March Madness reaches crescendo with Final Four

by Tyler Bolser

For most people, March is just another month, but to sports fans around the world, March isn't just a regular month: it’s a month with the biggest American college basketball showdown in the country.

The bracket starts with 68 teams, and then over the whole month of March, each team goes head to head for a spot in the championship. The tournament is a single elimination, which means if you lose once, you’re out. Another reason why sports fans love March Madness is because of online brackets for a competition between friends to see who picked the best bracket.

As March goes on, the Final Four have been selected in their spots for the title of the NCAA championship. These Final Four are none other than Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, and Villanova. To get to the championship, these four teams are going to have to face each other this Saturday. The teams playing against each other are Villanova v.s. Kansas, April 2nd, 6:09 p.m.; and North Carolina v.s. Duke, April 2, at 8:49 p.m. My bet is in the championship we will be seeing Vilanova v.s. Duke.

The story behind March Madness is full of traditions and stories, such as Henry V. Porter, who started March Madness. He was just a regular 9-3:30 teacher and coach for Athens High School in central Illinois.

The term March Madness comes from a high school state championship team. The term March Madness was first used in 1939 in a newspaper article about high school basketball.

So with the magic month of March coming to an end, so is March Madness. Let’s hope the rest of these games are ones for the history books.

https://www.ihsa.org/Sports-Activities/March-Madness-Experience/March-Madness-History#:~:text=%22March%20Madness%2C%22%20the%20term,High%20School%20in%20central%20Illinois.

(image from wallpaperflare.com)

Whether a Buckeye or a Hoosier, we can find something to love about our state

by Saegan Joseph

”The “O” in Ohio isn’t there for nothing.” --Denis “Menace” Coleman

When you hear the name “Ohio”, you might think of the midwestern Buckeye state. It’s no different than North Dakota or Minnesota, but as my friend Dave says, “It’s really a state of mind.”

While that may be true, Ohio is so much more than a cornfield state with one or two bustling cities. I myself am from Ohio, and as Indiana is my second most visited state, and from an unbiased perspective, I can tell you there are some differences between the two states.

“It’s got everything you need, and I’m not kiddin’.”- Sarah “Leone”James.

One of the things you may not know about Ohio is, while they don’t do it directly, the Japanese say “Ohayo”, meaning “Good morning”, which is pronounced the same as “Ohio”. Name another state, one of the most influential countries in the world, that says good morning every morning.

Another thing to note is Ohio borders one of the five Great Lakes, which only seven of the 50 United States can proudly say.

Ohio has plenty of its own important figures, to name a few, Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumesh Sherman are both very crucial to the victory of the Union, and Orville Wright, one of the Wright brothers, is responsible for the invention of the airplane.

Moving from the suburbs to the country anywhere would be a big change, but everything is so far away from where we live, it takes 20 minutes just to go to McDonalds. One of the more local things I’ve noticed is that there are copious amounts of chicken, mostly fried.

For a smaller country-side town by a big lake, I figured there would be more fish, pigs, or cows than there are here. I hardly ever see chickens while driving down the very long, one-way roads, yet they have to come from somewhere because all of Brookville eats them en masse. Do not get me wrong: Brookville is very pretty and a good place to live; hence, this is why we moved here, and I do love some good fried chicken. I heard Metamora in the fall is amazing, but I’d love there to be more restaurants, such as in Batesville.

Growing up near Cincinnati kind of spoiled me. It has rivers, nearby restaurants, sights to see, different people by the minute, even going west one can see the countryside. The only thing that I didn’t like was the Bengles, but the Reds, they are good!

Indiana’s football and baseball teams are completely new to me. I’ve only been to a handful of places in Indiana. When we went to Indianapolis, it didn’t feel like Columbus. It felt new, not so much a city as it was a place; however, I haven’t been to that many cities.

If I could pick where I want to go in Indiana, I’d pick Gary because Michael Jackson is from there, and I heard it is more like a city.

It really matters on how good of a place it is to live, not the little niche things, like the importance of the state. I’m still new to being a Hoosier, but I’m a Buckeye at heart.

(image from wallpaperflare.com)

Halloween haunts hide around the corner

by Samantha Reams

BOO! Guys, Halloween is coming up! Everyone does something different for Halloween, from staying in and eating candy and watching horror movies, to trick or treating through your neighborhood.

This year, 8th graders Liby Hurst and Peyton are going as witches. What are you going as? My friend Jocelyn Wilson is going as a zombie cheerleader. Sounds horrific!

For Halloween I usually go over to my cousin’s house, and we go to the A&M apple orchard. They have this haunted trail and hay rides. It's really cool!

Have you ever been to a haunted trail? They're super scary and fun! At Manlove Campgrounds Trail, I walked past the bloody tracks. There was always something to jump out and grab me! The scariest thing that happened when I went was when the huge net tripped me and the creepy Viking grabbed my arm, I actually screamed.

If you ever go to a haunted trail, never run; they will chase you! I know from experience.

From staying in and watching movies to going out and trick or treating, any way you spend your Halloween will hopefully be fun and tricky!

FCMS recognizes significance of Patriots Day

by Dakoda Keith

My name is Dakoda Keith, and I am here to explain what 9/11 is about, as well as to tell the students about what happened after 9/11.

On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers went crashing down, a group of Al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and planed a suicide attack. Two of the four planes crashed into the Twin Towers, the third plane hit the Pentagon, and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. About 3,000 people died during the 9/11 terrorist attack.

When the World Trade Center went crashing down, it was at 8:45 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. A jet crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, located in New York city. That ended up trapping hundreds of people in the higher floor and instantly killing thousands of people. As people started to evacuate the North Tower, 18 minutes later, another jet hit the South Tower, causing an explosion that's when America knew they were under attack.

Soon after that the American Airlines Flight 77 circled over downtown Washington, D.C., before crashing into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters at 9:45 a.m. A jet from Boeing caused a devastating inferno that led to the structural collapse of a portion of the giant concrete building, which is the headquarters of the U.S. The Department of Defense.

All told, more than 100 military personnel and civilians were killed in the Pentagon, along with all 64 people aboard the airliner.

It is very important to recognize the people that past in 9/11, and that is why we have a day for the remembrance of the people that died in the 9/11 attacks: a very sad day in American history. That is why we have a remembrance day: to honor the first responders and police officers. Thank you all for your service.

information obtained from

https://www.nationalworld.com ›

Star Wars

The Force provides memorable characters to keep us coming back and away from the dark side

by Andrew Morgan

Star Wars is a big franchise, with four movies making over a billion dollars, and one exceeding two billion. However, the money would be nothing without the storyline and great characters to prompt fans to flock to the theatres in droves.

The first movie revolves around the Trade Federation blockading Naboo, a peaceful planet. The Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, try to negotiate with the Viceroy, who throws everything in the book at them, and they escape by stowing aboard army transports.

They meet a Gungan named Jar Jar Binks, who is indebted to the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn. They rescue and take the Queen to Tatooine, where they meet Anakin Skywalker, a young boy who wins them new parts for the Queen’s ship. Bureaucracy leads the Queen to return to her planet and take it back, with the help of the newly-befriended Gungans and their army.

These Gungans are very proud of themselves, living in an underwater city. They help when the Queen affirms that they don’t think that the Gungans are under them. I think that they do have their flaws but are nice allies when prompted to be.

In the next movie, the queen becomes senator, and she is attempted to be assassinated twice. Obi-Wan Kenobi tracks down the assassin and finds that a clone army of the assassin is being made for the Republic.

The senator returns to her home planet with her old friend Anakin Skywalker, then goes to Tatooine to find Anakin’s mother. They then travel to Geonosis, where Jedi and clones rescue them. She and Anakin then get married, which for a Jedi is highly illegal.

Jedi are taught to love, but aren’t allowed to love someone. For example, Anakin is horrible at flirting. Quotes that illustrate this include, “I don’t like sand.”

“I killed them. Every single one of them!”

“Just being around her again is… intoxicating.” The last quote was said in front of his Jedi master, Obi-Wan. Needless to say, he wasn’t impressed, as well as definitely weirded out. I think that Obi-Wan is demanding of Anakin, much more than he should.

The third movie sees Anakin and Obi-Wan, who are now more like brothers, rescue the Chancellor, who has been kidnapped by Count Dooku and General Grievous. Dooku is killed, while Grievous escapes.

Grievous travels to Utapau, where he sends the Separatist leaders to the planet of Mustafar. He is killed by Obi-Wan, and then the Jedi are wiped out. Anakin turns to the dark side and murders the Separatists.

He is injured, and Palpatine reconstructs him in a suit, transforming him into Darth Vader. I think Vader is evil, ruthless, and obedient to his master, Palpatine. Vader is a shell of his former self.

Dialogue here is memed on the internet.

Such memorable quotes include “Hello there.” “General Kenobi.” “Hold on, this whole operation was your idea.” General Grievous was an exceptional military leader, and he did his best when dealing with the political side. Obi-Wan was a better character, seeing as he did not criticize Anakin all of the time.

In the fourth movie, princess Leia Organa tries to deliver plans of the Death Star, a massive battle station capable of destroying entire planets, to the Rebel Alliance.

She is intercepted by Darth Vader, but not before she can send the plans off with R2-D2 and C-3PO. The droids are bought by Luke Skywalker, who takes them to the Rebels with Ben Kenobi, with Han Solo.

Ben tells Luke to shoot the weak spot in the Death Star, and it explodes.

Obi-Wan is a guiding figure to Luke, and I think that he is a better one than his Uncle Lars.

In the fifth installment, the Rebel Alliance relocates their base to the ice planet of Hoth, where Ben tells Luke to go to Dagobah and find the Jedi Master Yoda.

When Luke arrives, his ship submerges into the swamp. An eccentric alien tries to steal from them, but Luke lets him take his food and flashlight after he promises to take them to Yoda.

Yoda turns out to be this alien, but he hesitates to train Luke. After Ben convinces Yoda to train him, Luke runs away from his training to rescue his friends, who have traveled to cloud city.

