- Giles High School

Oct / Nov 2006
GILES HIGH SCHOOL
Volume One
Homecoming 2006
By Samantha Owens
Homecoming is a long anticipated event probably because there are so many
different aspects of it. From spirit week to the pep rally, and from the football
game to the dance, GHS Homecoming is quite an exciting event.
The Homecoming festivities began on Monday, October 9th 2006 with the
kick-off of “Spirit Week.” Monday was “Favorite Team Day,” Tuesday “Twin
Day,” Wednesday “Wacky Tacky Day,” Thursday “Camo Day,” and Friday
“Spartan Spirit Day.” Each
day the students and faculty of
GHS dressed up to show their
support and school spirit for
our football team. Also, that
TJ Cleamons and his date Olivia Simons,
same week was the hall
along with Alex Wilson and his date
decoration contest. Each grade
Brooke Johnson enjoyed dancing at
was presented a hallway in the
Photo by Samantha Owens
Homecoming
school and had to decorate it
to show their grade level’s
Spartan spirit. Each class worked extremely hard, and the overall winners were the
freshmen.
As the excitement of spirit week was coming to its end, the most exciting part
of Homecoming was only beginning. Friday, October 13th at 2:35, the Giles High
students gathered in the gym for the annual Homecoming pep-rally. Not too long
The winning freshmen decorated hallway.
Photo by Mrs. Theresa Beckner
after everyone was seated, and the Chorale sang the National Anthem, the 2006
th
GHS Homecoming Court was announced: 8 grade Prince and Princess Frankie
Robertson and Megan Woodyard, 9th grade Zack Patteson and Hannah Ruark,
10th grade Michael Atkins and Kerston Robbins, 11th grade Zach Atkins and
Danielle Wilson, 12th grade Princes John Craft, Conan Cook, and Nathan
Frazier and Princesses Katie Cady, Meredith Epperly, and Angela Morris.
Congratulations! After the court was announced the long awaited Spirit Stick
competition took place.
“Number 1 we are the best,
GHS!” filled the air and the
spirit stick was awarded to
the junior class. Way to go
juniors! After the bell rang
and students fled out of the
gym, it was off to the
parade.
The Spartans playing the Auburn Eagles at the
The GHS Homecoming
Photos by Samantha Owens
Homecoming game.
parade takes place annually
after the pep rally on the
Friday before the game. The band led the parade, and everyone cheered for all of
the various sports, clubs, and the Homecoming Court. The final winner of the float
Michael Atkins, Josh Day, Cindy Sadler,
competition was FCCLA with their “Roast the Eagles” theme. Nice creativity!
Donnie Sirry, Dustin Burton showed their
At 7:30 Friday night after the flag was raised, the kick-off of the 2006
Spartan Spirit on Camo Day.
Homecoming
Football Game took place. GHS played the Auburn Eagles and
Photo by Mr. Michael Etzler
scored 29 points (4 touchdowns) in the first quarter! By half time the score was
already 44-0. During halftime the Homecoming Court gathered on the field for the announcement of the 2006 Homecoming King and
Queen. The winners were King Conan Cook and Queen Meredith Epperly. Once again congratulations! After the excitement of the
court was complete, the game resumed. With some great plays and exceptional teamwork, the Spartans came out on top with a final
score of 51-0. Awesome game!
Last but possibly one of the most anticipated activities is the Homecoming dance held on the Saturday. At 7:30 on October 14th,
students already started arriving for the dance that was to be at 8:00. Pictures offered by Bohn’s Photo Service began a half an hour
before the dance. When 8:00 finally arrived, everyone crowded into the lobby to be admitted into the cafeteria. After tickets were
collected at the door, the dancing and fun began. With excellent varieties of music played by Mr. (Dr. J) Johnson, everyone had no
problem hitting the dance floor. The GHS Varsity cheerleaders and the Symphonic Chorale had beautifully decorated the cafeteria
previously that morning. Thanks everyone for all your hard work! When the dance was halfway over, the court was once again
presented. After the traditional dance that was led by the court began, everyone proceeded to get his or her groove on. Everyone
danced, socialized, and enjoyed the provided food, and it seemed to be a pleasurable event for all. At 11:00 the dance unfortunately
came to an end, and everyone left with great memories of an event that will be remembered for many years to come.
2
New Vice Principal
By Kelsey Frazier
Some of you may know Mr. Mills as a World History teacher, but since this school year
started he has been the Vice Principal.
Growing up, he never pictured himself as a vice principal. In fact, Mr. Mills wanted to be
a baseball catcher for the New York Mets. He has been a part of the GHS staff for six years and
has a Master’s Degree at Concord University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education
for social studies.
This has been a big change for Mr. Mills. His days are longer and his nights are shorter,
but he still loves what he does. What aspect of being a vice principal is the hardest? Mr. Mills
thinks that there is not as much interaction with a large part of the student body as when he was
a teacher. Some of Mr. Mills’ most special memories in GHS are watching students as they
mature and work hard to reach their goals and coaching baseball. Starting a family and
building a house are some things he hopes to achieve in the future. Mr. Mills looks forward to a
successful year at GHS as the new Vice Principal.
Administrative Activities Coordinator
By Bryan Stafford
Mr. Eric Widdoes, desktop publishing and business teacher received a promotion this year to the
position of Administrative Activities Coordinator. With the promotion comes new responsibilities for
Mr. Widdoes. He has become more involved in administrative duties and the athletic program. In
addition to all of the different athletics, Widdoes will also be a school administrator working closely with
Principal Greg Brown and Vice Principal Jason Mills. His daily teaching routine has changed to only
two desktop publishing classes, but he still teaches the classes with the same effort that he had last year.
Mr. Widdoes was an addition to the school last year and has adjusted to school quite well, becoming
a favorite teacher among many students. Most people that know Mr. Widdoes know that he loves video
games, especially Halo. The video game tournament that he sponsored last year was a big success, and
he wants to do them more often. In the end Mr. Widdoes says that the new job is more of a new
opportunity than new work. I feel that Mr. Widdoes will do a great job.
New Face At GHS
By Morgan Sumpter
Among the new faculty at Giles is Mr. Jeremiah Tuggle. Mr. Tuggle says he is blessed to
be working at GHS, and the students and faculty are very kind and pleasant to be around.
Mr. Tuggle received his Bachelor’s of Education Degree with a specialization in social
studies from Concord University in 2005. Although he is teaching World History1, Mr. Tuggle
has not always wanted to teach that subject. He spent his first year at Concord preparing for
mechanical engineering and then switched to education in his second year. He says he
developed a passion for history in high school and wants to be able to say that he is making a
difference in other peoples’ lives.
A 2001 graduate of James Monroe High School, Mr. Tuggle was a member of CIM
(Computer Integrated Manufacturing) Club and lettered in football and basketball. Even though
he has not seen many of them for several years, Mr. Tuggle has been able to remain close to a
few friends in his graduating class.
During the fall and spring, Mr. Tuggle enjoys hunting and fishing the trout streams of West Virginia. He also participates in
sporting events when he gets the chance. He is very enthusiastic about the rest of his first year teaching at Giles.
