests are tricky things. Studying is key and building good study skills in high school will help you in your years to come. Try adapting new methods or use memory gimmicks. If all else fails, ask a teacher or guidance counselor. Test anxiety is not something to be taken lightly.

application to different places. Remember if it is not your ideal job, your just there to make a little cash. This is how people gain work experience and their ﬁrst references. Good Luck. Dear Daisy, With prom approaching, I have been looking everywhere for a dress. It gives me a stomach ache just looking at the price tags, so I ﬁnally have got fed up with dress shopping. Prom is only two months away, do you have any suggestions? Sincerely, Penniless Prom Date

Dear Penniless Prom Date, There are various organizations looking to help young adults just like yourself. They offer prom attire and other nice interview and formal wear for those who cannot afford these items on their household income. Such organizations are known as Project Cinderella and Clothes Closet, located right here at our high school. Ask an office assistant and they can direct you in the right place. Dear Daisy, I was dating a boy for six months until he decided it was time to move on. He found a new niche in his life and is hooked on this new love. I keep trying to move on, but I can’t. Do you have any advice? Hopelessly in Love

Dear Daisy, I cannot ﬁnd a job. Every place I go to give my application will only hire either 18 year olds or people who have had at least one job before. How is a person suppose to get started? Sincerely, Unemployed Youth

Dear Hopelessly in Love, Honey, there are a lot more fish out in the sea. Take a glimpse and I am sure you will ﬁnd one. And on the other side of things, having a boyfriend is not all it is cracked up to be. Make sure to keep yourself busy, going to movies with friends or out to dinner. If you are out and about, you are bound to spot a new boyfriend.

Dear Unemployed, First jobs are always difﬁcult to ﬁnd. Keep putting in your

Need Advice? Look for

Wadsworth High School Don’t miss out on all the cookies and

Picture Page

March 2005

‘Season of excellence’ BY COURTNEY HARRIS AND SCOTT SIESKY

2 1: During a quick time out during a home game, Coach Callaghan trys to get the girl’s varsity team ready for the next play. PHOTO BY: BRUIN STAFF

2: Senior Chris Barlow plays aggressive defense against Suburban League rivals, the Cloverleaf Colts. PHOTO BY: BRUIN STAFF 3: After qualifying for state, sophomore Derek Foore takes down his opponent in his semi-ﬁnal match. Foore ended the tournament with a second-place ﬁnish. PHOTO BY: LIZ MYERS 4: Ready for her next race, sophomore Ashley Currens prepares herself to step up on the starting block. PHOTO BY: YEARBOOK

It is been quite a successful season around school the last few months. From the boys and girls basketball teams in districts to the speech and debate team taking on state, it has been filled with both excitement and heartbreak. We all have heard of the outstanding season the varsity girls basketball team had. They were even ranked third in the state poll. A close and exhilarating game came against the Barberton Magics during the regular season, then again in a re-match February 23 at the Ellet district tournament in semifinal action. Although the team fell short in both games, they finished the season with a record of 19-3. They have four graduating seniors, three of which are going on to play at the collegiate level. The boys basketball team has not accomplished as much this season as the girls. Most expected them to barely finish over .500 for the year. In the district tournament first round, they triumphed over Ellet with a final score of 55-36. With this victory, it gave fans the motivation that they could go far in the bracket. Those dreams were dashed after Wooster came back from a 17 point deficit to win 58-56. Being ranked all season as high as second in state was nothing out of the ordinary for the wrestling team. The team finished fourth last year and third this season at the State Tournament, the highest placing for the team since 1942. They were led by senior Timmy Miller who ended his senior career with a record of 49-0 and was the 171 pound State Champion. Also at state, senior Josh Kallai placed third, sophomore Derek Foore placed second and sophomore Jamey Srock placed fifth. A lesser publicized sport is swimming, which accomplished a lot this year. Practicing twice a day is never easy, especially for one of the most physical sports out there. Through the tough practices, the team broke seven school records, and sent 12 swimmers to districts. Although dreams were cut short at districts, relay team and individual times were drastically cut by the end of a long, dedicated season. Another lesser publicized sport is gymnastics. With a fairly young team, junior Shanon Smith was the only teammate to travel to the state tournament in Dayton, Ohio. With hard work in the off-season, we can expect great things from the team next season. Cheerleading has become more prevalent in the past year. Competitions at colleges and universities have been showing up on ESPN. Even our own cheering squad had the opportunity to compete at regionals, and placed high enough to attend the state meet March 5-6. Hitting all their points, the team was very pleased with their performance. Our Speech and Debate team attended their state tournament the same weekend as the cheering squad. Twenty-two members attended the tournament. Senior Jami Riesbieter, competed well enough at the Big District tournamnet to qualify for the national tournament held in Philadelphia, Pensylvania this summer. As one can tell, excellence is contagious around school. One can only hope that through the spring season and years to come we have as much success as there has been in the