When they arrive, Han’s old friend Lando Calrissian greets them but sells them out to the empire.

Han is frozen in carbonite and is taken to Jabba the Hutt. Luke duels with Vader and is subsequently rescued by Liea, Chewbacca, Lando, and the droids.

Once Vader sees his son, he mellows out. Before this, he has killed his subordinates, but when one messes up, he spares his life. Luke has lost his hand, and is very confused when Vader tells him that he is his father.

In the sixth movie, Luke Skywalker, Leia, Lando, Chewbacca, and the droids rescue Han Solo, killing Jabba the Hutt in the process.

The Rebels stage an attack on the second Death Star, while Luke learns that Leia is his sister and Vader his father.

Luke meets the emperor and redeems his father, and he kills Palpatine, and the Rebels win the day.

Star Wars is an adventure that can be enjoyed by all ages. Whether you watch it religiously or periodically, you can look at the characters as teachers of important subjects. Star Wars is a fun experience that can teach a lesson in bravery and integrity to all who watch it.

(image from flickr.com)

However you like your pretzels, enjoy them on National Pretzel Day, this April 26th

by Lacy Davis

April 26, 2021 could be a very fun day for people who like pretzels, as National Pretzel Day falls on Monday, April 26th!

I asked some students if they liked soft pretzels, hard pretzels, pretzels with or without salt, and pretzels with or without cheese. I, for one, like both: hard pretzels with salt and without cheese and soft pretzels with salt and a little bit of cheese.

The majority of people said that they like soft pretzels. For instance, Madesyn Sunderhaus exclaimed, “I like soft pretzels with no salt and with cheese!”

Another student named Colin Troyer stated, “I like soft pretzels because they are way better, they are warm, and they are good in salsa.”

I asked a Kenadie and she stated, “I like them both, and I also like salt on both of them.” A lot of students seem to like soft pretzels but not all of them.

A couple of teachers stated their personal favorite, such as Mrs. Wade, who exclaimed, “I love soft pretzels with cheese, the saltier the better, and also it’s my favorite thing to get whenever I go to a ball game!”

Another teacher, Mr. Huber exclaimed, I like soft pretzels with cheese, and I like them because they are warm.”

Mr. Sanders proclaimed, I like them soft, warm, and lightly salted.”

I think it’s safe to say that a lot of people prefer soft, warm, salty, and cheesy pretzels over hard, baked, and crunchy pretzels. Both pretzels are very delightful and make for a good snack. Happy pretzels day, and don't forget to stock up on soft and or hard pretzels!

(image from pixabay.com)

It's raining snow! A great day for National Umbrella Day

by Paige Ripberger

Did you know that even though the month of February has Valentines’ day in it, there are also a variety of different holidays in this month?

There is one holiday that sticks out the most: Umbrella Day. This holiday is today, February 10th. National Umbrella Day is to honor the humble umbrella from shielding the human race from the elements of the Earth all year long.

In the 18th century, umbrellas became a very popular fashion accessory for women. Men would even carry around an umbrella in many countries, such as Europe. Umbrellas have been around for many, many centuries. In fact, during ancient times, umbrellas were used by the nobles and by the rich. They were also used for religious ceremonies and rituals.

How would you celebrate Umbrella Day, you ask? Well, there are many ways to honor the umbrella, such as watching a movie that features an umbrella, get a non-alcoholic drink with an umbrella in it, go to the beach and relax under an umbrella. You could also learn about the history behind them,or even buy an umbrella. Even if you already have one, it’s good to have a backup one.

Why in the world would anyone even care about National Umbrella Day? There are many reasons why. We asked students around school to answer this question. Some of them had something to say.

“I feel like it’s meaningful because the weather can be harsh sometimes,” Deziree Dowers, 8th grader, explained.

Eighth grader Madison Weaver added with hopefulness: “I wish I were honoring the umbrella by relaxing on the beach and not having to do my homework!”

Kenedie Powell, also an 8th grader, added, “I’m happy to honor the umbrella by using it to shield me from the rain.”

Fun fact: people actually believe that opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck. Umbrellas are very helpful to the human race. We need them more than we realize. Just think: our ancestors may have used umbrellas for centuries. No matter how old we get, we still use them. Enjoy this special day today!

(image from pixabay.com)

Believe in it or not, Friday the 13th is upon us

by Callie Ward

Horror movies are not for everyone, but if you like horror movies, you probably watched Friday the 13th. It might frighten you to find out that November 13th is a Friday.

Friday the 13ths don’t happen very often (about every 212 days). The last Friday the 13th was March 13, which was the last school day before Indiana schools were shut down because of COVID-19.

FCMS students seem to be wary about the upcoming day based on this scary movie.

Tatum Beesley, 8th grader, recalled, “I have watched the movie, and when Friday the 13th happens in real life, I feel spooky.”

Eighth grader Ava Moore commented, “I have never seen Friday the 13th, but when the day rolls around, there is an eerie feeling. Everything about the day feels a little creepier.”

“Well, I usually feel a little uneasy during that day,” remarked Chloe Wilson, 8th grader.

Some of the FCMS students don't seem to give a thought that this day is any different then their regular, everyday school day.

“I hate horror movies, so I have never watched Friday the 13th; therefore, the actual day isn’t different from any other day,” Daxton Ivey, 8th grader, remarked.

Eighth grader Wyatt Tilton noted, “I never really got around to watching the movie, but they day doesn't really mean anything to me.”

Lucy Lautz, also an 8th grader, acknowledged,”I have watched the movie more than once, but for me there are no strange feelings I have noticed.”

Carsyn Patterson, also an 8th grader, stated, “I’m not allowed to watch scary movies. I personally think people thinking that Friday the 13th the day is special is kind of weird.”

In conclusion, a lot of people have vastly different opinions of the movie and the actual day. Let’s hope there is nothing unlucky this Friday!

Bengals still hopeful for late-season victories

by Ryan Lloyd

I thought the Bengals would have a better record this year, but it seems that their offense of line and defense have had some trouble. The Bengals are 2-5-1.

They lost to the Titans for their first game, and they also lost to the Browns twice, tied with the Eagles, and lost to the Ravens.

The Bengals won against the Jaguars. Yesterday, the Bengals played the Titans again and won 31-20.

Their offense was playing really well against the Titans. Giovani Bernard scored two touchdowns.

Tyler Boyd had a touchdown. During their second game against the Browns, they lost by 3. The score was 37-34.

Before Week 8 happened, the Bengals traded one of their defensive linemen for a new offensive lineman. The Bengals also received a new safety. His name is Vonn Bell. Before Week 7, Joe Mixon, the Bengals running back, had an injured foot and could not play in Week 7.

In week 8 Joe Mixon still couldn’t play so he had to miss another game. Joe mixon might return in week 9. The Bengals also have four other players that are hurt: one of the players just has an illness, one has a concussion, one had a sting, and the other player had a hamstring.

If the Bengals can win at least 3 or 4 games, they will have a better record, and if they can win more games, they might have a chance to go to the playoffs.

This past Sunday when the Bengals were playing against the Titans The commentators were saying that Joe burrow is the first rookie to ever pass for 300 yards. The game that Joe Burrow passed for 300 yards was in Week 7 against the Browns.

Hopefully the Bengals can turn around and get their record better. In Week 9 the Bengals will play the Washington football team on Sunday. If the Bengals offensive line plays well, and the defense improved, the Bengals should get their 3rd win of the season.

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

At last--opening day is almost here

by Chloe Wilson

Before the sun rises, you get up out of bed and throw on some clothes and take some extra downstairs. You drink some hot chocolate or coffee and empty the rest into the thermos, and then you grab your backpack and utensils and walk out the door as the sun begins to rise.

But why? Why on such a specific day would you do this? Well because it’s Deer Season Opening Day! That’s right--on November 14th, many hunters will wake up early and head out, hoping to get that 13-point buck.

Why is there such a specific day for it? Why can’t a person hunt all year round? And why do they get up before the sun rises?

Well, it’s because of how deer act and their mating season. If you are a hunter, you are going to want to hunt during these times because the deer are out more and are in their best shape right now.

You aren’t going to want to try and hunt for deer in the winter because they are rarely out, and if they are, it’s only for a short period of time, and that’s to try and find some small pieces of food.

And finally, in the spring, it’s mating season. Many deer have babies, so it’s cruel to take a mother from a fawn in need. In the summer many of them are still growing and still raising their fawns, so the same rules apply, and during these times is when bucks shed their horns.

So in the fall is when there is plenty of food to eat. Besides, at this point of time, they are trying to find places to shelter up for during the winter. And as I said before, their horns should be either growing back or completely back.

The reason for waking up so early is because of the fact that it’s harder for the deer to see you, and it gives you plenty of time to get to where you need to be and get settled in.

In addition, it also gives any animals that you may have spooked--such as squirrels or any type of bird--time to calm down and forget you were there.

But while you are out there, you might wanna bundle up! It’s already cold enough during the day at this time of year, so imagine what it's like early in the morning! Burrrr!

I suggest wearing an underlayer, such as long johns or some sweatpants and some long sleeved shirts. Then either put on some thick camo pants or some bibs to cover yourself up even more and blend in better.

There are some safety precautions that a hunter has to take while hinting. For example, when you are in a deer stand, unless it is boxed in all the way around, you should have a safety harness, in case you accidentally fall off the tree stand.

And then there is gun safety. When carrying a firearm, you should always have it aimed at the ground or resting on your shoulder, pointing the barrel at the sky.

Also, if you have a partner or partners, you should never point it at them. Moreover, your firearm should always be on safety unless you are aimed and ready to shoot in case something catches the trigger and pulls it.

But don’t let any of this scare you. Hunting is a very fun activity to do, especially when you get your first deer. It’s even more so when it’s a big buck that you can mount on your wall.