A Bright New Addition
By Brooke Johnson
Mrs. Tabitha Young from Lindside, West Virginia is one of our new teachers this year. She
graduated from Concord University in 1999 with an Associate’s Degree in Office Supervision.
She then went on to get her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Education. She is now
teaching our Accounting, Computer Info Systems, Desktop Publishing, and Office
Administration classes.
In the past years, Mrs. Young was a substitute teacher at many of the schools in our area
and was a Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator. She is now a full time teacher and is
pursuing her Master’s of Education at Concord. When asked what she enjoyed about her job,
she answered, “I believe that the skills learned in business classes can be used for all jobs.”
In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano and horseback riding. Mrs. Young is a great
addition to the Giles High School staff and is welcomed by the entire student body.
3
New River
Community
College Day for
Seniors
By Megan Blevins
On Friday, September 15,
2006, the GHS senior class of
2007 traveled to New River
Community College for their
Seniors Melanie Taylor and Chelsea
Jessie Lucas filled out many information
college day. While there, the
Dunford got information from National
cards to gain more information about
students had the opportunity to
College representative Bunny Hancock.
certain colleges that interested her.
meet
and
talk
with
Photos by Megan Blevins
representatives from various
colleges including Campbell University, Mountain State University, Bluefield State College, Lynchburg College, National College,
and many more. The admissions counselors and representatives were very willing to answer any questions from the students. With all
of the stress that the senior year brings, it was really awesome for the students to have friendly advisors willing to answer questions
and help out in any way possible. Free information was provided, and if a certain school interested you, there were plenty of
opportunities to fill out information cards. If you knew your intended
major, then the advisors could tell provide plenty of information
about their program and offer scholarship information. This day was
greatly appreciated by all of the seniors attending. A special thanks
to those who helped make it happen.
Sophomore Tradition
By Morgan Sumpter
One of the many things we look forward to in high school is
getting our class rings. They represent a unity and difference
between all of us here at Giles. The Herff Jones representatives were
here to help the sophomore class of 2009 order their class rings during lunches on September 25th and 26th. They were also here on the
25th from 3:30 to 5:30 in the lobby. This gave parents the opportunity to look at prices and see the rings as well. The Herff Jones
representatives will return in December to deliver the rings.
When asked the difficulties of choosing their rings, most sophomores said there were so many choices to choose from. When you
still have two years of high school left, it’s hard to choose an activity, especially since you don’t
know what activities you will participate in the following year. Although there are some tough
decisions to make while choosing your class ring, I think most will agree that it is definitely a
tradition to keep going.
Amber McKinney gets sized
for her class ring September
25th after school.
Photo By Morgan Sumpter
4
Amanda Collins tries on various rings
Tuesday, September 26th during lunch.
Photo By Samantha Brookner
Cindy Sadler asks her mom what she thinks
of her selection.
Photo By Morgan Sumpter
The Crisis Team
By Patrick Mahaney
Recently, I had the honor of being able to sit in a meeting with the Crisis Team, a
group of faculty members that meet to ensure the safety and well-being of Giles High
School. Many topics were discussed and improved upon. Alternate plans were made
for situations that had not been addressed previously. After the meeting was over and
the Crisis Team slowly filtered out, I had a strong feeling of being in good hands.
The Crisis Team was formed years ago as a reaction to school violence. Since the
beginning of the school year, many school shootings have occurred at or near schools
all across the United States! The violence is not limited to schools in the United States.
Schools in other countries are experiencing violent outbreaks of their own. China is
having an outbreak of knife attacks. While the idea of a school shooting occurring here
in Giles County seems distant to most students, it is still a possibility.
Mr. Brown explains his plans for the
In every teacher’s classroom, there exists a “flip-chart” containing general
new security cameras to the school
information that deals with different incidents that might arise. For example, code
Photo by Mr. Micheal Etzler
board and faculty.
yellow is a bomb threat and code blue is an intruder in the school. Even beyond those
plans are the ones the Crisis Team has. They contain information concerning the before and after of each safety issue, not just during
the crisis. Those plans ensure that situations can be dealt with as they arise.
To make sure that the plans in the flip-chart are followed, new types of drills are becoming a part of the normal school year. A
code blue drill was conducted a few weeks ago, testing the school’s ability to
respond to an emergency. Overall, the Crisis Team feels that this drill was a success.
Some students’ comments were, “It was alright” and “I was a bit scared.” To make
the drill smoother, teachers will be encouraged to rearrange their rooms so students
can more easily be concealed in the safe areas of the classroom.
The Team is currently working on a better, more efficient way to communicate
with our vocational school in the event of crises.
The administration has the tools to carry on school business from any location
on campus. On their person at all times is a cell phone, which can have roughly 200
numbers programmed into it, and a Palm Pilot, containing information about each
student. The Palm Pilots contain every student’s schedule, emergency contact info,
and much more.
Many students already know about the
new cameras located within the school.
A new camera watches the school’s lobby.
These cameras record every second of the
Photo by Patrick Mahaney
day in full screen. They are a vital part of
making sure that the school is safe. Currently, there are about twenty-two cameras placed at
key locations in the school. While that may seem like a lot, there are plans to install even
more cameras! Eventually, more than fifty cameras are planned to be installed. Students
remarks toward these cameras is, “That’s overdoing it a bit” and “I feel that it is a violation of
my privacy.”
These ideas are only a part of all that the Crisis Team is planning on doing to improve the
school. Other ideas include getting shades for the cafeteria windows, making sure teachers
can identify an intruder, and know who to notify in the case of an emergency. Mr. Brown,
concerning the overall safety of Giles High School as a whole, said, “There are no ‘perfect’
plans. The teachers, students, and staff are aware. We need all students to realize and respect the importance of not opening locked
doors and reporting anyone they do not recognize to an adult. That’s all you can ask.”
The Crisis Team is ready for almost anything. Intruder, bomb threat, or tornado, there is a plan to keep the students and faculty of
GHS as safe and as out of harm’s way as humanly possible.
5
A Royal Production
Cast and crew:
By Jenna Warthen
Prince Edward – Ryan Davis
Henry VIII – Jarrod Burton
Jane- Kelly Keister
Mary – MaKayka Songer
Elizabeth – Katy Allamong
Royal Chef/Hereford – Patrick Mahaney
Dresser 1/City 2/Guard2 – Chelsea Booth
Dresser 2 – Harley Brugh
William/German
Ambassador – Olivia Humphreys
Samuel/Russian Ambassador – Chrissy Stump
Guard 1/Male Ruffian 1 – Kaitlyn Hagreen
Lady 1/Girl Urchin – Sara Stallings
Lady 2/Female Ruffian 1 – Jerica Colvin
Lady 3/Woman – Dawn Williams
Miles/Lady 4 – Emily Fields
Lord 1/Spanish Ambassador/
Physician/Man/City 3 – Tanner Bivens
Lord 2/French Ambassador – Amanda Rogers
Lord3/City 1/Street Urchin – Amanda Wright
Italian Ambassador/
Sheriff/Arch Bishop – Matthew Stallings
Tom – Gary Fields
Canty – Dewayne Sanders
Gammer/Female Ruffian 2 – Virginia Greer
Bet – Jenna Warthen
Nan – Samantha Owens
Jed – Jessy Phillips
Ruffler – Jennifer Wilson
Bat – Johnnie Fields
Billy Blink – Cody Rose
Host – Lindsay Honosky
Lights and Sound – Bryan Stafford
Lights – Matt Hall
Lights – Justin Silver
Sound – Caleb Taylor
Props – Nikki Bergman
Props – Randi Dalton
This year for the fall play, the GHS Drama Club will be presenting The Prince and
the Pauper, a play based on the book by Mark Twain, adapted by James DeVita. The
play takes place in England during the 19th century. It is about a wealthy prince and a
peasant who switch places to see what life is like in each other’s worlds. This is a
fantastic play and is great for audiences of all ages, so come check it out!
