Tag Archives: featured story

Alesha McCulloch, Features

Students share Christmas wishes

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By Alesha McCulloch

During the holiday season, most people create Christmas lists for their parents. However, there is always that number one thing that is a must-have.

Freshman Skyler Nardi wants a vanity so she can do her makeup in her room.

Junior Haley Schroeder wants something out of the usual. “Definitely running clothes. I’m always running and could always use more running clothes.”

Sophomore Nick Ott wants something a little more dangerous and expensive.

“I want a new four wheeler because I love riding and I’’ll get good use out of it.”

Of course shoes are usually one of the top choices on many people’s lists.

“I want a pair of Lebron 10’s because I need a new pair of cool shoes,” said freshman Jordan Stevens.

Junior Alexis Garmon wants something that will benefit her practices.

“I want a bunch of Nike Pro spandex because I’m in the gym everyday and sometimes I want to not look so bland with black or grey Nike Pros on.”

There is always that one thing that someone can fantasize about.

Sophomore Kiley Atchley happens to have one of these gifts in mind.

“I want to meet Channing Tatum because I love him and he is going to be my husband one day.”

Features, Sidney Reynolds

Class ring delivery excites students

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By: Sidney Reynolds

Last Friday students eagerly waited in line to pick up their class rings that they ordered from Jostens. Jostens sales representative Mike Long and his wife, Jenna Long, enjoyed passing out the rings.

“The kids were very excited to get their rings and it’s always great to see the smile on their faces when they do,” said Mike Long.

Long also explained to the students that if their rings needed resized there would be no charge because of the warranty. Luckily there was only one student that needed their ring resized so far. Students were allowed to take their ring when they had paid the entire cost.

“I love the saxophone on mine. Now I have a memo from my high school years,” said junior Kaitlyn Seewer.

Some students have not completely paid or that paid in check had to wait until they paid completely or until the check cleared to get theirs. When the cost does clear, students rings will be available for pick up at the book store.

“I haven’t gotten my ring yet, but I saw it and I like it a lot more than I thought I would,” said sophomore Rebecca Lusren.

Some students’ parents are making them wait until their senior year to get their class ring.

“If I get it my senior year I’ll only get to wear it one semester, but I can’t wait until I do get it,” said sophomore Syliva Donovan.

Every class has a different feature each year but if you want to order your ring your junior or senior year you will still get the same features as the rest of your class.

“I was really, really excited to get it and I think I wear it later in life, too,” said sophomore Emily Naville.

Sophomore Kyle Beach paying for the rest of his class ring.
Sophomore Kyle Beach paying for the rest of his class ring.
Sophomore Maria Wimsatt's class ring.
Sophomore Maria Wimsatt’s class ring.
A overhead over of sophomore Harleigh Lang's class ring.
A overhead over of sophomore Harleigh Lang’s class ring.
A left side of sophomore Harleigh Lang's class ring.
A left side of sophomore Harleigh Lang’s class ring.
The right side Bethany Arteburn's class ring.
The right side Bethany Arteburn’s class ring.
Bethany Arteburn's class ring.
Bethany Arteburn’s class ring.
The right side of sophomore Harleigh Lang's class ring.
The right side of sophomore Harleigh Lang’s class ring.
A&E, McKenna Click

Journalist reviews Lohan’s performance in ‘Liz & Dick’

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by McKenna Click

Movie: Liz & Dick

Run time: 1 hour 28 minutes

Director: Lloyd Kramer

Release date: Nov. 25,2012

Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Grant Bowler, Theresa Russell, David Hunt

The movie “Liz & Dick” is a film which depicts the love, through all the trials and successes, of Elizabeth Taylor (Lohan) and Richard Burton (Bowler).  The movie starts off with the two living their separate lives then coming together to film “Cleopatra.”  While on the set of “Cleopatra,” Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton fall in love with each other while married to another individual.  The movie starts off in the 1950’s and progresses all the way up until Richard Burton’s death.  The movie shows not only the two of them together but also when they are apart.

Many who tuned in to watch “Liz & Dick” probably were not genuinely interested in a film about Elizabeth Taylor.  If the people who tuned in were anything like myself, they were there to see how Lindsay Lohan would do in her first film in a while.  After watching this movie I felt like it could be the start of a new comeback for Lohan.  At the beginning of the movie I was a little unsure of how she would do; she seemed a little shaky and uncomfortable in front of the camera and a few times her accent slipped out, but by the end of the movie she had me believing she was Elizabeth Taylor.  It definitely helped Lohan be more believable since she looked like she was trying and knew her lines.

Lohan was not the only believable character, Bowler also did a great job portraying Richard Burton.  Bowler and Lohan really played off of each other’s energy, which helped make the whole movie something I wanted to continue watching.  It also helped that people were cast as paparazzi so it seemed as if the people watching were in the room with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.  In a normal movie I would have gotten tired of the paparazzi in a few minutes, but in this movie I felt like the paparazzi being present added to the movie instead of taking away from it.