PICTURE PAGE

March 2005

through winter months

4 4

1: University of Akron recruit, senior Ashley shoots fouls shots during a home game this past season. PHOTO BY: BRUIN STAFF 2: Senior Joel shows off his award for ﬁrst place at the Speech and Debate district tournament.PHOTO BY: JAMI RIESEBIETER 3: During a tough practice, junior Kate n and sophomore Kristi prepare for their next team drill.PHOTO BY: BRUIN STAFF 4: Timmy , senior, wrestles at the state tournament in a exciting match. This match later ended in a win for Miller and the ability to call himself the 171-pound state champion.PHOTO BY: LIZ MYERS 5: One of the best swimmers we’ve had this year, junior Ben , looks toward the clock to see his time.PHOTO BY: JAMI RIESEBIETER 6: Letting loose and having a good time after the Speech and Debate tournament are senior Jami and sophomore Abigail . Riesbieter went on to state and will compete in the summer at the national tournament.PHOTO BY: JAMI RIESEBIETER 7: During a pre-competition party, the entire gymnastics team shows how fun and close they all are with one other. PHOTO BY: BRUIN STAFF

8: The cheerleaders get the student section pumped up during a home game this season. PHOTO BY: BRUIN STAFF 9: The infamous cousins, Andy and Zach, have proven they have more than just their last name in common.

STAFF

PHOTO BY: BRUIN

Entertainment/news

March 2005

Celebrities unable to have lasting marriagBY BEN NIED

Each week you hear the same old news coming from the entertainment industry: Michael Jackson, some new movie, someone dies, and endless accounts of gossip and celebrity mishaps. And now a new trend is developing that may be even more controversial and immoral than all of the others. Celebrities just can not seem to live happily ever after with each other. Divorces and separations are popping up left and right and it is starting to become a regular thing out in Hollywood. Some recent instances of divorce include Brad Pitt and Jennfier Aniston, Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, and who can forget about Britney Spears’ marriage to Jason Alexander for 55 hours. The numbers continue to grow each week as stars marry and divorce like high school relationships. Take a look at the infamous Jennifer Lopez. People lost track a long time ago on the number of husbands she has been separated from. “The trend of celebrities divorcing used to be shocking, but it has become just another boring Hollywood trend. At least now there are more available celebrity women for me to take in a few years,” said sophomore Brad Mueller. This trend has been developing slowly through the years, possibly beginning with Marylin Monroe and her many husbands.

There seems to be more than one common issue behind all the splits though. In most cases the celebrities are not with each other all that much due to their busy entertainment schedules, but other factors that could contribute are not enough attention, cheating on spouses, or just a lost in interest after being around so many other beautiful people. No end seems to be in sight for the future of separating celebrities, just imagine how many husbands Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff will eventually go through in years to come. The website www.ojar.com reports 52 major celebrity divorces of stars under 35 years of age since the 1960’s. The majority of which took place in the past 15 years. This immoral trend goes along with hundreds of affairs and scandals that makes one wonder how these people get so out of hand after they get a little fame or money. The most recent example of this was the Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston separation. It was rumored that Angelina Jolie had an affair with Pitt, but Aniston released a statement saying, “For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media. This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration.” This account seems to depict that the two agreed they were bored of each other after ﬁve years of marriage. “Every day you see the same old news of more divorces between celebrity couples. I think it is all for publicity and should be

New movies starring Ashton Kutcher coming to theaters BY AARON MUELLER

Ashton Kutcher, an extremely popular actor, especially with the ladies, is at it again. He has starred in numerous movies and in his own show “Punk’d,” on MTV. Now he is working overtime as the release dates of his two newest movies quickly approach. Guess Who, also starring Bernie Mac, is set to be in theaters on March 25. It is a comedy about a white man named Simon Green, who is played by Kutcher. Simon is marrying a black woman and when she brings him home to meet her family the family, is in shock. The woman’s father, played by Mac, especially can not believe his daughter is about to marry a white guy. The ﬁlm, which was directed by Kevin Sullivan, depicts the culture differences and the controversy surrounding the couple in a way that promises to make viewers laugh. The combined acting skills of Kutcher and Mac should be entertaining. The movie is rated PG-13. Kutcher’s next ﬁlm A Lot Like Love is a romantic comedy. Kutcher plays Oliver Geary, who one day meets a woman named Emily Friehl on an airplane. They do not seem to be much of a match, but ironically meet each other time after time over the course of seven years and eventually fall for each other. This movie is more of a drama, yet still will be funny. It too, is rated PG13.

Kutcher, the male model turned actor, has so many fans around the world that both of these ﬁlms are expected to be box ofﬁce hits. When asked what their reasons were for liking Kutcher’s movies, Jean Glover and Brittany Johnson both said, “Ashton Kutcher, he’s hot!” Afterwards, they added that he is a talented actor too. Perhaps there is no one person who likes Kutcher and his shows more than Brooke Thomas, who is often seen wearing a “Mrs. Kutcher” pin. She, like many other people world wide, plans to see these films the day they come out. “I’ve probably never been more excited,” said Thomas. “I am more excited to see these movies than I was when I got my license!” There is no doubt both these movies will draw people to theaters and earn a lot of money. It is just a question of which one will do better.