Prayer Around the Pole:
Huge Success
By Megan Blevins
On September 27, 2006 the Youth Alive
Bible Club and a few others gathered around the
flagpole here, outside of GHS for National Prayer Around the Pole
Day. Each year on the 3rd or 4th Wednesday in September there is
National Prayer Around the Pole Day. This year the GHS Bible Club
invited everyone to attend. Members present included, Co-Presidents
Chelsea Dunford and Olivia Humphreys, Secretary Megan Blevins,
and club members Ryan Eaton, Caleb Taylor, and Virginia Greer.
Others in attendance were Michael Adkins and his grandparents, Katie
Cady, Mr. Larry Marion, Mr. Mitch Reed, Mrs. Cherie Dunford, Dr.
Michael McMann, Mr. Greer. With all of these people attending, a
new record for attendance at Giles was set. Thanks to all who came
out
and
2006-2007 Spartonian staff:
shared in this
Editor Katy Allamong
Brooke Johnson
Assistant Editor Ryan Davis
Kristen Lucas
wonderful
Megan Blevins
Patrick Mahaney
experience
Tanner Bivins
Samantha Owens
with us.
Samantha Brookner
Bryan Stafford
Venessa Burnette
Morgan Sumpter
Kelsey Frazier
Jenna Warthen
Faculty advisor: Mr. Michael Etzler
6
Gary Fields kneels
to MaKayla Songer
as Kelly Keister
stands by her side.
Ryan Davis and Gary Fields
rehearse a crucial scene to ensure its
perfection.
Photos taken by Jenna Warthen
Gym: More than Just Fun and Games
By Samantha Brookner
Most people think that gym is just a place to hang out with their friends and play
games. Well, they are partially right because nowadays people need to be taking gym class,
and by taking the class that actually means you need to participate. Staying active will
reduce your chances of having Type II diabetes or being overweight. Twenty-five percent
of teenagers now are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight. Exercising daily is
more effective and better for you than going on a diet. Since there is much more
technology out here in the world now, most high schoolers will spend their time watching
Alexis Cox and Gelsina Ceritano
TV or using computer or telephone. This is only part of what makes gym class so
enjoy spending time together in
important.
Photo by Samantha Brookner
gym class.
Gym can be a place to have fun with friends, but we also need to take it seriously.
There are four gym teachers total, Ms. Burton, Ms. Mustard, Coach Kelley and Coach
Williams. I asked Ms. Burton a few questions about teaching gym. She said that she mostly only gets frustrated when she has to write
up an office referral for those who continually sit out, but what they don’t realize is that they are mostly hurting themselves. Some
students that I have talked to say that gym class is their favorite class of the day since they get to play and work as a team. They also
think that it’s good for us to get our exercise in gym class since a lot of people don’t play sports.
Instead of having gym every day, we only have it every other day. The other days we spend in classroom. Eighth and ninth
graders have regular classroom to learn about health. Tenth graders take Driver’s Ed every other day, so they can work up to getting
their license. Technically we don’t have to exercise every single day, it’s just every other day, so when we do have gym class then
everyone should really take it seriously. So the next time you are in gym and you want to sit out, just remember that you will end up
hurting yourself in the long run.
A Look Over “the Edge”
By Katy Allamong
For the past four years, teen writers from the New River Valley have been traveling to
Roanoke every Wednesday to write for “the Edge.” “The Edge” is a section in the Roanoke
Times on the back of the extra section written and designed by teens for teens. This year there are 30 people on the staff from schools
from Roanoke, Craig County, Pulaski, William Flemming, and several other schools from surrounding areas. There are also two Giles
students, Patrick Mahaney and myself.
Being on the staff means we have to leave for Roanoke right after school on
Wednesday, eat on the way and try to finish all of our homework by the time we
get there. It’s worth it though. We were able to meet tons of new people with
some of the same interests that we have and know what it feels like to be a
journalist working with an intense deadline. Sometimes a couple people get to
shadow a professional photographer or journalist for the day to see what it is like.
We were also offered a chance to learn how to take pictures by one of the
professional photographers at the Roanoke Times. We also get the opportunity to
write articles for the online portion of the paper.
The online portion contains all of the articles that couldn’t fit on the print
edition. It also contains articles and blogs that the staff submits. There is
everything from “Ask Byron,” where questions are submitted for him to answer,
“Katy’s Comments,” where I write random articles, and other sections with movie
reviews, ridiculous amendments, and entertainment news. It is available for
anyone who wants to view it and make comments.
Patrick Mahaney and Katy Allamong the day
“The Edge” is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring journalists and a great way to
Photo by Ryan Davis
of an Edge meeting.
become experienced in that field.
S. Lee Wheeler, D.D.S.
General Dentistry
112 Center Street
Narrows, VA 24124
(540) 726-3904
7
Bandana Bar 2006
By Katy Allamong
For some people, football season is a time to show their school spirit and to
go to football games. But for the Chorale, football season is a time to work in the
Bandana Bar as a fundraiser. Each Chorale member is required to work half of
each varsity game and at least half of the JV games. When people buy food from
the stand, they don’t realize how much work is put into it before each game. After
school a group of Chorale members and volunteers go up to the concession stand
to fix over 1,000 hot dogs. That involves assembling the hot dog, putting chili on
it and then wrapping it in foil. Along with the hot dogs they have to place out all
the candy, pop bags and bags of popcorn, heat the cheese up, and all the other
small tasks that need to be done. Finally, the game starts and they are open.
In
past
years,
the
Bethany Osborne, Emily Fields, and Kelsey
concession stand was small
Frazier prepared hot dogs for the
and cramped.
There was
Pictures by Katy Allamong
Christiansburg game.
limited space and people were
always bumping into one another and spilling hot chocolate everywhere. This
year the Chorale was able to start anew. Once football season ended last year, the
concession stand received a long-awaited makeover. The referee’s room was
turned into another women’s restroom, much to the ladies’ relief. The side wall
inside the stand was knocked out, and the room was expanded. In the middle of
the room is an island which is perfect for the hot dog assembling.
For new members it is a whole new experience because they have never
worked in the stand. For the old members it was like relearning everything they
had previously known. They no longer have to share limited space with each
other, but continue to run into each other as they try to remember where
everything is now placed. All in all the Bandana Bar is a wonderful asset to the
Mr. Marion instructed Josh McCann about
Chorale.
the small tasks that needed to be done.