Hunting is also proven to be healthy for the hunter. For instance, being in the woods has been known to sooth a person, clear one’s head, and also help one become more aware of one's surroundings.

If you follow these safety lines and tips you should be able to have a great hunt and get yourself a good deer: one in which you can be proud!

(image from pikist.com)

Despite the bubble, NBA season does not disappoint

by Austin Robinson

The Lakers win the NBA Finals! The Lakers win the NBA Finals! LeBron James gets his 4th ring, and the Lakers finally tie the Celtics for championships won at 17 each, making them the first ever team to win the championship in the NBA bubble!

The Heat, which were only the 5th seed from the East, put up a valiant effort, with Jimmy Butler having two of the best games of his career to win against the Lakers twice in the playoffs. Jimmy Butler’s 2nd game, which wasn’t as good compared to his other triple-double game, showed his true potential with his stat line being 35 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and 5 steals.

This was only one of his incredible games in his playoff run. In his best game he had 40 points, 13 assists, and 10 total rebounds. Butler was the only player ever to do this in a playoff game, along with LeBron James and Jerry West, who is the model for the NBA logo.

Besides these wonderful finals playoff games, we had a few more surprises that happened during the playoffs. Starting off in the Eastern Conference, the Houston Rockets almost lose, letting the Oklahoma City Thunder take them to 7 games.

The Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets were going back and forth, also taking their beginning round to 7 games, with Denver ultimately winning. The LA Clippers were the favorite team going into the playoffs, and everyone was very eager to see the two Los Angeles teams go head to head in the conference finals.

The Clippers were able to beat the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games and got a 3-1 lead on the Nuggets in the second round, but the Nuggets prevailed and came back beating the Clippers and going on to the conference finals.

In the conference finals, the Lakers and the Nuggets went head to head, a very unexpected situation. The Lakers got up 3-1, and everyone was anticipating the Nuggets to make a major comeback but the Lakers beat the Nuggets in 5 games and advanced to the NBA Finals!

Now, let’s move on to the Eastern Conference. Over in the Eastern Conference the Miami Heat, who had just gotten Jimmy Butler for their star player, blew out the Indiana Pacers 4-0, and there were a lot more blowouts in these playoffs.

In a very surprising turnout, the young Boston Celtics team demolished the Philadelphia 76s 4-0. Philadelphia was another fan favorite team, having two star young players: Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

The Toronto Raptors blew out the Brooklyn Nets 4-0 yet again, since the Nets’ star players and two of the best players in the league, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, were injured before being able to go into the bubble.

In the second round, in an extremely surprising set of events, the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1, after the Bucks’ star player and one of the best players in the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo, rolled his ankle twice.

Next, in a very close match up, the two young teams of the Celtics and the Raptors faced each other going to seven games, with the Celtics winning 4-3. In the conference finals for the East, the Heat beat the Celtics 4-2, with the Heat advancing to face the Lakers in the NBA finals!

But enough about the playoff season. You’ve already heard my analysis about the finals. Now let’s slide onto the postseason with the draft and free agency.

First, in a shocking state of events in the 2019-2020 season, the Golden State Warriors’ two best players, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, went down with injuries, sidelining two of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA.

Because of this, GSW only won 15 out of their 82 games this season and got the second pick in the first round, with the only team above them in the draft being the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Now the main attraction for the draft would be what GSW is going to do with this pick. Golden State has a whole world of options that they could do to improve their already championship-contending team.

Everyone already knows that the Timberwolves are going to draft Anthony Edwards, a 6’3” shooting guard who is an excellent finisher and a very good shooter.

But now what is Golden State going to do? They are already an extremely good team and with this pick, they can improve their team even more. One choice that GSW could do would be actually using the pick to draft one of the top rookies.

LaMelo Ball is one of the top prospects and brother of Lonzo Ball, who is definitely a possibility for GSW to draft--either by moving Andrew Wiggins to the bench or putting him at power forward while moving Draymond Green back up to center where he used to play, and putting Klay Thompson or LaMelo at small forward and leaving Stephen Curry at point guard GSW could have a very strong lineup.

In my personal opinion, the most logical choice if they draft someone with their pick would be to take 7’1” center James Wiseman. Wiseman is a very special center in the sense that he’s very explosive and can get up and down the floor quickly, which would be perfect for GSWs’ style of play, which relies on a lot of ball movement and speed around the court.

Wisemen isn’t the best 3-point shooter, but he isn’t bad either, considering that Golden State has the two best 3-point shooters in the league. Wisemen's height and his 7’5” wingspan make him an excellent defender around the rim, something that Golden State really needs.

One thing that would be very interesting is Golden State trading this pick for a few very good players or even trading down to get a good extra player to help out their team.

Obviously, everyone wants to see Golden State trade for a superstar player like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, or even Giannis, but let’s be realistic. There is no way Golden State would be able to get Ben Simmons with that trade, let alone Giannis, for whom they wouldn’t even have enough cap space since Giannis is up for a supermax contract, the biggest possible contract one can get.

A more plausible trade would be trading to the Phoenix Suns for Aron Baynes and the 2020 10th pick or even replacing that pick for someone else to help support Golden State. In all reality, with this pick Golden State needs to be looking for a solid center and maybe even a backup wing player or even a backup center to go along with their newly acquired center.

Enough of the draft. Now we’re going to free agency! This year's free agency isn't all too interesting. The biggest star player out of every player in free agency would be Anthony Davis secondary star to LeBron James on the Lakers, but everyone already knows that Davis isn't going to be leaving LA.

The biggest people this free agency besides Davis would be Gorden Hayward on the Celtics, DeMar DeRozan who is currently on the spurs, and Paul Millsap who currently plays for Denver. Now the best choice for Hayward would be to stay on the Celtics. He's on a very well-rounded, young team that made the playoffs and got into the conference finals.

It's a different story for Demar DeRozan. If he wants to even make the playoffs, then he's going to need to go to a different team where he can still shine and be impactful, but he also has other star players around him helping him win.

A place like that would be somewhere like the Brooklyn Nets, who have two all-star players with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and if they were to acquire DeMar and add him to their starting lineup, DeMar could make a big impact and even increase their chance of winning the NBA finals.

For Paul Millsap, it's the same as Gordon Hayward. He should stick with his current team. Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter, Jr. and Paul Millsap were all able to beat out the rest of the teams in the Western Conference and make it to the finals.

If Paul Millsap does stay, Denver already has two stars in Jokić and Murray, but the Nuggets could attempt to sign another star from free agency, such as getting a good backup center in Andre Drummond or even a backup small forward with Otto Porter, Jr.

The NBA was very interesting this season, in spite of having to shut down and then having the NBA bubble appear to restart our season, with only the top few teams making it in.

Besides all of the chaos that had happened with the NBA, this offseason, like most offseasons, could be very intriguing, and we might even see some teams get even better or worse than before. Who knows? Maybe the NBA bubble will disappear and we’ll be back to normal basketball.

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Bengals look to turn it around and salvage season

by Ryan Lloyd

The Bengals’ season has been a little rough. Their record is 1-4-1.

Their first game they lost to the Tennessee Titans by 3. Their second game they played the Browns, and lost, but they played a great game, and the score was 30-35.

Their next game they played against the Philadelphia Eagles. They were going back and forth, and the The Bengals were winning, but the Eagles scored a touchdown and tied the game.

Both teams went into overtime. They were going back and forth once again, but neither team could score. During overtime both teams tied.

In week four Joe Burrow was determined to win this game. The Jacksonville Jaguars scored a field goal in the 1st quarter, later in the first quarter, the Bengals kicker, Randy Bullock, ended up kicking a 35 -yard field goal and nailed it.

Then the Jaguars scored a touchdown and had 10 points, making the score 10-3. The Bengals running back Joe Mixon scored a touchdown by hurdling a defender into the touchdown! The announcers proclaimed that this touchdown was Joe Mixon's first touchdown since 2013.

The Bengals were tied with the Jaguars. Later in the game, the Bengals kicked a field goal and then another field goal. The Jaguars ended up kicking a field goal, making the score 16- 13.

Next, Joe Mixon scored nearly a 40- yard touchdown run and boosted the Bengals’ lead. The Jaguars scored another field goal.

Then Joe Mixon gets another touchdown, to boost the Bengals lead even more. The Jaguars scored another touchdown. At the end of the game, the Cincinnati Bengals got their first win of the season.

It was also Joe Burrow’s first win of his NFL career. Furthermore, Joe Mixon won AFC Offensive player of the year.

The Cincinnati Bengals will be playing the Baltimore Ravens, and it's one of their biggest games of their season. Two seasons ago, the Bengals defeated the Ravens and had a really good game. The Bengals will play the Indianapolis Colts in week 6, next week after this week against Baltimore. The Bengals lost to the Ravens because the Ravens’ defense was too good. The Bengals tried their best to score on them, but all they did was score a field goal, and the final score was 27-3.

Hopefully, the Bengals can turn everything around and win a lot more games.

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Halloween--it's the best time of the year for candy-filled indulgence

by Austin Robinson

Let’s face it: candy is the best part of Halloween, unless of course you like to dress up more. Everyone loves a good few Snickers bars or a good, peanut buttery Reeses Cup, but which Halloween candy is the best?

We asked ten students and teachers from both FCMS and FCHS to try to get to the bottom of which Halloween candy is the best

Mrs. Wade, our lovely FCMS journalism teacher and librarian, stated, “My favorite Halloween candy is a Snickers bar, any size! Also, I love candy corn. I wish I could eat it year-round.”

Ben Simmermeyer stated, “My favorite Halloween candy is KitKats because of the chocolate coating.” That's one mark towards KitKats, now tied with Snickers bars.

Peyton Varn, one of our FCMS students said, “Milk Duds because of the caramel.” That's the only mark that we have towards Milk Duds.

Heather Philpot remarked, “Smarties because I always eat them with my brother.” One mark to Smarties and hopefully not the last!