Brad Pitt, 41, and Jennifer Aniston, 35, have been together since they were set up on a blind date in 1998. They were married in 2000 and recently divorced on Janurary 7. PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.MSNBC.COM

looked at as being immoral. The idea of living happily ever after has obviously left the minds of most of these big stars,” said sophomore Eric Nied. The scandals, separations, and affairs are not only fueled by the young stars, but the entertainment industry itself thrives on the large amounts of gossip and news that pours in every day. So as the news keeps

coming, the industry will not admit there is a major problem and the greedy life-styles will continue. The celebrity divorce trend is commonly viewed as immoral and confusing, but like the rest of Hollywood trends it will eventually end and maybe these stars can ﬁnd true love in their lives one day.

Favorite weekend hangouts BY PAT BRINK

What do Wadsworth High students do with their weekends? We recently surveyed students to ﬁnd out just that. We had feedback from all grades and all types of things ranging from Halo 2 parties to a weekly night out with the grandparents. The most common response was going to parties, 65% responded this way. To be honest I’m sure it’s not appropriate partying, but I’m sure a few of these parties are good at heart. Some might just go to parties and play a rousing game of “pin the tail on the donkey,” or even better, maybe a game of Parcheesi with friends and family. Nothing else can start a weekend off like a game of M o u s e Trap, a large cheese pizza and a big, sparkling glass of Coca Cola. “Hanging out with friends” was a close second to partying, coming in with a whopping 20%. We all know this basically means that a group of people had absolutely nothing to do so they hung out in good ol’ Jimmy’s basement for the night and talked about what they should go out and do. Other answers were sparse and random. One girl spoke of being a pirate and going

to Long John Silvers, kind of weird but whatever ﬂoats your boat I guess. Ahhh Schmiscuits and Jone’s Soda.... Sheetz becomes a late night hot spot for some of these weekenders. Others, like Ben Goddard, explained how they attend church every Saturday night with a special someone, these are the swell kids that make up the foundation of our “excellent” school system. “We spend our weekends volunteering in various places, sometimes we work as bedpan washers. We also study various subjects such as History and Biology. We also go to Bible study on Saturday nights and have s leepovers ,” stated Sophomores Loren Sera and Jackie Swartz. Whether this is the biggest lie I’ve ever heard or they’re actually serious, it sounds nice. Personally I’m a fan of late night sleepovers with my buddies, we watch scary movies all night long while my mom makes us popcorn and grilled cheese sandwiches. So spend your weekend the way you’d like to, whether you read Harry Potter or ride your tricycle around with your friends. Whatever you do, have fun.

Michael J. Boyer, D.P.M.

Podiatrist Sports Medicine 119 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 Phone: (330) 334-1534

Music

March 2005

Main stream music hits ‘rock’ bottom

To be perfectly blunt, the mainstream music of today is in one of the worst states it has ever been in. Even though good music does exist, it is hard to ﬁnd. A quick glance at the big pop and rock stars today easily convinces us that the music industry has pretty much hit “rock” bottom. Rap has become the hemorrhoid of music. It stinks but you just can not help smelling it. Oldschool rap was about empowering

blacks and giving them something of their own to be proud of. It was creative and innovative. However, it seems like every rap song today is about either sex, drugs and alcohol, or money. Many unfair stereotypes about blacks have arisen due to rap music. Not every black person can rap, wears bling-bling, has platinum teeth, and pimps their ride. Rap now causes many white, suburban, middle-class teens to try and act “ghetto.” This is very hypocritical because these teens are in fact the opposite of “ghetto.” Their parents usually buy them just about everything they want, and they aren’t poor at all. Another blemish in the music

industry is Christian bands. Christian bands are one of the worst ideas ever. Writing songs about God and what you believe in is ﬁne, but if that is all you write about, you are selling yourself short as an artist. It is redundant and lacks imagination. If every song is like a prayer, it makes your spirituality seem impersonal and generic. A religious song here and there is ﬁne, but if that is all you will write or perform, then you need to realize there is more to life. It also seems like some bands just claim to be Christian because they can’t hack it as a regular band. If they label themselves as Christian though, they automatically appeal to a whole new audience