P.O. Box 361 Narrows, Virginia 24124
(540) 921-2700 or 726- 8038
www.celcofcu.org
8
Grayson Highlands:
The Experience of a
Lifetime
By Megan Blevins
One of the most beautiful
places in Virginia is Grayson
Highlands State Park. Located in
Grayson County Virginia, it is a
great place for family vacations.
The scenery is amazing. With
views that allow you to see for
Here is one of the many amazing views
miles and miles, Grayson is a A beautiful wild pony enjoys the beautiful
that you can see while on Grayson.
place where you can have the weather on Grayson.
Photos taken from Google images.
experience of a lifetime. On
September 22, 2006, I headed up to Grayson for the annual Fall Festival held every
year on the 3rd weekend in September. Along with the festival there is the annual pony auction. The fall festival hosted activities for
people of all ages. There was apple butter making and delicious fried apple pies were made by members of the local FFA chapter and
were sold for $1.00. There were many talented Blue Grass groups that presented some wonderful tunes for those in attendance. One of
the old time favorites that was played included “Rocky Top.” Besides good food and music, there were amazing hand made crafts that
everyone could enjoy. From purses, to quilts and jewelry to knives and dream catchers, there was something there that was sure to
please the eye of everyone. Wild ponies are rounded up at the beginning of the week and then sold on Saturday. Besides camping,
Grayson offers many hiking trails, some of which include part of the Appalachian Trail. These trails are also great places to ride
horses. Every season at Grayson is beautiful. From the leaves changing colors in the fall to the snow capped mountains in winter they
are all amazingly beautiful. Overall, my experience on Grayson this year was most definitely the experience of a lifetime. I got to
enjoy all the great scenery and music that Grayson offered. I encourage everyone to check this cool place out. ☺
Melt Down in Progress
By Jenna Warthen
Global warming by definition is an increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s
atmosphere and ocean. Well, within the past 100 years, the worldwide temperature has
risen by a degree. One degree may not sound like a lot, but even the slightest change in
temperature, such as this, can cause disastrous side effects.
A major cause of global warming is green house gases. When released, these gases
get into the atmosphere and will allow the sun’s radiation in through the atmosphere but
will not let it out. Since the radiation is trapped inside the atmosphere, the Earth stays
warm. When the Earth gets too warm, global warming is a result. Global warming then
leads to several other problems. Some troubles that are caused by global warming are:
sea level rise and flooding, decrease in food and water supply, endangering of animal
species, and heat stress, which would affect our health.
There are things that we can do to help stop global warming before it really does
become a major problem. Here are just a few of the ways that you can help to contribute to a better environment: cutting down on the
amount of electric power you use at home, driving more fuel efficient cars, taking shorter showers, planting trees, recycling, and
buying fresh, organic foods.
Spring Forward Into Fall
By Katy Allamong
It’s that time of year again. The time when the summer finally ends and the sweatshirts get the dust blown off of them. It is also
when we realize that school really has begun and summer memories begin fading away. No summer means no more cold ice cream,
watermelon, and picnics. Fall doesn’t have to be boring though. There are hundreds of outdoor and indoor activities to do; all you
have to do is look for them. Here are some ideas.
Outside
Inside
*Rake leaves-then jump in
* Curl up with a fleece
Food/drinks
the pile.
blanket and a good book
*S’mores
*Go for a hike.
*Have a movie night
*Hot Chocolate
*Go pumpkin picking
*Carve your pumpkins
*Apple Cider
*Go on a hayride
*Bake cookies
*Pumpkin Pie
*Go to a football game
*Hold a game competition with
*Trail Mix
*Have 1 last picnic
your friends
*Carmel Apples
9
Tear Down This Firewall
By R. Tanner Bivens
It is understandable that in school there are things that should not be looked up
on the school computers. The computers that the school provides are intended for
educational use and educational use only. Sites that depict acts of a sexual nature,
violence, inappropriate games, and crude humor should not be tolerated and should
be banned from the school computer. But, does the school district take protection too
far?
Over the past several years GHS’s computer protection has grown from simple
anti virus protection to banning game and various other websites. Granted, a school
computer should be used for only educational purposes, but there are instances
where students are either in the library or have finished their work early on the
computer and have the permission to have a little fun on the computer. Email
Bryan Stafford showed his frustration
accounts other than the school’s accounts, youtube.com, and myspace.com are
towards the school computer because he
examples of websites that should be allowed to be viewed by GHS students in their
couldn’t log onto HotTopic.com.
free time. The store Hot Topic’s website has been blocked, but the websites for
Pihotos by R. Tanner Bivens
American Eagle and Abercrombie and Fitch have not. If the school is going to block
hottopic.com then it should block the rest of the chain store websites.
Some students feel that the over protective system bogs down the computers at the schools and makes them slow. I asked eleventh
grade student Bryan Stafford what he thought of the school computers and he said, “The school has great computers, but they tie them
down with the network and the firewall. The computers would run much faster and more efficiently if there weren’t so much security
on the computer’s network.”
I also asked eleventh grader Jenna Warthen what she thought of the school computers and she said, “I have heard many people,
including teachers, complain about the websites that are blocked at school. I understand that there are some pages that are
inappropriate and shouldn’t be viewed here. I also believe that the some of the websites that are blocked shouldn’t be, and some that
aren’t should.”
Students aren’t the only ones who have had problems. English teacher Mrs. Carolyn Painter stated that after school she used to
download classical music on her computer from a PBS radio station to listen to while working. But now with the new Websense
blocking her sites, listening to classical music is not possible. Mr. Michael Etzler, as a special treat at the end of the year, used to let
his students go to ratemyteacher.com. However, at the end of last year the site was blocked. Isn’t it weird that teachers evaluate
students all the time, but students can not give a fair assessment back
at school when it is all over?
Many students and teachers at GHS agree that the school has a
difficult
task of blocking inappropriate websites and know there is
Somethin’s Fishy
never a perfect solution. Information from Mr. Greg Brown and Jeff
Fish & Seafood Market
Young states that filtering actually protects the computers from sites
460 East Pembroke, VA 24136
that would bog them down even more. The filtering system catches
over 1000 inappropriate sites per hour. In cases where a site such as
(1 mile west of Pembroke Center)
Youtube.com has some appropriate and inappropriate information,
(540) 626-7272
the filtering system can not tell the difference between what could be
allowed and what is not allowed in school. Therefore, the entire site
SPECIALIZING IN FLORIDA PEELED &
and others of this nature are blocked. Additionally, filtering is
DEVEINED SHRIMP
mandated by the state of Virginia, and if GHS didn’t have a filter the
school would lose state funding. The administration mentioned that
Over 14 varieties of Fish, Sno Crabs, Hush
teachers can request sites to be opened. New sites are added daily,
Puppies, Stuffed Flounder & Salmon, Home-style
and the software tries to do the best it can. Sometimes good sites are
Breaded Oysters, Devil Crab, Traditional
blocked and inappropriate sites get under the radar. Hopefully the
school computers will remain fast, protected, and safe.
Maryland Crab Cakes, Frog Legs, Dips,
Chowders & Bisques and so much more………..
Gift Certificates Available!!!
HOURS OF OPERATION: (New Winter Hours)
Monday & Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: CLOSED
10
Can You Hear That?