Abigail Stephens, a student at FCHS, declared, “My favorite Halloween candy would be pumpkin corn that is candy shaped. They are a really sweet and tart candy, and they are my favorite, but they make you sick quickly but it’s worth it. I binge on them all Halloween long.” That's the first of many likings of candy corn.

Elaina Hamilton proclaimed, “My favorite would be Jolly Ranchers. They have more flavors, and they aren’t too sweet.” Theirs is the one answer for Jolly Ranchers. Many were hopeful that these hard candy treats would do better in this competition.

Levi Cregar exclaimed, “I’d say candy corn, because it’s not only a classic, it also has a nice texture and flavor.”

Jillian Plummer, another FCHS student, declared, “My favorite Halloween candy is Skittles because I enjoy fruit candies.”

Elizabeth Hamilton explained, “I’d probably say candy corn because my stepmom and my dad would always get it for us, and I would sit in my papaw’s lap and eat it with him. It was one of my fondest childhood memories.” Another mark for candy corn, which is in the lead.

Kaiya Taylor remarked, “Well, my favorite Halloween candy would be candy corn. The reason is that since I grew up with it, I’ve always liked it, and I guess I just never got tired of it.”

In a landslide Halloween victory, candy corn wins our mini-competition. Which Halloween candy is your favorite and why does it beat out the rest of these other candies? No matter what candy satisfies your sweet tooth, enjoy this Halloween!

(image from flickr.com)

At last!

NFL season is finally underway

by Ryan Lloyd

Football is a popular sport in which thousands of people watch and support their team.

Football will be back soon, and hopefully it won’t be shut down like the NBA did when the Covid-19 virus came to the United States.

NFL teams are already starting practices, and it’s going really well. The NBA is having games and practices, and they're doing well so far. Hopefully it’s the same for the NFL.

Last year the NFL celebrated 100 years of the NFL. The NFL season should start in September or October.

As for our local team, the Bengals went 2 and 14 last year, and they drafted a new quarterback. His name is Joe Burrow. They also acquired a new wide receiver, whose name is Tee Higgins. He's a lot like A.J Green, but he can catch better than him. Higgins is also the 6’3, just like A.J Green.

My favorite NFL team is the Bengals. I hope they can at least get in the playoffs and possibly win the Super Bowl. A while ago Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes signed half a billion dollars to play with the Chiefs again.

Hopefully the NFL does not get shut down so all the NFL fans, including me, can enjoy the NFL season.

(image from flickr.com)

Pit bulls can make perfect pets

by Bryce Millsaps

Hello, this is Bryce, and I'm here to ask you to think about pit bulls as great pets. Pit bull is a term used in the United States for a type of dog descending from bulldogs and terriers.

Most people are terrified of pit bulls and believe that they are the meanest dogs on earth. Well, responsible pitbull owners think they are the sweetest dogs. Pitbulls are sweet because they love to play, get their heads rubbed, and they love to give kisses. I also think that pit bulls are only mean if they have bad owners.

The reason I like pit bulls is because there are four different breeds of pit bulls. My favorite is a blue nose pitbull, which is a type of American pitbull terrier. The reason they are my favorite is because, in my opinion, they are the prettiest dog ever. Another reason I love pit bulls is because they love people, and they are really good with children.

Some pit bulls are really good guard dogs because if someone threatens their owner, they can attack the antagonizer. Another good reason is that when someone tries to come onto one’s property that is not supposed to be there, the dog will attack.

Another reason I really like pit bulls is because they are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. I also like pit bulls because one of the most famous dogs in the world is a pit bull. His name is Hulk, and he's not a fictional character .

Those are the reasons I love pitbulls and why they are my favorite dog breed. Thank you for reading and considering the American pitbull terriers, one of the best and most loving dog breeds ever!

(image from pikist.com)

https://www.google.com/search?q=pit+bulls&rlz=1CARLJX_enUS914&oq=pit&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j46l5j69i61.9141j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=

With knowledge and safety, ATVs can provide tons of fun

by Ethan Herbert

Going 60 mph through the ramps, around the berms, and into a tabletop, ATVs are amazing and fascinating vehicles. There are many different brands to turn to that make quads. Just a few are Honda, Kowasaki, Polaris, and even KTM. The brand that is most famous for their motorcycles also makes quads for brand new: about $15,000.

When it comes to picking the perfect quad for you, it all depends on your experience riding, where you're riding it at, riding conditions, and if you're going to race it, use it on a farm, or playing in the mud.

Assuming you’re an experienced rider and you want to ride it for racing, the best brands would be, a Honda TRX450R, a Yamaha Raptor 660/700, or a Honda TRX400EX. Honda makes really durable quads that are great for having fun around the yard or riding on a track.

If you’re an experienced rider looking for a quad for the mud, then I would recommend you get a Kawasaki Brute Force 750 or a Can-Am Renegade X mr 1000R.

For new riders, a good starter quad is a Falcon 90. The quad doesn’t have a ton of power under the frame, but it will get kids used to riding something. A Suzuki LT 50 is also a good quad for little children who haven't ridden quads for very long.

On ATVs there is a sticker usually on the right front fender that says if you're under 16, you shouldn’t ride it as a recommendation because of the possible injury to occur for a quad crashing. However, you can buy riding gear. Chest plates, padded pants, knee pads, boots, a helmet, and riding gloves will all protect one from hitting a tree, flying over the handlebars, or ramping and jumping off.

If you are an adult or a teen, a good starter quad would be a Polaris 300, a Honda Recon 250, or a Yamaha Bruin 250. You can buy these quads at the dealer of the brand. For example, a Polaris 300 you can get them either on their website or at the Polaris dealer.

Many people do not know how to ramp correctly. What you have to do on any ramp is you have to stand up on the quad pressing the throttle and let the quad ramp on its own. If you continue to sit down on the ramp, the rear of the quad will push all the weight of the quad on the back, and when the back tire gets off the ramp, it will act like a slingshot, forcing the rider to nosedive into the ground, possibly injuring the rider or severely damaging the bike

Many people also drift wrong. When drifting, make sure it is in loose ground or mildly wet. If you're drifting on a right turn, the rear end of the quad will swing to the left and vice versa. What to do is to lean all your weight to the right to prevent rolling the quad. If the rider does not, there is a chance that he/she will pick up traction and either flip the rider to the other side, or the quad will not drift--either no drift or a flipped quad.

When in reverse, do not go fast! If a rider goes too fast, he/she can potentially lose control of the quad and wreck. If you're going downhill, the best thing to do is jump off. If not, and you turn, the quad will turn way faster than you think and you will either crash into a tree, or the quad will throw you off the ATV.

There are quads that you should and shouldn’t ramp. My quad, a 2006 Polaris Hawkeye 300 ex, is, unfortunately, one that's not supposed to be ramped but was apparently done so too many times. The effect for that was a rear broken frame, a broken rear hub, and a broken rear rim. Any utility vehicle, such as a Honda Foreman 500 should not be ramped or it could result in broken parts such as axles, hubs,-- or for much more expensive fixes--the frame.

The quad you do want to ramp, however, is a track quad. A good example of this is a Honda TRX400EX or a Yamaha Blaster 200. Since they weigh less, you can ramp them with less worry of damaging the axle or tires.

The best riding conditions are when it is dry outside. Consequently, the rider will not have to clean his quad every day because of the mud. There is no mud to get in the quad to cause it to grind and rust easy.

The worst riding conditions are when it is rainy then snowing within a 24-hour period. This is because it is super cold and the engine will not want to start easily. To fix this, turn on the choke and let sit for a few. Then when you get to riding, it will be super cold and wet. Try not to get wet. If you do, you will start to get super cold due to the low temperatures.

All depending on how experienced with driving a quad you are, what conditions you live in, and how you plan on riding, will tell you what ATV you should buy.

Brand Websites:

Polaris- https://www.polaris.com/en-us/

Honda- https://powersports.honda.com/atv

Yamaha- https://yamaha-motor.com/

Suzuki- http://www.suzukicycles.com/

KTM- https://www.ktm.com/us/

Kawasaki- https://www.kawasaki.com/

image from

2004 Honda TRX400EX

Martinez Twins take over Youtube as latest sensations

Hey, have you heard of the new YouTube sensations? Their names are Emilio and Ivan Martinez.

Emilio and Ivan first started YouTube at the age of 16. The twins are now 20 and making music for their career.

The first song the twins came out with in December of 2016 was “That’s my Lambo”. The next song after that was, “Fake Friends”.

Emilio and Ivan were born on May 10th, 1999, in Barcelona, Spain.

When the twins were 15, their dad left. That’s when Emilio, Ivan, Rebecca, and their mom moved to Los Angeles, California.

And if you don't know Rebecca, she is the Martinez twins’ older sister. She lives in Knoxville, North Carolina, but she visits her brothers and her mom every other month.

While growing up in L.A., the twins were in Team 10, which stands for Teen Entertainment Media Kingdom.

The Spanish twins officially quit Team 10 on November 30th, 2016.

The Martinez twins had their first video out on July 28th, 2016.

The Spanish twins are now working on their two new songs: “Maknae of BTS” and “Jungkook FoFo”.

Here are some fun facts that their fans should know: Emilio has a freckle above his upper lip, and Ivan has two small scars on his forehead. To tell them apart, one can see that Ivan’s chin is smaller, and Emilio’s is more round.

Emilio has a curved lip because he injured it from falling.

In addition to YouTube, the twins are also popular on Instagram. Emilio has 4.6 million, whereas Ivan has 4.1 million followers on Instagram.

I think you should start watching the Martinez twins on Youtube!

(info. from https://www.j-14.com/posts/who-are-the-martinez-twins-team-10-141763/)

(image from healthyceleb.com)

It's never too late to take up fishing

by Aydyn Patterson

Hello everyone, this is Aydyn here, and today I am discussing the topic of fishing. Fishing is a very fun sport in which almost anyone can enjoy, yet it is also a very tricky sport.