Where are they now: 90’s BY CAITLIN SANIGA

Over the course of music, many bands have come and gone, leaving listeners with the question: where are they now? Today’s generation of youth grew up in the 90’s, and the music from that era is truly the voice of our generation. The UK-based band Oasis was living large in 1995 when What’s The Story Morning Glory? was soaring at the top of the charts. Singles like “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova” helped define the era of 90’s music. Today, Oasis is still alive and pushing on. The band released their much anticipated album Don’t Believe the Truth on March 16. Oasis frontman Noel Gallaghar feels the new album’s first single “Lyla” is a true Oasis signature song. “It’s The Who. ‘Lyla’ was specifically designed for pogoing,” said Gallaghar. With his cunning humor, ef-

fortless wit, and off the wall lyrics, it would be hard to forget a musical artist like Beck. In 1994, his album Mellow Gold, featuring the single “Loser,” lingered at the top of the charts. Just recently, he has been working toward the completion of his new album Guero which is due to be released March 29. This album features several guest artists including The Dust Brothers and Jack White. The song “E-Pro” will be the ﬁrst single from Guero. Weezer is another unforgettable 90’s band. With singles like “My Name is Jonas” and “Hash Pipe” released later in the decade, Weezer set the stage for music to come in the new millennium. Currently, the band is putting the finishing touches on its ﬁfth album Make Believe. Set to debut some time in May, Make Believe will

feature the single “Beverly Hills.” Filming for the “Beverly Hills” music video is already well under way, and critics have high hopes for Weezer’s ongoing success. Whether or not any given band survived the 90’s is nothing important. Every band helped deﬁne an incredible era of music by leaving its own unique mark. There’s no avoiding it. The music of the 90’s will forever inﬂuence the music of

Bio: Fronted by musical genius Max Bemis, Say Anything gives a new dimension to typical indie rock. The fourman band originated in Los Angeles, California, and has been making waves all over the country since then. However, the band has faced many obstacles on its road to fame. Just recently, Kevin Seaten and Dan left the band, some friends of the band are taking their places. Also, while writ-

Website:

www.sayanythingmusic.com

Billboard’s Top Ten Singles

1. Candy Shop-50 Cent Featuring Olivia 2. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams-Green Day 3. Let Me Love You-Mario 4. How We Do-The Game Featuring 50 Cent 5. Disco Inferno-50 Cent 6. Since U Been Gone-Kelly Clarkson 7. 1, 2 Step-Ciara Featuring Missy Elliott 8. Rich Girl-Gwen Stefani Featuring Eve 9. Caught Up-Usher 10. Obsession (No Es Amor)-Frankie J Featuring Baby Bash Lists provided by www.billboard.com

Wadsworth Music Instruments-lessons-repairs

Cam, Caitlin, and Kyle’s Music Corner Say Anything ing for the new album Is A Real Boy, Max Bemis became overwhelmingly stressed and was committed to a mental institution, where he ﬁnished writing the album. Through these obstacles, Say Anything has successfully managed to maintain a strong identity. Pumping guitar riffs, witty lyrics, and powerful, say-it-like-you-mean-it vocals deﬁne this band. With a crisp new style, is obviously a band to check out on the music scene today.

Christian bands. All the songs are the same. They’re about either your dog dying, heart break, or your pickup truck breaking down. If you can manage to get all three subjects in the same song, you win a Country Music Award. Recently, Blink 182 announced that they were going to take a break from making music. Big deal. With any luck, we’ll never have to see another Blink album again. They are quite possibly the most repetitive band to hit the music scene. If you’ve heard one Blink cd, you’ve heard them all. They are breaking up, but it is not breaking our hearts. Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan are attractive, but come on. Stick to movies where you parade around and make it bearable for guys to sit through the stupid chick flicks. Leave the music to real artists. Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Christina Aguilera. Do we really have to say anything else? Obviously, the music world is nothing compared to what it was 30 years ago. It has shifted from musicians writeing about what is meaningful to them, to artists who are looking to make a quick buck. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, it is broken and needs to be fixed

What Your Peers Think:

“Say Anything is an amazing band, and I’m glad they’re ﬁnally getting the credit that they desesrve.” - Ashley Cranston, 11 “Say Anything is the best new thing since sliced bread. Their sound is unlike anything I’ve ever heard.” - Dan Lukens, 12

Albums:

Baseball (2002) Menorah/Majora EP (2003) Is a Real Boy (2004)

133 College St. Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 330-335-5355 wadsworthmusic@wadsnet.com John and Susan O’Leary

Sports 12 Multi-sport athletes lead demanding March 2005

BY JUSTIN MCINTURFF

Here at the high school, extracurricular activities seem to be the thing to do. Many students get involved in sports in order to occupy their time. However, the special athletes are those who compete in more than one sport. It takes a good athlete to be good

in one sport, but it takes a great athlete to excel in multiple sports. With teachers piling on homework every night, it is difﬁcult for students to practice the things that they love to do. It takes extreme dedication and very good time management in order to juggle school and sports.

will

fill

Junior Max played a very important role on the varsity soccer team this season. He is also expected to be one of the main runners for the boys track team this spring. PHOTO FROM BRUIN ARCHIVES.