Speaking of adding to the movie the costumes and sets in this movie were made perfectly.  The movie covered many different fashion time periods so naturally the costumes needed to match the time periods, and they did so successfully.  The movie also showed the many different places Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton lived along with the different venues they had to visit for social events.  Each one of the sets for each of these areas were carefully constructed and gave the viewer the feeling that they were there with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Even though Lohan’s acting had a few bumps, overall I felt like it was a great movie and I give it four out of five stars.  


A&E

Skyfall proves best in series

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By Christian DiMartino

The James Bond series turned 50 this year. So after a four year hiatus, probably recovering from the bad reputation of the previous installment, Quantum of Solace, Bond (Daniel Craig) is back in Skyfall. It is unknown what to expect from a 23rd Bond movie, considering from of the series is a mixed bag. This one is definitely not a let down.

There are a lot of delightful surprises in it, so here is what I can say: after a mission goes terribly wrong, the fate of MI6 is in jeopardy. Bond’s feisty boss M (Oscar-winner Judi Dench) is the main target of this cyberterrorist named Silva (Oscar Winner Javier Bardem), who is probably the most twisted Bond villian yet. This wickedly devious performance by Bardem is sure to thrill viewers.

Craig’s first outing, Casino Royale, was a masterpiece, and a tough one to beat. I liked the sequel, Quantum of Solace, but its big flaw was that it was not Casino Royale.  For those that agree with me, here is some wonderful news: Skyfall could possibly be the best Bond film in the series. It is a Bond film like no other.

Daniel Craig is the heart and soul of the past three films. He is terrific, and though some may find this a bit blasphemous, but he is the best actor in this role. Sean Connery is terrific  also, but there is something about the way Craig handles this material, it just all clicks. All of the films have a sense of humor, but his delivery of the lines are both charismatic and compelling. As long as Craig is in the role, my investment in the series will remain. Especially after Skyfall, which did what Royale did six years ago: it gave the series new life.

This is what you get when you put an Oscar winning director Sam Mendes in the reigns of a Bond movie: the best Bond movie so far.  Mendes, whose career consists of dramas like American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, seems like an unlikely choice, but he proves himself quite the opposite. Skyfall is a smart and deserving tribute to the series. This movie slapped a smile on my face within 30 seconds, and that smile did not fade away until the credits.

Every single action sequence is a knockout. There are a lot of nice references to previous installments which will definitely bring a smile if caught. No film in the series has ever looked better, thanks in part to Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins. Adele’s theme song of the same name fits well. There is a great twist in the end, and the film ties together nicely, leaving plenty of room for the future.

But there are two things that need mention: One, it is nice that Judi Dench, who has been on the sidelines most of the time she was involved in the series, finally gets to do something. And another, it is a Bond film like no other because never in the 50 years has it explained Bond’s past. In the 50 years, the thought has probably never crossed a viewer’s  mind, and it is great that now the viewers knows more about him.

It is rumored that Mendes wanted to win an Oscar for this movie, and he has my support all the way. Casino Royale definitely transcended the series to new heights, but Skyfall  takes it one step higher. It took 50 years, and 50 years well spent. As in every Bond film, the end credits promise that Bond will be back. This movie has appeal to both the Bond-loving film junkie and a first timer. This is one of the best movies of the year.

A&E, Derek Hanke

Top five gaming apps reviewed

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By Derek Hanke

These are the top five apps in the iTunes app store for this week:

  1. Extreme Road Trip 2
  2. Fix-it Felix Jr.
  3. WordSearch Unlimited Free
  4. Flow Free
  5. Bike Race Free


Extreme Road Trip 2

Road trips have never before been this exciting.
Ranking first in the iTunes app store this week, Extreme Road Trip 2 will keep a player thoroughly entertained from the second they pick it up to the moment they set it down. This app, created by Roofdog Games, leaves little to be desired.
Starting off driving a compact, gamers ride in one of multiple different environments. The premise of the game is simple: collect as many coins as possible and get as far as possible before running out of gas.
As players collect coins, they are presented with the opportunity to buy new cars, giving the game a level of replayability. Extreme Road Trip 2 automatically sets new goals for players, giving them something to strive for when they come back to play again.
Extreme Road Trip 2 does almost everything right: it keeps players entertained, has smooth and easy to understand controls that don’t confuse gamers, and provides a soundtrack that livens up the gaming experience. The only drawback to it is that while the environmental backdrop of the driving course changes, the course itself never changes, leaving new courses to be desired.
Compared to other popular racing games in the app store such as Bike Race Free and Jet Pack Joyrides, Extreme Road Trip 2 sizes up. With its customizability and enthralling gaming experience, it offers a feeling of depth not seen very often in games on the app store.
Definitely worth a download, Extreme Road Trip 2 will take riders where no road trip has taken them before and gets a 9 out of 10.