By Brooke Johnson
The battle of teens vs. adults has now taken a large leap forward. A ring-tone created so that
only teens can hear it is now on the market. It has adopted the name, “The Mosquitone.”
The ring-tone was originally developed by the Welsh Security Company to help shopkeepers
run off young adults loitering in front of their stores. The first mosquito device was a small black
box that looked like speakers. It sent out pulsating sounds at a frequency around 17 kilohertz.
This is a range that is hard for adults over 20 to hear.
The craze started a few months after Mosquito launched when someone in Scandinavia
designed a similar ring-tone of the high-pitched sound. A few months later, Compound Security
released its own version. Sales reached a high when 100,000 teens downloaded the sound to their
new cell phones.
Howard Stapleton, an inventor from Merthyr Tydfil, concluded, “It makes me smile. Some
kid has applied science and taken my product and turned it into a ring-tone.” The ring-tone can be
purchased online and many teens have already downloaded it to their cell phones. The appeal of
this teens-only technology has quickly caught on, and teens around the world now use it to dodge
school cell-phone restrictions.
Workers of the Future
By Brooke Johnson
Are teens working to help with household expenses or to buy cars and clothing
to keep up with their peers? More and more teens are feeling the pressure to have
part-time jobs today. A newly conducted study showed that 65 percent of American
teens work outside the home. Typical jobs that are now held by teenagers are as fastfood workers, store clerks, and baggers in supermarkets.
Work can be beneficial, but it can also at times be unhealthy. Research done by
the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine has shown that teens that
work up to 20 hours or more a week get less sleep and exercise. Grades may even
begin to slip.
Experts recommend parents limit work during school months to 10 hours a
week. This advice would be helpful for many, but many teens have car payments and
other miscellaneous bills. A student-worker, Samantha Owens, commented that
nearly all of her earnings go toward gas and insurance.
Tests done by Kusum Singh, a professor at Virginia Tech, suggested that teens
that work part-time jobs could possibly score lower on standardized tests. The
statement that work can take away from opportunities to build friendships and
explore interests that could enhance intellectual and emotional development was also
made. Kristen Lucas, a student at GHS, felt that working a part-time job through
school shows responsibility and that it is never too early to learn that aspect of life.
Teenagers who hold part-time jobs can benefit greatly from it in the long run. It
can build responsibility and appreciation for the work our parents do everyday. It is
up to our parents and ourselves to help make the work experience more manageable
and valuable.
Kristen Lucas, a student at GHS, makes a
sub at her part-time job at the Subway in
Photo by Brooke Johnson
Pembroke.
Concord University
By Kristen Lucas
Have you decided which college you are going to go to? How much do you really know
about that college? Well, if you have considered Concord, here is some info you might like to
know.
Concord was founded in 1872 in Mercer County. Concord’s mission is to provide a
quality, liberal arts based education, to promote scholarly activities, and to serve the local community.
In 1976, Concord began to offer off-campus classes in Beckley, West Virginia. The Beckley Center services offered ranged from
career counseling and academic advising to skills testing, résumé writing, interviewing skills and job search assistance, and access to
Concord’s extensive career placement network. Along with the wide range of services, they have the same credited courses available
that the University offers.
According to a recent excerpt from the Wall Street Journal on the best public, undergraduate colleges for elite graduate admissions,
Concord was ranked 13th out of 30 schools. Concord has a total enrollment of more than 3,000 students with the average class size
being about 22 students. More than 90% of their freshmen receive some form of financial aid. Check out Concord’s official website
(www.concord.edu) for scholarships offered plus much more info including the wide variety of sports for students.
The degrees that Concord offers are: Masters in Education, Bachelors of Science, Bachelors of Art, and Bachelors of Social Work,
Regents Bachelors of Art, and Associates degree.
11
E. Coli/Spinach Crisis
By Ryan Davis
On September 20th, two year old Kyle Algood was flown to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt
Lake City, Utah. The toddler had fallen ill shortly after drinking a spinach smoothie that his mother
had prepared with bagged spinach. Doctors soon diagnosed Kyle with hemolytic-uremic syndrome,
a type of kidney failure usually associated with E. coli. Later that day, the toddler passed away. In
response to their son’s death, Kyle’s parents said: “We’ve been through the all the range of
emotions: the grief, the sadness, the guilt, some anger…” “…the next year or two is going to be
really hard…”
The death of Kyle Algood is one of three fatalities possibly linked to bagged spinach infected
with E. coli. Other suspected cases include two women in their eighties, one from Maryland and one
from Wisconsin. After these cases were reported, the Food and Drug Administration quickly warned
consumers not to purchase fresh, raw, or bagged spinach. The source of the contamination was soon
traced to Natural Foods LLC of San Juan Bautista, California. The spinach on the farm tested
positive for E. coli O157:H7. Experts suspect that the field was infected by manure from cattle near
Two-year old Kyle
the infected fields. The same strain of E. coli found in the spinach also showed up in the cattle feces
Algood died from a
upon testing.
complication from E. coli.
The FDA has stated that bagged spinach not grown in California is safe to eat, but many
Picture from google.com
consumers are still being cautious. According to the FDA, E. coli outbreaks in central Californian
grown leafy greens have been occurring too often. They also stated that regulatory
requirements for vegetable growers in California may be instated in the future, and a
meeting will be held to discuss the matter at a later date, after the current investigation
is concluded.
Although consumers know that spinach may contain E. coli, many aren’t sure
exactly what E. coli is. The type of the bacterium that is currently causing all the
trouble is the O157:H7 strand. This type of E. coli is often found in the intestines of
livestock, but humans can become sick with it by food poisoning, being exposed to
sewage contaminated water, and even by not washing their hands after visiting a
petting zoo. People usually begin to experience symptoms within a week of
contamination. These symptoms include problems such as stomach cramps, but in
many cases there are little to no symptoms present. In the elderly and young children,
Bagged spinach was quickly removed
E. coli can lead to hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a condition where the kidneys fail and
from store shelves after consumers
red blood cells are destroyed.
began falling ill.
Many consumers are horrified that something like this could happen in America,
where there are so many rules and regulations for the handling of foods. No system is perfect however, and unfortunately some
corporations and food producers tend to be less cautious when the FDA is not looking. In other cases, no matter how careful these
organizations are, food is accidentally contaminated. The Center for Disease Control offers several tips to prevent being infected by E.
coli and other harmful bacteria that can find its way into your food:
Helpful Tips To Prevent E. Coli
1) Cook all meat carefully and thoroughly.
2) If you’re at a restaurant and your order is
served undercooked, send it back.
3) When cooking, keep raw foods away
from ready-to-eat foods. Also, wash your
hands, utensils, and countertops often.
4) Make sure that your milk, juice, and
ciders are pasteurized.
5) Wash all fruits and vegetables under
running water.
6) Drink only municipal water that has been
treated with chlorine or other disinfectants.
7) When swimming in pools, lakes, etc.
avoid swallowing any water.
8) Always wash hands after using the
restroom.
12
Generations of Care
Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital (CGMH) in Pearisburg offers families excellent patient care, close to home. From medical care and surgery to outpatient diagnostic services and rehabilitation… CGMH promises the
Right Care, Right Here, Right Now.