For example, senior Andy Farver is participating in his third sport of the year this spring. Farver excelled on both the soccer and basketball teams, and will hope to do the same on the tennis team. He was a co-captain on both teams, and was a major contributor to their success. Not only is he a great athlete, but he also gets it done in the classroom. Farver is in the top third of his class, and he is also the senior class president. Also, Lauren Davis plays three different sports. As a varsity star in cross country, basketball, and softball, Lauren shows off her athletic ability in three different seasons. Lauren also ﬁnds the time in her busy schedule for her education. Being a two-sport athlete can be very demanding as well. Many students play two sports, and are involved in clubs around the school. For example, Brittany Schmeltzer is on both the varsity volleyball and softball teams. She is also involved in NHS, proving she is a terriﬁc student. There are many other students that play multiple sports. For example, senior Steve Fracasso and junior Shelly Anderson are both multi-sport athletes. Fracasso was on both the varsity basketball and soccer teams. Anderson participated in volleyball, basketball, and will be playing on the varsity softball team this upcoming spring. Max Hiltner is also a two-sport athlete.

He plays the demanding sport of soccer, and he also dedicates his time during the spring to run track. Hiltneris expected to go deep into the state tournament in the mile run. “Being a multi-sport athlete is very demanding,” says Hiltner, “It’s difﬁcult to get homework done having practice every night.” Athletes are looked up to around the school. If you are a star athlete, you seem to get respect from everyone. In turn, students who play multiple sports are even more well- known around the school. Although it is not the way it is supposed to be, teachers have their favorites. Most of the time, the favorites are the students that play on the team that the teacher coaches.

Congrats to State Timmy Miller capped off his perfect 49-0 season with a State title. In the 171 weight class, Miller won the title match by a score of 9-4 over David Clemens of Beavercreek. Miller also became the all-time win leader by surpassing the old record of 150 with 165. Other notable performances include Derek Foore finishing 2nd, Josh Kallai finishing 3rd, and Jamey Srock at 5th.The Grizzlies finished third in the state thanks in part to Miller’s amazing

Five-year head basketball coach steps BY ASHlEIGH RALSTON & SHELLY ANDERSON

Head girls basketball coach Scott Callaghan decided to end his coaching career with the program after his fifth year. Callaghan started with the Grizzlies in 2001. He finished this season with a Mr. Callaghan 15 being 67-3 Suburban League. coaching recordinofthe 100On Tuesday, March 8, Callaghan made his decision known to his team. Athletic Director Steve Moore sent out letters to all girls involved in the program from freshmen to varsity. These letters simply said that there would be an important but brief meeting held after school and asked that all would attend. Many girls were shocked and heartbroken to hear that their coach would be stepping down. Callaghan spoke briefly to all the girls wanting them to hear the news from him first. Callaghan and assistant varsity coach Mark Postak then left the room, and Moore took the floor. He sympathized with the

girls in saying that he hated to see such a kindhearted person and leader leaving the program. Moore explained to the girls that he and principal Williams would be holding interviews with possible candidates for the coaching position. Moore hopes to have a coach by May 1, but he would hold out until the ﬁrst day of tryouts, October 28, to ﬁnd the perfect coach for the job. On Tuesday, March 15, interested candidates were able to apply. Anyone interested may apply until the deadline on April 1. As of March 16, around 10 applications were presented to Moore, but since the public has been made aware of the resignation, there have been many inquiries for the job. After the deadline, Moore and Williams will meet with a board of administrators to review all applicants. They will weed through all applications and select a group to be interviewed. This is subject to change, but Moore hopes to have a replacement up for approval at the May School Board Meeting. Callaghan did not comment on any possible replacement for the program head. He had no interest on being on the recommendation board. He felt it was not his job or

Spring Sports Preview BY MAXX MATHENY

BASEBALL The title of “rebuilding” has been used for practically every sport thus far this year. Baseball is no different due to the fact that it graduated possibly one of its greatest classes in 2004. Looking to lead the Grizzlies this year are seniors Nick Solitario (University of Akron signee), Tyler Gibbs, and Adam Smith. Also looking to lead the team this year on the mound is junior Trey Archer. Gibbs and Solitario will also make their presence felt against opposing batters. The team should sneak under most radars this year and could make a run.

SOFTBALL The softball team should beneﬁt from a great senior class this year. Looking to lead the team are Lauren Davis, Brittany Schmeltzer, Ashleigh Ralston, Meredith Antal, LeAnn Srock, and Leslie McCammon. The team appears to be solid all the way around coming into the year. The only possible weakness may be at ﬁrst base where the team is looking to replace former standout Rachelle Gunselman, who was also an outstanding pitcher on last year’s team. BOYS TENNIS This year’s team appears to be heading in the right direction to kick off the season.

his right to be involved with this decision. Mr. Moore said he will be conducting the summer workouts for the girls basketball team. The girls will be in charge of choosing which leagues and shoot-outs to enter, but everything they want to do will have to go through Moore ﬁrst. The summer is a time for the girls to bond and get used to playing with one another, so planning for this is crucial. “I will miss spending June and July with my team,” said Callaghan. When asked for the reason of Callaghan’s resignation he simply stated, “The timing was right.” Callaghan has no regrets and would not have done anything different during his time coaching. He will miss practicing every day and the relationships that were built with his players and fellow coaches. During the meeting, Callaghan told the girls that he hoped to stay a part

of their lives. Although he wouldn’t be their coach, he wanted to keep the relationships going because these relationships are what he wants to take from the past ﬁve years of coaching. He is currently an assistant varsity softball coach, but this will also be his last season with that program. “God willing, I will coach basketball again,” Callaghan responded about his future coaching plans. Callaghan is upset with stepping down, but still feels it is best for the program. He has no regrets about his decision, and hopes to ﬁnd new and better situations in the future. “Change challenges one to step-out in faith; it is very healthy to be humbled,” said Callaghan.