Fix-it Felix Jr.

Trying to put a spin on the eight-bit games of the past, Disney has offered gamers an experience that is neither memorable nor classic.
Fix-it Felix Jr. leaves much to be desired. While coupling with popularity of the movie “Wreck-it Ralph,” it has managed to reach the position of second in the app store. This app follows the movie-to-game tradition of being a poor gaming rendition of a semi-popular Disney movie.
As Fix-it Felix, a player’s job is to repair the broken windows left behind by Wreck-it Ralph all while he is throwing boxes at the player. There is no plot and the experience is very repetitive.
A positive to Fix-it Felix is that it has a nostalgic feel to gamers and easy controls, but gamers have evolved since the time of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and expect more from games now. Negatives include low replayability, a boring soundtrack, and low immersion for gamers. This game does not have the depth or plotline needed to immerse a player
If a gamer decides to purchase the full version of Fix-it Felix (Wreck-it Ralph), they may find it to be more entertaining, but only because it comes as part of a package deal with two other games. Also, players could get more bang for their buck if they were to actually go and purchase some real eight-bit classics such as Pitfall or Space Invaders.
An eight-bit gamers are sure to forget, Fix-it Felix accomplishes little, leaves much to be desired and receives a 3 out of 10.

WordSearch Unlimited Free

No longer confined to newspapers, a classic gaming experience has been brought to the app store.
WordSearch Unlimited Free, produced by VirtueSoft, provides a new spin on word searches that is bound to keep word searchers and even a couple of their friends entertained in their spare time and ranks third in the app store.
While other apps only give players randomized word sets or a limited number of categories to choose their words from, it gives them 10 categories and eight words per that change almost every time.
Another great feature of this app lies in its ability to change the style and background of the search to any of 11 different combinations, and even more if a gamer decides to upload their own images.
WordSearch has several good qualities: it has an 11×11 search board that makes finding words the perfect difficulty for most searchers, its customization options allow for a measure of personalization to the app, and the randomized playing board allows for endless hours of playtime. The only negatives to this app is that only one difficulty is provided in the free version, and there are a few adds included.
This app is generally better than other free word search apps because of its better qualities listed above. Other apps are stuck in one format, do not have other categories or customizable backgrounds.
Going from paper to retina definitely has its benefits; WordSearch Unlimited Free is recommended for word searchers everywhere and places 7 out of 10 on the ranking scale and is recommended for download if you are a word searcher at heart.

Flow Free

Connecting pipes has become so fun it has dripped its way into our hearts.
Placing fourth in the iTunes countdown today is Flow Free, a puzzle game that gets harder as players progress through one of its 150 levels.
The goal of the game is to connect all the dots using all the space given on playing spaces that range from 5×5 to 9×9. There are thirty levels per set and anywhere from five to nine pairs of dots.
A feature Flow Free has going for it is that is is almost completely unique to the iTunes app store. It has virtually zero competition from similar apps because it is the best at what it does. It also has time records, so a player can go back and try to beat their own or other’s records at a set. The only negative to Flow Free is the lack of soundtrack for the game, leaving gamers with an empty feeling when playing it.
As mentioned before, Flow Free has basically no competition from other apps due to the fact that little to no other apps exist that compare to it. If one were to come around that had a soundtrack, then it might be considered better. Since there isn’t one out there like that, however, it’s not an issue.
Mind-boggling and addicting, Flow Free has done its job and gets a 7 out of 10.

Bike Race Free

Navigating a difficult obstacle course on a dirt bike is as rewarding to a player as a lab rat finding cheese.
Fifth and final in the top five on the iTunes app store is Bike Race Free, a challenging game that can make or break gamers with it’s tedious but rewarding levels.
Gamers are given three level packs to start off with, but can unlock more as they progress through levels and play multiplayer matches with others via the internet. Players navigate these courses by tilting their iPhones/iPads forward or backward and giving the dirt bike gas by pressing on the screen.
Luckily for gamers, there are infinite numbers of retries so that when they fail (and they will fail), they can try again until they complete the course. There is a multiplayer component to this game which adds even more depth. A player can compete with others online by trying to get the best time on courses all the while their opponent does the same.
This game makes up for not having a soundtrack by implementing realistic dirt bike noises. Strengths of Bike Race Free are its unlockable bikers, challenging but rewarding levels, and multiplayer mode; all of these give Bike Race Free a high measure of replayability and sharability.
Who knew dirt biking on a dangerous life-threatening obstacle course could be such a thrill? Bike Race Free comes with high recommendations for download and gets an 8 out of 10.