Hokie Bird Hunt
By Katy Allamong
We’ve all heard of the Hokie Bird statues being placed around the town
of Blacksburg, but how many of us have actually gone to look at them? I
never would have gone to track them down until my new youth group
leader told us that was our first “group activity.” Needless to say, I was not
very thrilled to go. First of all, I am the oldest in the group and second, my
brother is also in it. Not exactly what I call a good day out. I went along
anyway, dragging my boyfriend along with me. When I got there though, I
was in for a surprise. One of my closest friends who had just started school
at Tech was joining us. The week before I had created the team that I
would search with--“The Golden Twinkies” with the motto, “We will cream
you.” Now this week I actually had a team. Gary Fields, Kaitlyn Hagreen,
Kristin Fields and I made up the crazy team. Before we left Marilyn Fields
made us all VT tie-dye shirts for the group. We were also given a map, and
The Golden Twinkies tried to hitchhike at the first
a camera. From there we all drove to Five Guys Burgers and Fries for
bird--the bus bird.
Photo by Connie Sublett.
lunch. Once we consumed all of the food we ordered, we headed off to the
University Mall for a team picture. As soon as the picture was taken we all took off and posed in front of the surrounding birds. From
there on out the different teams were all on their own. It was probably a funny sight to onlookers--all of the matching shirts running
around Blacksburg. Each team held on to a labeled map with each section worth a specific amount of points that ranged from 1-4.
Although we planned a strategy to get the most points, it didn’t work because we continued to get distracted. Parking was time
consuming, and our legs started to get incredibly sore. Every time we saw a Hokie Bird on the side of the road we would leap out of
the car make a random pose and dash back to the car to continue the quest. This went on for almost 2 hours when we realized we
needed to get back to the church where ice-cold lemonade awaited us. Luckily we were 1 minute ahead of time and got an extra point.
Once all of the other teams arrived we began to add up all of the points. The team with both the youngest and oldest members
somehow won. We all think they cheated, for they somehow found 38 birds. My team, the Golden Twinkies, came in second
“creaming” the other two teams.
There were designs on the birds that you could only imagine! We saw a key bird, a gentleman’s bird, farmer, jester, bus, harvest,
and so on. I definitely suggest that everyone should go out and look at a couple. They really are amazing.
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(540) 544-7810
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Get It Done Right…
The First Time
101 Old Newport Road
Newport, VA 24128
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13
Chelsea Dunford: Girl on a Mission
By Megan Blevins
This summer, GHS senior Chelsea Dunford went on the trip of a lifetime. On August 13, 2006,
Chelsea and 11 others left for Nicaragua. They returned home on August 23, 2006. Nicaragua is
located in Central America and borders Honduras and Costa Rica. Because of its location, the
weather in Nicaragua was hot…very hot.
Chelsea had this to say about her trip. “I have returned from a life changing experience that most
do not get the chance to encounter. A team of 11 people including myself went to Nicaragua on a
mission, and that mission was to share the love of Jesus Christ through drama, music, children’s
ministry, crusades, one on one evangelism, and
servant hood. Through our work and God’s love
and compassion, there were 4,706 reached. During
this trip I saw many things that tore my heart in two…there were several children
that were naked because their families did not have the money to buy clothes for
them. Many families didn’t have enough food to survive. The living conditions were
quite different here too. Many
people lived in homes that are
made out of cardboard with
roofs made out of trash bags.
There were also animals (mainly
dogs) that were so skinny they
looked like they had been dead
for 2 months. But the one thing I
noticed most was how happy the
Nicaraguans are…they thank
God for every breath because
they don’t have the luxuries that
most Americans have.” Chelsea made lifelong friends and shared her undying
faith with people that had nothing. She one day hopes to travel somewhere else to
share God’s love. Great job Chelsea ☺
Here is a group of the many young people
that were reached during Chelsea’s
Photos by Chelsea Dunford
mission trip.
Chelsea and her new friend Oscar enjoyed a
bus ride through Nicaragua.
What’s that Smell? By Venessa Burnette
Do you ever find yourself trying to cover up
your bad breath? Well, don’t feel troubled. Fifty
percent of people suffer from having it. One main
factor of bad breath is not cleaning properly. Did you
know that mints, gum, and mouthwashes don’t
entirely work? They only work as a temporary
solution, so make sure you brush twice a day, floss,
and tongue scrape to avoid this problem.
Having a dry mouth can also be a leading factor
of bad breath. Your saliva is the fluid that keeps the
bacteria from settling. When you don’t have enough
saliva, the bacteria develop on our tongue and squeeze between your teeth,
causing the teeth to rot and release a horrendous smell. Different seasons can
be a cause of dry mouth also. During the spring and summer months, allergy
Kelsey Frazier showing Samantha Brookner that
medications
bad breath can be a turn-off.
Photo by Venessa Burnette
can dry out
your mouth.
Throughout the winter, use a humidifier to add moisture to the air in
your house. To prevent the stench make sure you drink lots of
liquids to keep your mouth from becoming dry.
The foods you eat can also cause you to have bad breath. Try to
avoid foods that stink such as garlic, onions, and coffee. Some
dependable cures include chewing parsley, drinking tea, eating foods
with many carbohydrates, and selecting cranberries. If you
remember these helpful hints then you should be on your way to
fresher breath.
14
The History of Halloween
By Ryan Davis
It’s that time of year, when jack-o-lanterns with carved faces sit on every doorstep,
children run about in costumes, and scary movie marathons are on every channel.
Halloween is adored by millions of children and adults alike, but where did the holiday
originate? Some believe that Halloween, also called All Hallows Eve, All Saints’ Day, Allhallow-even, and various other names, is an evil celebration of darkness and the occult.
Others believe that it is a harmless celebration, where children get candy and everyone
gets to dress up as their favorite monster. But which is the truth?
Halloween originated in Ireland where the Celts celebrated a form of the holiday,
called Samhain, which was held at the end of summer. They believed that on the night of
Samhain, the dead could revisit the earth and possess the living. According to some
legends, the Celts would light large bonfires to ward off the spirits. It was also reported that they had anyone they believed to already
be possessed burnt at the stake. Other stories however, say that the large bonfires were lit only so that the Celts could light the fires for
their homes from one source. Each family would receive one ember from the fire from that burned the night before, where a festival
was held with animal and crop sacrifices made to the Celts many gods. The Celts also believed that the night of the Samhain festival
was the best time for priests and prophets to make predictions. Some festival goers
would wear animal skin costumes, which may explain why we wear costumes
today.
Many years later, the Romans had two holidays that were similar to Samhain.
The first, Pomona, was celebrated to show appreciation to the goddess of trees and
fruit. (This may be where the concept of bobbing for apples originated.) The
second, Feralia, honored the dead, and took place at the end of October. Eventually,
when the Romans conquered Britain and the cultures mixed, Feralia, Pomona, and
Samhain were all combined into one major holiday.
In 835 AD, the Roman Catholic Church established a holiday called All Saints
Day, which was held on November 1st and honored the saints. Then, the church
created All Souls Day to honor the dead. This addition was celebrated the day after,
on November 2nd. Eventually all of the autumn holidays mixed, creating All
Hallows Eve.