Looking to lead the team are seniors Adam Pfeiffer and Andy Farver. The team should also be able to rely on underclassmen Scott Landerholm, and Alex LeFevre for quality wins. The team is looking at what should be ﬁerce competition from fellow Suburban League schools Green, Highland, and Revere.

season with a hopeful Suburban League Championship.

Lower Division

GIRLS TRACK Top returners on this year’s girls track team are sisters Annie and Jamie Grindle (Jamie won the SL in four events last year), Ashley Currens, Keli-Jo White and Margaret Wheeland. After ﬁnishing last year as Co-Champions with Copley, the team is looking to advance deep into the post-

BOYS TRACK The pole-vaulters, Jeff Dobbins and Mitch Laubaugh, should be best duo out of any school in the state. Runners Max Hiltner and Pat Brink should be the important duo this season. Promising throwers appear to be Bryce Storm, Kyle Kurowski, Brian Svenson, and David Guthrie. The team also ﬁnished the season as Co-Champions with Copley, just as the girls did. The league appears to be very competetive heading into the season. Both Copley and Green have strong teams coming out, and you can never count out any of the other teams.

Career/technology

March 2005

Working Wadsworth works for

BY CODY STEIGERWALD

As students become more independent, attaining a drivers licences, and beginning to date, they need to pay for the new extravagant life-style they also need money. The entertainment in Wadsworth may be limited to bowling and hanging out at Wal-mart, but the job market is wide open. They may range for age levels and previous experience, but local employment is possible for all. The ﬁrst place anyone should look is in the local business. Many are still family- owned and run. This can work as an advantage in the employes favor. Being family- oriented, the owner will recognize the needs of teens, having children themselves. Bidingers opened on March 12 and is looking for a few trustworthy employees. The original ice cream shop of Wadsworth may feel the heat from the Katie’s Korner that was erected last year. The newcomer

will may be looking for an edge to successfully challenge Bids, which means getting regulars to make a transition. That means hiring teens who can pull their friends along with them. The red hot ice cream wars will leave one competitor melted, but either way it is good for the consumers. Working for the city is a great way to make money and give back to the community. With all the pot holes in this city, along with the increased trafﬁc and maintiance of the new surveillance systems, there are sure to be plenty of new openings. The city always needs additional help during the major events of the year such as the Blue Tip Parade and Festival and the reading of water meters.

Lets not forget the reason for all the new pot holes and surveillance, the Wal-Mart and Home Depot. T h e f o o d services are not limited to fast food in Wadsworth. T h e Galaxy and Applebee’s offer a step up from the paper hats and grease burns from the deep fat fryer. There is more than just being a waiter or waitress. They need matradies and bus boys and girls, people to work in the back cooking food, and people to clean the food up. Casa del Rio may give you the opportunity to earn some money as well as work on your Spanish.

The car wash is a great way to work outside in the fresh summer air and keep cool and clean, plus you can get tips. If it is a sea of flowers and not suds you want to wade through, perhaps blooming Acres is the place for you. The smell of fresh flowers tenderly bathing those who work, caring for life that rewards them with vibrant sights and sound. The perks are obvious when working in a greenhouse, the build-up of immunities to pollen and the extra heat from the green house effect bring out a glistening gleam to your skin. Getting flowers at 20% off does not hurt either. As the happiest workers know, a job is not about a big pay check, the best jobs have great benefits. Becoming independent in Wadsworth can be difficult, but finding a job as a teenager in Wadsworth does not have to be. Know how much money is needed to fit a life-style, what kind of people one would want to be around, what, if any benefits there are, and how much actual work can be done in a

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ACT and SAT scores ac-

Making right decisions BY MARGARET WHEELAND

Some teens believe that the quicker they can get a job, the sooner they will be able to afford to go to college, or want wait a few years to go to college. This may be true, but job hunting is not always the way to go right out of high school. Lots of teens are enlisting in the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The opportunity to serve our country, while earning a nice paycheck, seems to attract many. Also, one does not have to worry about paying for college. According to the Montgomery G.I. Bill, if one have completed three years of active duty, the government will give a hefty check to pay

for secondary education. Everyone who serves in one of the five programs gets the chance to go to a college that is paid for by the government. This attribute has attracted many graduating high school students that do not feel the need to go to college right away. However, there are many things that need to be checked off before one decides to go into one of these five fields. First of all, one must pass the full physical examination that is given when one enlists. Another, thing one must pass is the ASVAB, or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test. Whether the decision is to go to college right away, or to wait and get a job remember that there is an alternative.