You may be asking, ¨What makes it so tricky?¨ Well, you need to know what to use and how to use it. Equipment that you use involves a fishing reel and fishing rod. In addition, you need a good lure or bait, and it is very important you have good fishing line.

Firstly, you ́ll need a good rod and reel. You ́ll need one that will fit the type of fishing you ́re doing. For example, don't use a catfish rod and reel while bass fishing. Use a bass setup.

Usually for bass you´ll want a smooth reel and a not-too-long rod. Why? You don't want to use a long rod in a spot with a bunch of trees because you will get stuck on a tree. You can purchase rods at Cabelas, Bass Pro Shop, Dicks Sporting Goods, or Dunham's Sports, etc.

You will need a reel that is smooth because when bass fishing, you cast your lure and reel it back in slowly.

For catfish you will need a bigger pole and reel. You need this because catfish put up a good fight, and you don't want your rod to break.

For reels I recommend Shimano or Ugly Stik. Also, I would recommend these for rods too. You can also purchase these rods at places such as Bass Pro Shop, Cabelas, Dunham's Sports, Rural King, Dicks Sporting Goods, etc. Reels generally cost $20-$100. Rods cost this much also. But rods and reels together cost more than that, depending on the kind and quality you get.

Secondly, you need good lures or baits. Some recommendations I have for bass fishing are crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, plastic worms, poppers, whopper ploppers, and frogs.

All of these lures you cast out and reel in at a medium pace, except the popper and whopper plopper. For these you cast out and reel in a bit and jerk to make them pop on the top of the water.

For catfish I recommend chubs as bait, but also for catfish you need a heavy sinker and a good sized hook. If you don't know what a chub is, they are small creek fish. To use them, you will hook them right in front of their eyes and then you will push them up the hook and overlap their tail. After this you will set them on the ground and step on them to release all the air pockets. You do this so they won't float.

Thirdly, you need good fishing line. It is the worst thing ever when you are reeling in a big fish and your line breaks and the fish gets away. But this most likely won't happen if you have good line. Line is either test, braid, or monofilament.

I recommend braid, although it is expensive. Line costs $6-$30. For beginners, test line is a great line also. Line also comes in different poundage. This means they are suited for the fish you are after. You can buy line at Cabelas, Bass Pro Shop, Dicks Sporting Goods, Duhnams, etc.

Finally, you need a good spot at which to fish. Picking out a spot all depends on what you are fishing for. For bass you will fish in a pond or a lake. You can fish for bass in a river, but I don't recommend it.

I don't recommend it because rivers have a current, and when you bass fish, you use moving baits and don't want them going down the river. For catfishing you would most likely go in a river because your bait is heavy enough that it won't move that much.

I hope this article changes your fishing game for the rest of your life, or maybe, at least, it will get you into fishing. Thank you for your time and happy fishing!

(image from www.nps.gov)

Christmas movie faves find their way into our hearts

by Serinity Wright

Christmas is just around the corner, which means it's time for all the Christmas movies to come on television. Seventh grader Brendin Kolter stated, “Charlie Brown Christmas is my favorite Christmas movie because of when Charlie’s friends cheer his tree up, and he could make it beautiful.”

Christmas is made for cheer all around, and 8th grader Shayden Thompson mentioned, “Christmas is wonderful because I get to watch my favorite Christmas movie, The Grinch, because he is funny.”

Christmas movies are wonderful and are good for sitting back and relaxing. For example, Paris Presson likes to kick back and watch her favorites. Paris declared, “I like Home Alone because Kevin was really smart when he made all the traps.”

Fun fact: The famous Christmas movies that everyone loves made big sales when they first came out such as Home Alone, which made $286 million in 1990 when it came out.

Here are some more: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, $260 million, 2000; The Grinch, $253 million, 2018; and The Polar Express, $186.5 million, 2000.

Today people still buy or look for Christmas movies, such as eighth grader Logan Spurlock, who stated, “Lost in New York Home Alone 2, I like at the end when Kevin's big brother yells at him for making the hotel bill so high.”

Fun fact: watching Home Alone has become a Christmas tradition in Poland, airing on national television since the early 1990s. In fact, in 2011, a re-run of Home Alone was the most watched show of the season.”

Fun fact: The half hour program had a budget that was almost unheard of at the time. It cost $300,000 to make How the Grinch Stole Christmas!--or about $2.2 million if it were made today. To compare, A Charlie Brown Christmas cost only $96,000.

Concerning The Grinch, 8th graders Sophia Minniti and both Audrey Harper mentioned, “We like the Grinch, and our favorite part was when he was either stress eating or when the fat reindeer lay on the Grinch.” Christmas movies are great and are overall an enjoyment to watch all the time and are a perfect choice for a family fun night.

https://metv.com/lists/8-mean-green-facts-about-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas

https://kfox.com/heres-the-most-successful-christmas-movies-of-all-time/

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Holiday tunes are in the air and everywhere

by Layla Slayback

It's that time of the season in which many of us will be listening to Christmas songs!

Carsyn Patterson ́s favorite song is ̈Blue Christmas ̈, by Elvis Presley.

Mrs. Dishman ́s favorite song is ¨White Christmas ̈ because it brings back fond childhood memories.

Mrs. Nobbe ́s favorite song is “Walking in a Winter Wonderland ̈. She stated, ̈It's something I used to sing to my kids when they were young, so it brings back good memories.”

Paul Harrelson ́s favorite song is ̈Jingle Bells ̈ because it makes him feel good.

Mrs. Middendorf ́s favorite song is ̈Let it be Christmas.¨ She proclaimed, ̈I like the melody and the meaning of it.¨

Mrs. Dowd's favorite song is ̈Baby It's Cold Outside ̈ because she likes the tune of it.

Savannah Nelson favorite song is ̈Mistletoe ̈, by Justin Beiber. She likes it because it's a good song, and she likes Justin Beiber.

Mr. Sells ́ favorite song is ̈O Come, Emmanuel.¨ He explained, ̈It ́s been my favorite since I was a kid. ̈

Dakoda Keith proclaimed, ̈Jingle Bells ̈ is my favorite song because it's a good song!¨

Chloe Lake declared, ̈I like ̈Jingle Bell Rock ̈ because it has a good tune!¨

Whether you like the old carols or the new Christmas tunes, just listen to whatever makes you happy!

(image from army.mil.article)

Turkey or tinsel? When is the right time to decorate for Christmas?

by Maggie Gabbard

Do you think it’s too early to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving? Let’s see what FCMS teachers and students think.

Mrs. Dishman replied, “No, because it’s the spirit of the season, and it shouldn't be limited to one time a year.”

Mrs. Nobbe suggested, “Yes, because I want to think about what I'm thankful for, for Thanksgiving.”

Mrs. Helen Gillman offered, “No, because my mother died a couple of years ago and she loved Christmas, so I put my Christmas things up for her and for myself.”

Mr. Sells responded, “Yes, because Christmas is special, and if we keep pushing it out farther, it feels less special.”

7th grader Claire Maxie declared, “I don't think it's too early for Christmas because it's December.”

7th grader Savannah Nelson stated, “It's never too early for Christmas, it should come faster.”

Branson Russell explained, “It's not too early for Christmas because it's like 20 days from now.”

Everyone has different ideas, but whether you think it's too early for Christmas or not, hopefully everyone has a Merry Christmas!

(image from pxhere.com)

It's the most wonderful time of the year for apple cider!

by Serinity Wright

Apples are being picked, and spices are churning, as the smell of apple cider soars through the air. Apple Cider Day was November 18th, but we can appreciate the spicy drink all year around.

Students and teachers at FCMS know apple cider very well, but some specific teachers are known to love it, such as Mr. Sells, who mentioned, “I grew up with the cheap stuff, but when I grew up, I started loving the apple cider the orchard made.”

Others just dislike it in general. Carter Dozier, 6th grader, stated, “It's just hot apple juice.” A lot agree with him or either just forget apple cider is even still around.

It might not have been around as a treat when growing up. For instance, Mrs. Dishman mentioned, “It's not my first choice in a drink.”

So not everyone is interested in apple cider and may be like 7th grader, Claire Maxie, who claimed, “It’s disgusting, and I don't like the way it tastes.”

7th grader Madison Rose declared, “It's okay. I would have never drunk it if my brother hadn’t shown me it.” A lot of people almost never drink it but think it's all right nevertheless.

If you've never tried apple cider, I recommend it for a cozy drink, especially if you like cinnamon. Mrs. Fultz mentioned, “I drank it some growing up, and growing up we drank warm apple cider in the winter.”

Apple cider is a drink full of spices, but whether it is a pleasing taste is debatable. Eighth grader James Kitchen debated, “Its okay, but I almost never drink it because it's not that good.”

So just remember: apple cider is a healthy drink, but you don't have to like it and if you’re an apple cider person, get warm and buy some apple cider. It’s getting cold outside!

(image from pixabay.com)

Friday the 13th with a full moon

Frightening Friday or silly superstition?

by Chloe Clark

This past Friday was a special night: not only was it Friday the 13th, but it also was a full moon.

The last time there was a full moon on Friday, the Scientists believe there won’t be another full moon until Friday the 13th in 2049! The moon this year is called a micro moon because it will appear 14% smaller because of the distance to Earth and because it is almost October this means that this full moon is a harvest moon. What all this math and science is saying is that it was a PERFECT night to scare friends or family.

Izabella Quinlan, an 8th grader, declared her Friday plans: “I’m babysitting tonight. I’m going to try to freak out the kids by watching scary movies and reading them scary stories.”

“I’m going to the high school football game tonight, and I'm going to scare so many people,” proclaimed Liz Wendel.

Even though Friday was perfect for sneaking up on someone and screaming “BOO!” in their face and laughing so hard until you can’t catch your breath, some people spent a regular evening with friends or family, like what Mr. Sells had planned. Mr. Sells explained this he is going to his friends’ birthday party tonight.

With similarity, Mrs. Klusman coached cross country and then picked up and dropped off her children.