The Halloween we celebrate today is a combination of many elements, and it is celebrated differently in various areas of the
world. In Ireland, children wear costumes, but go from door to door getting not only candy, but also fruits and nuts. Fireworks are also
a part of the celebration as well. In the U.K., they celebrate Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th, with similar customs to our
Halloween. Most countries carve pumpkins or other gourds, have some form of trick-or-treating, and conduct other various
celebrations.
Many of our typical Halloween symbols also have a rich history. The jack-o-lantern, for instance, became famous in an old Irish
legend, in which a man named Jack is forced by the devil to wander around aimlessly after death, carrying only a turnip with an ember
in it for light. In Irish folklore, a jack-o-lantern was also another term for a will o’ the wisp, mystical lights that floated above marshes
and disappeared when approached. Irish villagers also made faces on various gourds and vegetables to frighten away spirits.
Trick-or-treating is another adored Halloween tradition. This custom also originated in
Ireland, when farmers would collect food for the hungry by going from house to house.
Black cats and witches are also a traditional part of the Halloween celebration. Reports
of witchcraft go back hundreds of years, and the mystery that surrounds them adds a lot of
suspense to All Hallows Eve. According to legends started around the time of the Salem
Witch Trials, witches transform themselves into their familiars, usually a black cat, and
wander around the streets at night, causing trouble for villagers. Although the idea of
witches has been much glamorized by Hollywood over the years by shows such as
Bewitched, the idea of
these mysterious, yet
powerful beings still
makes spines tingle on
Halloween night.
No matter what your
favorite
Halloween
custom is, there is most likely a rich history behind it. This year,
whether you plan to go out and spend the holiday with your friends
or stay home and hand out candy to anxious trick-or-treaters who
Paul A. Olson, MD
Pamela B. Olson, FNP
are just discovering the magic of Halloween, make sure to enjoy the
219 South Buchanan Street
Pearisburg, Virginia
holiday to it’s fullest. After all, Halloween has certainly evolved
540-921-4343
540-726-3000
over the years into something that people of all ages can appreciate.
15
Fall Television Reviews
By Ryan Davis
The Class
“The Class” is a new half hour comedy on CBS about a group of
former third grade classmates who reunite at a party twenty years later. There are
eight characters in the group, each with their own problems and storylines. Some of
the schoolmates are happy to see each other after all the time that has passed, while
others only want revenge on those that caused them pain while in school. One
character, Ritchie, has had a terrible life since elementary school and is tired of
living, until he reunites with Lina at the party. The two go out and he ends up
accidentally backing over her in his car, breaking every bone in her foot except one,
which they had to break in order to set the others. Another character, Duncan, was
the popular kid in school, but now still lives with his mom. The show is full of
entertainingly awkward situations and hilarious lines, with a very well cast group of
characters. “The Class” airs on Monday nights at 8:00 on CBS.
Heroes
This new NBC drama focuses on various people from different areas
of the world who discover that they have special abilities. So far, the writers of the
show have led viewers to believe that the characters’ powers are due to genetic
mutations and natural selection. Sound familiar? Although the concept is similar to
the X-Men movie trilogy, the show takes a different direction with more believable
characters and situations. Each character has his or her own story line, but a larger
plot is also in motion that will join them all together. The characters’ abilities are
very diverse, from a man who can fly, to a teenage girl who heals herself
immediately after being injured. Although “Heroes” may become more heroic over
time, the first episodes of the program have been somewhat confusing, but there are
the makings of a good show here. “Heroes” airs on Mondays at 9:00 on NBC.
Ugly Betty
ABC’s new comedy “Ugly Betty” is based on an extremely
popular Colombian Soap Opera. The show is about the life of Betty Suarez, a naïve
and kind Queen’s native, who desperately wants to work in the fashion industry.
She finally manages to get a job at the fictional Mode magazine, where she becomes
the assistant to an executive. Although she has brilliant ideas, the other office
workers don’t take her seriously and make her job as difficult as possible because
she is so different from them. Betty refuses to change, however, and is determined
not to let her co-workers get her down. “Ugly Betty” is completely different from
any other show currently on television, and its premiere was the most watched new
show of the fall so far, with 16.3 million viewers. “Ugly Betty” airs on Thursdays at
8:00 on ABC.
Movie Review
Employee of the Month
By Samantha Brookner
I went to go see the comedy,
Employee of the Month, which is a
movie that is fun to watch. This movie
will have you laughing from beginning to end.
Employee of the Month is about two guys who get very competitive with each other when a new girl,
Amy (Jessica Simpson), comes in to be the new cashier at Super Club which is where they both work.
Rumors say that Amy always goes for whoever wins Employee of the Month. Zack Bradley is usually a
pretty laid back guy, but once he hears the rumors about Amy, he decides it’s time to step it up a notch
and become Employee of the Month and win the girl. Vince Downey has been the Employee of the Month for 17 straight months in
a row. So it gets very interesting watching Zack try to compete with Vince for the spotlight and the girl. It’s great to see how far
two guys will go just for a chance with a pretty girl, even if they have to embarrass themselves in front of family and friends on their
way to the top.
16
Avenged Sevenfold Music Review
By Bryan Stafford
A hard rock band that formerly sang metalcore and screamo type music, Avenged
Sevenfold, is a band that I feel deserves more attention. The members are from
Huntington Beach, California, and are made up of lead vocalist, Matt Shadows, rhythm
guitarist, Zacky Vengeance, lead guitarist, Synyster Gates, bassist, Johnny Christ, and
drummer, The Rev. The band name comes from a reference in the Bible and even two
of the band’s songs come from Biblical passages even though Shadows says they are
not a religious group.
The band has come a long way in a short amount of time and has already released 3
full length CDs. Their first CD was “Sounding The Seventh Trumpet” which was
released in 2001 and re-released in 2002 under their new record label. In 2003 their
“Waking The Fallen” CD cover.
second CD “Waking The Fallen” ,which is considered to be their best work was
Avenged Sevenfold’s second release
released, and then finally on June 7th 2005 “City Of Evil” was unleashed into stores.
Image from Google images
Even though the new CD featured brand new elements since the band had changed
their style, the public generally liked it more.
The band has shot music videos for their songs “Warmness On The Soul” and also “Unholy Confessions” but they were not
recognized for their work on music videos until after the release of “City Of Evil” with the video for “Bat Country.” This video was
the one that won them the MTV music award for best new artist even though they had been together for several years. Their video for
the current single “Seize The Day” is a very powerful peace of work that teaches the lesson that you should hang on to the ones you
love while you can because you will never know when you might lose them.
During the early days of the band, they played the Warped Tour event, where they gained their first bit of fame and a fan base. The
band has come as far now to be playing at Ozzfest on the main stage.
The band has a wide variety of influences from other bands such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Guns And Roses,
Led Zeppelin, and even Queen but their biggest influence is Pantera. The band has performed and even recorded the Pantera song
“Walk” and wrote a song called “Betrayed” in memory of Dimebag Darrel, the member of Pantera who was killed. Avenged
Sevenfold recently cancelled their UK tour to come back into the studio and record a new album that should be released in the near
future.