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What does ASVAB stand for? Automated Super Vacuum Aerial Bomber - Chrissy Dragovich 12

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KinderCare Learning Centers 135 Smokerise Drive Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 330.336.6619 330.334.4297 fax c0919@mail.kindercare.com Lorrie L. Schelke Center Director KinderCare.com

March Special “Let Amedo’s costume design your corsage, and get a complementary bouton-

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

March 2005

Superintendent makes difference

Wadsworth Superintendent Dale Fortner explains, “I try to do the best job I can running the school district, so the students get the best education and the tax payers get it at the lowest price.” BY DREW KNIGHT

Mr. Dale Fortner is more than the person who calls off school when the wind blows too hard or Lake Erie dumps a early morning snow storm on Northeast Ohio. He is the CEO of theWadsworth School District. Fortner not only oversees the educational aspect of the entire school district, but he also oversees the operational aspect of the school district. Yet, the most amazing thing about Fortner is he does all of this and has a family of ﬁve kids--all daughters. Fortner credits his wife, Debbie, on how he manages all the work and his large family. “I have a wonderful wife,” exclaims Forter. In the background, Sophia Fortner, 5, yells, “and wonderful daughters.” His daughters help him as well. Fortner gets a lot of support from his wife. He tries to put forth the greatest possible effort in both his job and family. It is really hard though, sometimes to be the children of the superintendent. It can be stressful for the kids because other children are sometimes mean to them. Still the job of superintendent consists of much more than calling off school. Fortner runs everything from the cafeteria and the

As the leader of our school system, Dale Fortner does all he can to make the schools and the community a better place.

lunches to the curriculum. Yet the students mostly care about school days. Calling off school for a snow day is an important decision. Forter drives the roads as early as 5 a.m., watches the forecast, checks with the road and police ofﬁce as

Journalist turns love for city into career

“Writer at heart” heads local newspaper, loves every minute

BY LAURA MYERS

Strength through community. A concept lost on many, especially during the current conﬂicts Wadsworth is experiencing. Many people are torn apart by different opinions, such as tax abatements to businesses and new developments. Three years ago, these people were given a voice, along with a reliable news source that gave them the actual facts. This came in the form of The Trading Post, a local newspaper. Though it’s been around for many years, it was mainly used for ads, with maybe one page of local news. Then came Carrie Valentin. As an editor and writer, she helped revamp the Trading Post to include a whole section of news from Wadsworth, Cloverleaf, and Seville. Valentin has her own column, the cleverly named “Carrie on...” She also writes the “What’s up in Wadsworth” page, and other local stories. “It is so enlightening to have an opportunity to interview many of the people that live and work in Wadsworth,” she says. “I have learned so much about where I live.” Valentin has lived in Wadsworth for 15 years. Before she moved to Wadsworth, she was a college student at Akron University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. While at Akron, she met Marc Valentin, whom she later married. They have one daughter, Liz, who is now ten years old. Valentin says that she decided to have a child instead of completing her masters in accounting. Though she worked with an accountant for many years, Valentin says that she has been a writer for nearly 20 years, ever since the tragic death of her boyfriend when she was in high school. She began to write

her feelings, and continued to do so ever since. “The loss of him in my life taught me to turn words into healing,” she says of his death. Valentin joined the Trading Post two and a half years ago, saying that it is her dream job. “I have to go behind the scenes, where many folks don’t get to go. That is a treat,” she explains about one of her favorite parts of the job. Valentin’s work on the Trading Post also gives her a sense of accomplishment. “All of my greatest accomplishments happen when my words connect with others,” she says. “I have never worked so hard, for so little money, and felt so rewarded.” Valentin’s work on the Trading Post has helped unite the community by giving reliable news to the people. Valentin, who has always loved writing, loves her city and her new career. “Basically, it is my belief that everyone has a story to tell. Now, I use my ability to write to tell other people’s stories.”

Editor of the Wadsworth edition of the Trading Post, Carrie Valentin ejoys having fun on the job.

well as talking with other superintendents. All this is to make sure the students at Wadsworth are safe. “Making a decision on a snow day is not an easy decision,” comments Fortner. When he was younger, Fortner did not

always want to be a superintendent. “I wanted to be a teacher,” Fortner said. “I saw the opportunity to lead in different ways, and I wanted to see if I was capable of the challenge. I wanted to try and serve Wadsworth from a different seat.” After spending two years as principal of Wadsworth High School, Fortner applied for the job of superintendent and was welcome with open arms. Fortner needed more than a bachelors degree to become superintendent. After receiving his bachelors degree from the College of Wooster, Fortner continued his education by earning his masters at the University of Akron. He decided to go a step further by earning three administrative licenses. They are for principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. The hard work is paying off for Wadsworth’s superintendent and his effort to make Wadsworth a better school district. Even though his job can be stressful, Fortner enjoys his job. His favorite part of being superintendent is “having the ability to have a positive inﬂuence on people.” The superintendent is doing just that. That shows the wonderful character of