Whatever your plans were for this Friday the 13th, the next time around, just make sure you stand clear of black cats who cross your path and definitely watch out for werewolves!

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Pokemon is worth a reboot

by Timmy Brennan

Do you still play Pokémon? Many FCMS students still play this addictive game. The Pokémon games have been around since February 27, 1996 and have become super popular--so popular that everyone knows the name of Pikachu, the furry yellow mouse.

Since Pokémon Red and Green versions, Satoshi Tajiri's goal was to let people of all ages to catch and train 151 different species of Pokémon.

And now that dream has grown into what Pokémon is now, with 807 different species and counting. In fact, Pokémon Sword and Shield will be coming out on November 15.

When Pokémon Red first came out, you, the player, was a young boy named Red from Pallet Town who needed to catch every Pokémon to complete the Pokedex.

Today, as in the past, in all the Pokémon games, you start out fresh and pretty weak, but once you get strong enough and you beat the game, you start looking for the strongest Pokémon: Mewtwo. Mewtwo is a human made psychic Pokémon that is so strong that it can pick up a Wailord, which is a 877.4lbs, and throw it 10 yards with its psychic powers. Mewtwo is also able to mega evolve, which let the Pokémon evolve past its bonderes.

The creators of the game are always adding new teqneces like mega evolution, Z-moves, and now there is a rumor about armor evolution. The creators always make these new techniques so that players will always have a trick up their sleeves.

So if you do remember this game, think about playing again. There are probably new Pokémon techniques for you to try out

(image from wallpaperplay.com )

Novel review: Scythe provides a page-turning thrill

by Gary Valley

Scythe, a novel by Neal Shusterman, is weird but enjoyable. It’s a young adult dystopian, but strangely, it actually has a unique concept and isn’t a clone of other young adult dystopias, such as The Hunger Games. Scythe is an indicator that not everything has to be the same, with its theme being that individuality is important.

The plot is as follows: it’s the future, and all of humanity’s qualms and problems have been cured. Death and disease have been conquered, and the government has been replaced by the Thunderhead, a sentient supercomputer that runs the future United States. Since death by human diseases or causes is basically rendered nonexistent, population control falls on to the scythes, a group of people whose job is to kill people to keep the population down.

When the scythes kill, their victims actually die, unlike other people, who just go temporarily dead...and then have the ability to be revived at hospitals called revive centers.

Two young adults, Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova, both have encounters with the honorable Scythe Faraday, who recruits them into apprenticeship, even if they don’t necessarily want to be scythes.

Rowan Damisch came from a very large family, with him being just a middle child. His motivation is for his entire family to get immunity. As for for Citra Terranova, she comes from a small family and also wants her family to have immunity. They also both become friends. However, when they are forced to compete, the protagonists think their worries end there, but little do they know, something much worse is brewing.

The plot is interesting and well thought out, and the characters are pretty developed and fleshed out. It can be a little slow at times, but when it gets going, it doesn’t stop. It makes you really want to turn the pages, to see what happens next, so it’s pretty swell in that regard.

The villain, however, is just mediocre. It’s a blatant good vs. evil situation, but a little disappointing, since the rest of the book is such a breath of fresh air and so creative. The readers know the power-hungry Goddard’s (the antagonist) motivation, it’s just that his motivation seems underdeveloped. The villain, Goddard, is evil just because he likes killing, so he does it a lot.

Overall, the book is an exciting page turner, and it only has two flaws. The first is that the villain and his posse are kind of uncreative, and while interesting, they aren't anything readers haven’t seen before.

The second is that the book starts off slowly, and the reader must be patient and wait for the plot to unravel. However, once the story really begins, readers are in for a treat.This book is pretty close to being a must read. If you are interested, this book is just the first in a trilogy, the other two books being called Thunderhead, which is out now, and The Toll, which will be out this December. I give this novel a 9 out of 10. Happy reading!

Celebrate or not? National Siblings Day is on April 10th

by Allyson Miller

Do you have siblings? If so, do you get along with them? Some of us wish we had siblings older or younger, and others wish we didn't have them at all. National Siblings Day, on April 10th, is a great day to celebrate those awesome or annoying siblings.

Eighth grader Grace Mcconnell stated, ¨Yes I have siblings, but I wish I didn't because I have to share everything.¨

Eighth grader Taylee Conrad also explained, ¨Yes I have siblings, but I would like it better without her because she always gets her way, no matter what.¨

Lauren Stacy, 8th grader, admitted, ¨Yes I have siblings but I don't really like him because he's annoying.¨

Unlike them,Trenton Lainhart, an 8th grader, enjoys having sibling around. He remarked, ¨ Yes I have an older brother, and I like having him because he can drive me places.¨

Seventh grader Isaiah Lee expressed, ¨Yes I have siblings, and I love having them because I can mess with them all the time.¨

Joseph Bommer, 7th grader stated, ¨Yes I have younger siblings, and I like having them because I get to bother them and scare them all the time.¨

Eighth grader Trever Schnitker explained,¨ Yes I have siblings, but I don't like having them because I have to share my room.¨

Whether they get on your nerves or you dream of having them, make sure you celebrate Siblings Day on April 10th!

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Did you survive the time change? Maybe it's time for a nap!

by Max Dickey

Napping Day is an unofficial holiday that falls on the Monday after daylight savings time begins in the United States. Take a nap or two to celebrate Napping Day.

The day was created as a way to compensate for the hour people lose because of the time change.

This year it fell on Monday, March 11. Phoenix Simons is an 8th grader who agrees that a nap would be great because he is tired because of the loss of one hour.

Mason Brenton, 8th grader, exclaimed, ¨I'm tired, and I really want to just lie down and sleep for 3 hours!¨

Many people would really love to take a nap.

Mrs. Joyce Lake is also trying to let her body catch up with the time. ¨It takes a minute to catch up with the time. I've been trying to get to bed early to get ready for the earlier time,¨ she explained.

All in all, most students would love a nice nap to catch up with the time.

(image from maxpixel.net)

Christmas is the season for giving

by Kyle Grundy

What's your favorite part about Christmas? For many people the best part of Christmas is giving out gifts. Have you ever given someone a gift that he or she absolutely loved?

When asked, “What's the best gift you've ever given?”, 7th grader Garrett Clarkston admitted, ¨My favorite gift I've ever given someone has to be an Under Armour sweatshirt to my dad.¨

Seventh grader Austin Willis claimed, ¨The best gift I've ever given anyone is a forged Viking sword to my dad.¨

Eighth grader Robby Simon stated, ¨I once gave my dad a Reds baseball hat, which is his favorite team.¨

Seventh grader Eli Butt explained, ¨The best Christmas gift I have ever given was a trail camera to my grandpa.¨

“The best gift I have ever given anyone would have to be the clay pottery we make in art to my mom,” stated eighth grader Zach Hensley.

Eighth grader Dylan Ramsey exclaimed, “The best gift I have ever given anyone would be the paintings we make in art to my grandma!” Eighth grader MIchael Withrow explained, “The best gift I've ever given anyone would be to my aunt, whom I made an wooden bench for.”

“The best christmas gift I have ever given anyone was a Christmas ornament to my grandparents,” stated eighth grader Paige Ashcraft.

What's your favorite Christmas present to give someone? No matter what you give this Christmas, someone will appreciate it.

Christmas songs' beginnings may surprise us all

by Shelby Beneker

“Jingle Bells”, “Away in a Manger”, “Joy to the World”--all are iconic Christmas songs. Yet they each have their own origins that just may surprise you.

If you love Christmas songs as much as St. Nicolas himself, you will be disappointed to know that “Jingle Bells” was not composed to be a Christmas song. Even though we have been using “Jingle Bells” for 168 years, it was intended to be used during winter, not just Christmas.

Although the song is usually hated if it’s played before Thanksgiving, it can bring joy in the most unlikely of places. In 1965, two astronauts had called Mission Control to report that a satellite was about to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. After a few agonizing moments, the astronauts started to compose a rendition of “Jingle Bells” with a harmonica and some bells that they had brought along. “Jingle Bells” was the first song to be broadcast from space.

Another song, ”Away in a Manger”, has two composers! Both Martin Luther (1483-1546) and Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932) claim to have made the song, but they were centuries apart. Moreover, no one knows which language it goes to either. It seems that the lyrics were composed in English, then translated into German.

The last song on the list, “Joy to the World”, wasn’t intended to be a Christmas song either. It was written in 1719 by Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason, and George Frideric Handel. When Isaac was in his teen years, he thought the songs that he sang in church were too hard to sing. As a result, he made a new hymn every week for two years. In 1741, Handel polished up the poem into a song. Lowell Mason eventually put it to music and published it for the whole world to enjoy.

Now that you know the not-so-secret histories of three iconic songs, you can spend the holidays telling your family about the history of the greatest “Christmas” songs.

“8 Things You May Not Know About ‘Jingle Bells.’” History.com, A&E Television Networks, <www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-jingle-bells>.

Ministries, Discipleship. “History of Hymns: ‘Away in a Manger.’” Discipleship Ministries, <www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-away-in-a-manger>.

“The Story Behind the Carol: ‘Joy to the World!".” Forest Baptist Church, <www.forestbaptistchurch.org/the-story-behind-the-carol-joy-to-the-world/>.

(image from publicdomainpictures.net)

For many, it's time to check out your favorite Christmas show

by A.J. Denney

Christmas television cartoons--they’re almost as much a staple for the holidays as presents. From Rudolph and Frosty to Charlie Brown, everyone has a favorite one, and we’re going to be talking with some people who are they’re not afraid to tell us some of their favorites.

“My favorite Christmas special has got to be Rudolph,” stated Avery Kersey, 7th grader. “The main place that I watch the special is at my grandma’s house, and I like the Rudolph special because it shows Rudolph’s desire to be the best reindeer.”

“One of my favorite holiday specials is How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” explained Trevor Schnitker, 8th grader. “I like the story because at the beginning the grinch is mean and cold and hateful, but near the end he learns the true meaning of Christmas.”