Fire Chief calls on resiLack of intelligence is a prominent reason for cause of ﬁres in Wadsworth BY RYAN RENACCI

Wadsworth fire fighters are becoming busier and busier each year responding to emergency calls from the town’s residents. The ten year trend summary shows a steady increase in the number of emergency calls since 1994. One hundred seventy-two calls were placed in 1994; 2003 more than doubled that number, with 286 emergency calls. “The biggest cause of fires in Wadsworth is the lack of intelligence when it comes to our residents,” said Ralph Copley, Chief of Fire and E.M.S. M r . Copley has protected Wadsworth citizens from fires for many years. After many years as a volunteer fire fighter, he filled the position of Chief Fire Inspector in 1989. In 1992, he became the Assistant Chief, and on February 15, 2003, he became the Chief of Fire and E.M.S. “I have the best job, because I get to help people,” stated Copley, “but the loss of a life is the worst part.” The duties of the Chief of Fire include the everyday operation of training, personnel, budget preparation, and fire investigations. Many of Wadsworth’s fires are the cause of faulty electrical wiring, kitchen fires, and candles. However, many are the fault of residents “not paying attention”. When you’re doing something like making chemicals, always be sure to know what you’re

dealing with said Copley. Another problem the Wadsworth Fire Department is dealing with is the number of unintentional and false calls. In 1994, 35 residents called when the fire department was not actually needed; it was more than three times that amount in 2001. The fire department has eight full time fire medic staff, one chief, one assistant chief

(training officer), one full time medic, and forty-seven volunteers working twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. There are also two fire stations in Wadsworth. Station I has two squads, 2 engines, an aerial, one heavy rescue, a tanker, and four staff vehicles. Station II has two squads, 1 engine, and one staff vehicle. It is very important to be cautious when dealing with fires or anything that you think may cause a fire. It is also important to make sure you call only during emergencies, in case there is an actual emergency somewhere else in our city.

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March 2005

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March 2005

Patrons 2004-2005 Anthony Accordino Susan Allison Rob & Cathy Anderson Mrs. Barlow The Barnett Family Joyce Bock Mickey & Sue Brady Marcy & Wendell Brink Amy Broadhurst Darlene Buck Kevin & Marycarol Buck Phillip A. Buckholdt P. Canterbury Ellie & Ralph Constantine Scott & Katy Cornelius The Csaky Family Bob Davis Donald & Nanette Davis Jim & Bernadette Davis The Dennison Family Pat & Sheri Dente Rebecca Dills Sherry A. Eston Victor & Michelle Farr Carol M. Fisher O.T.R/L Frank & Laura Figliomeni Helen M. Fisher Susan Forrer Dale & Debbie Fortner Brenda Fusco J. Gahan Joe & Wendy Gains Cheryl Gilbert Bill & Nancy Goddard & Family Betty & Glenn Grubb Jim & Paulette Grubb Kevin & Cheryl Harris Ron & Pam Hammel Family Patty Haskins R. Havens Joel & Mara Hlavaty Jim & Robbie Hoover Nancy Hudson Mr. & Mrs. Matt Hutchinson The Jack Family Christopher & Marian Kauffman Mr. & Mrs. Larry Kaufman & family

Elizabeth Khoury Jeffrey Kurowski

Regina, Jake & Kyle Kurowski Debbie & Gary Lake Beth & Jim Lance Bill & Deanna Lyren Mrs. Lois Lumsden Kimbery Ann Mann John & Lynn Martin Darold Matheny Barbara McConnell Steve & Sarah McIlvaine Rick & Cheryl Miller Steve Moore Ralph & Karen Myers Mrs. Sandra Nedoh Gary & Kay Nied Roger & Leslie North Joe & Doreen Orlando Todd & Kelly Osborn Mr. & Mrs. D.M. Palamountain Pels Family Gretchen Petrie Bill & Sharon Powell Mr. & Mrs. Mark Ralston & Family Mr. & Mrs. Michael Robertson Don & Alice Robinson Denise Russo The Saniga Family Don & Bobbie Sauser Mike Schmeltzer Eric & Diane Smith Mr. Smith Pam L Solitario Dave & Sandy Sonntag The Stano Family Cheryl Steigerwald Frank & Michelle Stuchal Tom & Kathy Stugmyer The Swanson Family J. Teringo Bob, Becky & Katelyn Turner Van Dyke Family Mr. & Mrs. Peter Waanders Mr. & Mrs. W.O. Waanders Brian J. Williams & Family Mr. & Mrs. M.D. Wilson Cynthia Wheeland Robert Whitney Mr. Wright K. Yaussy

There’s still a chance to become a Bruin Patron! Go to Room 17 for a form or visit our website at:

www.wadsworth. k12.oh.us

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