“One of my favorite holiday specials of all time is Santa Claus is Coming to Town!” exclaimed Mrs. Nobbe, 7th and 8th grade student resource educator. “The reason I like the movie is because it’s a classic during Christmas time.”

“My personal favorite Christmas special is Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” disclosed Daxton Hendrick, 8th grader. “The reason it’s my favorite holiday special is because it’s a nice movie to watch over the holidays.”

“I personally like the Rudolph Christmas special,” proclaimed Jessica Byrd, 8th grader. “It’s my favorite because I remember watching it with my parents when I was little.”

“My favorite holiday special is Frosty the Snowman 2,” declared Hope Hamilton, 8th grader, “The reason is because it’s a classic, and where I watch it is at home sitting on my couch with my pets.”

Overall, it doesn’t matter what you like to watch during the holiday season. The thing that matters most is that you watch your favorite Christmas show with family or friends this year. Happy holidays!

(image from bestandworstblogspot.com)

Students and staff are grateful at Thanksgiving

by Desirae Callahan

Thanksgiving--it’s an annual national holiday marked by religious observances and a traditional meal, including turkey. Thanksgiving is also spending time with your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, mom, dad, and siblings.

The holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621 and is held on November 22.

Avery McDaniel declared, “I think Thanksgiving is great because of the turkey, and it is a time to be grateful.”

Paige Ashcraft claimed, “I love seeing my family and the food. My favorite food for Thanksgiving is mashed potatoes because my grandma makes good mashed potatoes!”

Cami Barker stated, “ I think it’s a great holiday because you get to get together with all of your family and get to eat dinner with them, play games, and give thanks.

Mrs. Fultz commented, “I am going to be cooking for Thanksgiving because part of my family is coming over. My favorite food that I like to cook and to eat is pumpkin pie.”

Mrs Robinson continued, “My favorite part about Thanksgiving is being with my family and the food, my favorite food is turkey. “

Mrs Bradley exclaimed, “I am going to be staying home and cooking, I like to cook frog legs, but my favorite food to eat is the turkey! “

Aaron Peters claimed, “ My favorite food for Thanksgiving is steak because I like the meat, and it is really chewy!”

We hope you have a great time with your family and friends for Thanksgiving!

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Black Friday--to go or not to go?

by AJ Denney

Black Friday--it’s a tradition for most on the day after Thanksgiving, but that leaves us with a question: why? Why do people leave the comfort of their homes in search of a bargain? We’ll be talking to a few people to find out why they fight the crowd and brave Black Friday shopping.

“The reason I go Black Friday shopping is that it’s a tradition,” explained Mrs. Nobbe, student resource teacher. “Most of the time I go shopping with my mom, my sister, and my daughters, then we shop at JCPenney, the Kenwood Mall, Target, Bass Pro shop, and Dicks Sporting Goods.”

“I don’t get to go Black Friday shopping,” recalled Daxton Hendricks, 8th grader. ”The reason I never get to go is because my mom leaves me home every time I ask to go.”

“I’ve never received the chance to go Black Friday shopping,” responded Mckenzie Rodgers, 8th grader. “This is because I didn’t have the time to go.”

”The reason I go Black Friday shopping is to get some cheap clothes,” stated Cynthia Willoughby, 7th grader, “Most of the time I go with my four brothers, my mom and my dad, and the stores we shop at are Walmart and Bass Pro Shop.”

“The main reason I started going Black Friday shopping is to get gifts for Christmas!” exclaimed Ava Hedge, 7th grader. ‘I like to go with my mom and dad when I go black friday shopping. Then the store I visit the most on Black Friday is Walmart, ” she added.

“The purpose of why I go Black Friday shopping is to get good deals on stuff I like,” expressed Owen Darwish, 7th grader. “The people I go with vary from my mom, my dad, my brother, and finally my grandma, and the places I visit range from Walmart, Bass Pro Shop, Cabela's, to GameStop.”

“The answer behind why I go Black Friday Shopping is because everything is cheap,” concluded Sam Billman, a 7th grader. “I usually visit Rural King and Bass Pro Shop and my dad, my grandma, my grandpa, and my cousins usually come with me.”

Although there are several reasons to go Black Friday Shopping, from it being a tradition, to getting good deals, everybody has his/her own reasons to go, but if you don’t go, that’s okay because you get to spend time with your family this holiday weekend. Enjoy that turkey, with or without the Christmas lights!

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Playlist review: Mono by RM

by Shelby Beneker

Inspiring--that could be possibly be the only word to describe RM’s playlist: Mono.

On October 22, RM (aka Kim Namjoon of BTS) gave a hint about his playlist release date over Twitter. The date that was set was the very next day. Many people called it a mixtape or an album, but he insisted they call it a playlist because it didn’t have an interlude or outro.

The biggest surprise was that he also announced that there was going to be a surprise collaboration on the 24th. “Waste it on Me” was produced by BTS and Steve Aoki, which subsequently made it to 1 billion streams on Apple music.

The word “mono” can mean alone or one, but when “mono” is stuck with another meaning, it starts to have an intrinsic meaning. RM wanted his playlist to be the opposite of the stereotype so that he could affect people worldwide. By doing this, RM helped people overcome anxiety over the years. (He released a mixtape in 2015 and various albums before and after.) I believe RM is doing amazing things with his popularity and not abusing it, like some other artists do.

Mono was made because of the stress and anxiety RM has had to overcome. At the same time, he wanted something for everyone to reflect upon. In the past few weeks, he has received tons of positive feedback from people all around the world. RM stated that he felt like he was connecting with the world and making his mark.

One of his songs from Mono, “Forever Rain”, talked about how the members of BTS helped him become who he is today. On another note, RM’s song 지나가, “It All Passes” explains that bad things will never last a lifetime, and life should be filled with fun and happiness.

A few months back, BTS promised a collaboration with Shawn Mendes. Knowing how passionate both fan bases are, the collaboration is sure to make it to #1.

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Thanksgiving offers reasons to take time to be Thankful

by Kyle Grundy

How does your family celebrate thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 22. Many people celebrate it by spending time with family, eating food, or watching football.

The first Thanksgiving was in 1621, celebrating the survival of the colonist who settled in Plymouth. Thanksgiving wasn't founded as a national holiday until 1863, by president Abraham Lincoln. The president claimed it as an official holiday after an Union Army victory at Gettysburg.

During Thanksgiving, many people will share what they're thankful for. Some of the most common answers are friends, family, and good health.

Eighth grader Aaron Peters admitted, ¨I´m thankful for my family.¨

¨I´m thankful for good health and friends¨ Explained 8th grader Zach Hensley

Seventh grader Trevor Grundy stated, ¨I'm thankful for friends and food.¨

What are you thankful for? Whatever it is, take time to think about it this Thanksgiving.

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Dent Schoolhouse provides frightful fun well past Halloween

by Brooklynn Mays

Looking for a good scare? The Dent Schoolhouse is the place to go, even after Halloween.

The Dent Schoolhouse, located in nearby Cincinnati, is rated top 13 for scariest haunted houses in America; however, The Dent Schoolhouse is based on a true story!

The story is that in 1894 the Dent Public School was open teaching kindergarten through 12th grade. The school was successful, but in 1942, several students mysteriously vanished, last seen at the Dent School.

They were later known as runaways, but in 1945, four more students went missing in October. Rumor started to spread that the so called “runaways” had something to do with the school and, in 1952, three more students went missing, as school attenders started to complain about a strange smell coming from the basement.

Eventually, trespassers went into the school and were stunned by the sight from the janitor’s basement! The basement was covered with decaying remains of the missing students, and now the old school house is said to be haunted with the roaming spirits of the missing children.

When you arrive at the schoolhouse, you wait in line. Don't get to scared by the roaming scarers: they cant touch you. When you finally reach the front, you go through a little haunted trail with scary figurines to take pictures with, but then you reach the front doors to the schoolhouse.

As you enter there are strobe lights everywhere, and you start heading down the steps to the janitors’ basement…where there are many scarers and frightening setups. The jump scares are the worst! When you get out of the basement, you walk into an outside setup with squealing pigs, murderers, and everything like that. When you finally reach the end, you’re chased out by someone with a chainsaw!

If you go to the Dent Schoolhouse, good luck! Don't get too scared! Remember: it’s all “fake”.

The Dent Schoolhouse is open from 7:30-10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, with admission being $22 and Fridays, as well as Saturdays from 7:30 p.m-12 a.m., with admission being $25. It’s located at 5963 Harrison ave, Cincinnati Ohio.

With the average tour being about 60 minutes long, I’d jump right in line for the schoolhouse!

(image from pxhere.com)

Stretch yourself: tips for beginning new languages

by Shelby Beneker

안녕! 你好! Hola!

These are ways to say “hello” in Korean, Chinese, and Spanish.

If you are a person who wants to explore the world and learn about it, learning another language is for you. But, you had better be prepared: it takes a lot of effort and time.

Tip #1:

Pick a language you feel would fit you. Don't learn a language you don't want to. It won’t be as fun to learn and understand a foreign language that your classmates can’t. If you plan to travel to a certain place, learn the language now, and keep advancing so you’re ready when the time comes.

Tip #2:

When beginning each lesson, set a goal on what you want to understand. If you can’t seem to nail down the alphabet, learn it in moderation. Then, when you’re finished, put it all together. Example: learning at least five verbs.

Tip #3:

The one thing that might help you greatly is a journal. If you lose your study book, or if you don't have wifi, notes over the subject help greatly. You don't want to fall out of practice if your life becomes too busy.

Tip #4:

Spend time practicing your pronunciation. It helps with your reading/spelling. If you spent just a little time fixing the way you pronounce a certain letter/ character, things will be easier with writing.

To do this you can use many sites, but the best one is Duolingo.

Tip #5:

If you don't want to spend too much money on a book for another language, you could just do lessons at school (if they happen to teach the language you are interested in) or online. The site I recommend is Duolingo. It allows you to learn and communicate with others learning also.

Tip #6:

Don't stress about it. It’s harder to learn when stressed. Besides, it’s very enjoyable when you understand something you never thought you would. If you want to have fun for a change, try to teach someone the alphabet of a language they aren’t familiar with.

Tip #7:

If you have too much on your plate right now, and you can’t study, it’s all right. Around 10% of Americans actually go around the world to make a career around another language. However, if you are one of the 10%, you will almost always find a way. One way that is used a lot is listening to music in the language you are learning.

Remember: learning another language might seem challenging, but a challenge might just be the thing you need. It might just be your dream to travel the world--or even just have a conversation in another language.

(image from pixabay.com)

Fast food equals fun food for many Wildcats

by Kyle Grundy

What's your favorite fast food restaurant? On November 16, it´s National Fast Food Day. National Fast Food Day is an unofficial holiday, but millions of people all over the world will stop in to their favorite restaurant and order their favorite fast food meal.

The unofficial holiday was born in the 1950s, after cars became affordable. The first ever fast food restaurant was White Castle. White Castle began selling burgers for just 5 cents.

Today the United States has a range of 50,000 fast food restaurants. Three of the most popular fast food restaurants are Subway, McDonald’s, and Burger King. Mcdonald's is the largest fast food chain in the United States.

Robby Simon, 8th grader, stated, “My favorite fast food restaurant has to be Frisch's because of the breakfast buffet.”

Seventh grader Lance Fields explained, “The best fast food restaurant has to be burger king because their cheeseburgers are delicious.”

Seventh grader Eli Butt admitted, “My favorite restaurant has to be Wendys because of the cheeseburgers and their curly fries.”

Seventh grader Aiden Johnson stated,”The best restaurant has to be McDonald’s because the fries are so good,and it's a tradition to eat there with family.”

Eighth grader Tj Pursifull remarked, “McDonald’s has to be my favorite restaurant because their fries are delicious.”

“My favorite restaurant is Wendy's because they have the best milkshakes ever!” exclaimed 8th grader Landen Wuestefeld.

Seventh grader Avery Kersey admitted, “Skyline has to be the best restaurant because they have coney dogs.”

Where will you eat on National Fast Food Day?

(image from sketchport.com)

Let's discover the origins of Halloween

by Jay Schallick

Do you enjoy dressing up as a ghost or ghoul and begging for candy? As dumb as it sounds, a lot of people enjoy it. There’s a night for this every year.

On October 31, people dress up and go trick or treating. This night is called Hallows’ Eve, better known as Halloween. This may be a fun night, but have you wondered why we celebrate it?

In the Middle Ages, people believed October 31 was when the spirits came back to haunt the living. To please them, people left food and candy in front of their homes to please the dead.

On this night, children and poor adults began to dress up as the undead and knock on peoples’ doors. After this, they would then ask for food or candy and promise not to “haunt” those people.

As more people became aware of this, people of all ages began to do this, and it became a tradition for most.

Some believe Halloween is a Satanic holiday because of the way it is celebrated. Some people also believe it is a Satanic holiday, due to the haunted houses and how it’s customary to scare people.

But contrast, many people today think Halloween is just plain fun. You could go trick or treating, hand out candy, or go to a haunted house or maze. If you celebrate, hope you enjoy!

Image from publicdomainpictures.net

Information:

http://www.bu.edu/today/2013/how-did-halloween-get-started/

It's pumpkin carving time!

by Brooklynn Mays

Do you enjoy carving pumpkins? If so, what's your favorite part? Do you like adding terrifying or pretty faces on your pumpkins? Well, this October 31st may just be your day. Be ready to cut, clean, and carve this Halloween!

Most can agree carving pumpkins is the most fun around Halloween when people are in the Halloween mood. “I love carving pumpkins, but it’s way more exciting around a week before Halloween when everyone's in the spooky spirit!

Also, you know your pumpkin will last until Halloween night if you don't carve too early or late!” exclaimed Hannah Mullins.

Adam Mace contrasted, “I don’t like carving pumpkins the only cool thing is making a design, preferably something scary or cool like a bat.”

Most people like making their pumpkins as scary as possible, such as Noah. “I don't carve pumpkins every Halloween, but when I do, I make it the scariest pumpkin out there,” explained Noah Smith.

Other people, such as, Chloe like making their pumpkins cute or sweet. “When I carve pumpkins I make them as cute as possible, I also like using utensils. It makes the cute design a lot easier to carve,” gushed Chloe Branstetter.

By contrast, Alexis Davidson stated, “I like to make my pumpkins funny.”

Some find the aftermath of carving pumpkins a lot more fun, such as Cadin. “I don't enjoy carving pumpkins as much as I like smashing them,” stated Cadin Bowman.

When asked what he enjoyed most about pumpkin carving, Timber Guck stated, “I like to paint my pumpkins. It's a lot easier then going through all of the carving steps, and you still get the same outcome.”

All of these are great ways to carve pumpkins, so good luck. We can't wait to see all the funny, cute, scary, or even smashed pumpkins this Halloween!

(image from wikimediacommons.org)

Students enjoy a lazy October day off

by Jay Schallick

As Thursday approached, students were thrilled to have a day off from school, due to parent/teacher conferences. Many were glad they could sleep in or wake up early to go hunting.

“I was glad that we had a day off because I was able to go hunting and ride my quad,” stated Joseph Boomer. He was thrilled he was able to do that during the week.

Similarly, Mr. Deters declared, “I’d go fishing or hunting too, if my wife would let me, but I had to go to school for conferences!” He was bummed he wasn’t able to go fishing.

Indifferently, Trever Schnitker declared, “I stayed inside and played Fortnite all day, while taking care of my younger siblings.” As we can see, he is the type to stay indoors, unlike Joseph Boomer or Mr. Deters.

By comparison, Clayton Bolser remarked, “I did nothing except play Blacklight Reputation and eat.” He is also the type to stay inside and play video games, just as Trever does.

Isaiah Lee declared, “I had over a friend, so we played basketball and Fortnite.”

Also one to get exercise, Trenton Lainhart remarked, “I went ice skating with my family.” That’s how he spent his day off.

Sophie Garrett stated, “I enjoy crafting, so that's what I did over my day off.”

We hope that you had had a fun day off last Thursday!

(image from publicdomainpictures.net)

Let's Talk: Halloween horror known as Jack the Ripper

by Aaron Peters

Picture this: August, 31, 1888, in London, England. On a crisp night in the Whitechapel District, the air turns still, and a predator finds his prey.

With Halloween just around the corner, people will surely talk about their favorite Halloween characters/monsters, and one of those characters is a historical serial killer in the 18th century known as Jack the Ripper. Jack is not as widely recognized as Dracula, so here is the full story of Jack the Ripper.

¨What make him so different, so unique?¨you may ask yourself. He was never caught, and no one even knew what he looked like, so rumors say he wore a mask. However, everyone knew that this mysterious murderer was a man, a very dangerous man.

A woman was found murdered in the early morning of August 31, 1888, on a street called Bucks Bow. The woman was later identified as Mary Ann Nichols, also known as ¨Polly”. Mary become one of the five known murderers of Jack the Ripper.

His true infamy, however, becomes apparent when his own letters were published. His first is the ¨Dear Boss¨ letter, which was believed to be another hoax like all the others they had received; however, when Jack striked again, the victims earlobe was cut off, very reminiscent to a promise that was made in the letter.

This letter also is the reason he got the name Jack the Ripper. By signing with ¨Jack the Ripper¨ during his murders, the police and journalists all received mixed letters by concerned citizens for ways to possibly catch the criminal. People who saw these murders as a way to make the earliest prank known to man, which ¨evolved¨ into what we know today as prank calls.

Out of the 700 known letters, 300 of them were hoaxes, except for the ¨Dear Boss¨ letter, as well as the the ¨Saucy Jack¨ letter, which was shorter and not as well known.

After that and the last known murder victim, Marie Jeanette Kelly, Jack just stopped, disappeared, vanished, and the letters stopped coming in. There were no more murders, and no one knows why or how it was possible, but Jack the Ripper, by speculation and in desperate act of hope made by the police, was no more .

Whatever did happen to Jack, his actions were never forgotten. As the years passed, Jack has become a notorious horror figure (He's so infamous that his halloween costumes cost 50-60 dollars).

Thank you all for taking the time to read this Halloween article about this horrifying individual. Have a safe and happy Halloween :)

Historical information links

https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/from-hell.htm

https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/dear-boss.htm

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/July-August-08/On-this-Day--Mary-Ann-Nichols-Becomes-Jack-the-Ripper-s-First-Victim.html

(image from wikimediacommons.org

Every day can be frappe day

by Brooklynn Mays

How do you like your coffee? What are your favorite flavors? If it’s a frappe, this October 4th may just have been your day!

Chloe Branstetter, 8th grader gushed, “I love the caramel frappe from Mcdonald’s. It’s super sweet!”

“My favorite frappe is the cookies n’ cream from Coffee Off Main. It tastes great!” exclaimed Makayla Shepard, 8th grader.

Joseph Gillman, 8th grader, stated, “I like all frappe’s and flavors from anywhere; I love coffee!”

“I like the mocha frappe from Mcdonald’s. I enjoy the ice and coldness of the drink,” explained 8th grader Alexis Brickner.

Anthony Hicks, 7th grader, exclaimed, “I love all frappe’s, especially from Mcdonald’s. It’s cold coffee with whipped cream. Who wouldn’t love it?”

Adam Mace, 8th grader, stated, “I don’t like frappes or any coffee. It gets me too excited.”

“I’m not allowed to have frappe’s or any coffee, but I adore the smell,” stated 7th grader Alexis Davidson.

Eighth grader Xander Reece stated, “I love the mocha frappe from Mcdonald’s. I don't much care for them from anywhere else.”

We you the best and tastiest frappe’s on October the 4th!

(image from pxhere.com)