Stay Alive
By R. Tanner Bivens
Horror thriller games have
captivated people ever since
video games were invented.
Most people find it fun to play a
game of life and death but know
that there is no real risk to one’s
own life while playing the game.
But what happens when a game
comes along that if you die in
the game you die in life? Well
this question became the focus
point of the 2005 horror thriller
movie Stay Alive.
After the death of their friend, six teenagers find themselves in
possession of the unknown slasher video game “Stay Alive.” They
don’t know much about the game: only that they are not supposed to
have it. Not being able to resist temptation the six begin to play the
graphic horror game. Once they finish playing the game, it becomes
very clear why they are not supposed to have the game. If you die in
the game, you die in real life. As the game world and the real world
begin to fade away, the six teenagers must find a way to defeat the
Blood Countess while trying to stay alive.
Stay Alive is very inventive. In this day in age when video games
and horror movies play such a big part in people’s lives, making a
horror movie based on a video game is pure genius and keeps the
great slasher flix tradition alive and well. All in all I give Stay Alive
a nine out of ten and encourage anyone who loves horror movies to
see it.
17
By Kristen Lucas
Roster
Billy Cook
Andrew Fenstermaker
Jared Stout
Cody Journell
Garrison Ellis
Caleb Clark
Nathan Tanner
Mario Jones
Josh Manning
Gavin Lee
Kris Johnson
Hunter Williams
Ethan McGuire
Bray Cartwright
Ryan Eaton
Jared Brown
Matt Gilmer
Tee Freeman
Luke Jackson
Donnie Black
Cory Martin
Joey Stevers
Mitchell Correll
Derek Porterfield
Steven Sessors
Alex Raines
Stephen Collins
Conan Cook
Chris Manning
Jeremy Workman
Brad Ball
Michael Knight
Josh Rader
Justin Criner
Kent Roberson
Alex Wilson
Kurt Marcussen
Evan Lidgard
Sheldon Douthat
#
6
9
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15
21
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25
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31
32
35
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The Giles Varsity Football team started the season off with a victory, 22-21, at Blacksburg
against the Bruins. The game ended against their tough opponents in double overtime on
September 1, 2006. Giles would then be ranked second in the Group A rankings according to
Virginia Preps. The following
week Christiansburg came to Giles.
Giles won 29-0. Then they won
again against Narrows with the
ending score being 41-7 with
Narrows not scoring until the
fourth quarter. The Spartans fought
a hard battle against the William
Campbell Generals and played
tough till the end, 35-21. Giles took
the lead early in the game, but the
Generals prevailed to win the
game. In the fifth game of the
season Giles traveled to Grayson
County to take on the Blue Devils.
Giles won 41-0. On Homecoming
night, Giles (5-1) took on the
Auburn Eagles in their first Three
ABOVE: Giles Spartans take on the Christiansburg
Rivers District game of the season.
Demons in the second game of the season. Evan
Giles won 51-0. In the second
Lidgard, # 88, and Brad Ball, # 68, run in for a hit.
district game of the season Giles
BELOW: Justin Criner, # 73, runs through his
traveled to Floyd to take on the
teammates to make a block.
Buffaloes. Giles started the game
Photos by Samantha Owens and Kelsey Frazier
off with a touchdown then came
from behind later in the game with
determination to win. (37-14) The
Spartans are prevailing strong and
with high determination for another
great season. Keep up the good
work guys!!!
The Giles Spartans warm up for a home game.
18
ROSTER
#
Ryan Shelor
Dustin McCoy
Timmy Gusler
Travis Robertson
Michael Atkins
Chris Myers
Josh Day
Jayke Dowdy
Justin Gautier
T.J. Clemons
Nathan Snidow
Joey Cutler
William Kinzer
Matt Bane
Donald Sirry
Shane Evseichik
Zach Harless
Anthony Collins
Ryan Lucas
Greg Ray
Michael Beasler
Andy Stephens
Curtis Robbins
Justin Farmer
A.J. Hoston
Corey Johnson
Nick Criner
Clay Bowles
Gage Brewster
Dakota Stanley
Chris Collins
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J.V. Football By Morgan Sumpter
With injuries to most of their key players, the Spartan J.V. Football team has had a pretty rough
start for the 2006 season. Coach Wilson says, “We are a very young team this year, but I tell them that
our goal is to get better every week and I think that we have pretty much done that.”
“Due to youth, the team has had difficulty with a tough schedule which includes Double A schools
Blacksburg and Christiansburg,” says Coach Huffman. And he’s right; they had a rough start to their
season with losses against Grayson Co., Radford, Blacksburg, Floyd, and Christiansburg.
Winning their game against the Glenvar Highlanders has moved the JV record to 1-5. The Spartans
will finish up their season next week with a makeup game against the Auburn Eagles.
The Spartans get down and ready in their game
against the Radford Bobcats. Photos By Kelsey Frazier
J.V gets tough during a game.
Managers: Raymond
Gusler and Chris
Clemons
Coaches: Steve Wilson,
Jerry Huffman, and
Chris Bales
Eighth Grade Football
By Patrick Mahaney
The Eighth Grade football team.
Photo By Patrick Mahaney
ROSTER
#
Andrew Randel
Kyle Hobbs
Frankie Robertson
Cody Ratcliff
Chase Teats
Robert Wilson
Cody Harrington
Blake Martin
Adam Baker
Kevin Mills
Shayne Taylor
Ryan Sharlow
Brandon Clemons
Logan Martin
James McGuire
Brandon Kelly
B. J. Wilson
Wade Moulder
Kenny Combs
Kyle Myers
Shane Trenar
Cody Williams
Talon Minnick
Tim Johnson
Josh Blankenship
l5
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25
35
45
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61
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66
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70
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800
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84
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The eighth grade football team is
expected to have a successful year.
While there may not be any wins on
their record, the team’s coach, Dusty
Stump, says, “As long as the coaches
can coach and the players learn and
have fun, then that’s a successful
year.”
As of October 10, 2006, the team,
which consists of 25 members, has a
game record of seven losses and one
tie game. When asked if he would like to say anything to his
team, Coach Stump replied, “I would like to thank all the young
men who have taken their time this summer as well as this fall to
come out and participate on the eighth grade football team. It
takes a dedicated young man to sacrifice their time and energy to
do this and I along with the coaching staff just want you young
men to know that we appreciate all of your effort.”
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Varsity Volleyball
Roster
#
Keree Wilson
Ciara Davis
Stephanie Robertson
Astleigh Hobbs
Danielle Bandy
Danielle Raymond
Venessa Burnette
Lindsay Meredith
Danielle Martin
Kayla Stump
Chelsey Warner
2 OH
3 DS
4 OH
6 RH
8 MH
9 OH
10 OH
11 DS
24 L
14 DS
Manager
Captains
Meredith Epperley 7
Katie Cady
1
Kayla Patteson
5
S
OH
MH
By Kelsey Frazier
The Varsity Volleyball team’s number one
goal this year was developing a well- rounded
team. This team has tried their hardest every
time they have hit the floor. What do you think
this team has that no other team has? Coach
Stephanie Robertson, Meredith
Burton says, “It has to be the most dedicated
Epperley, Keree Wison, Kayla Patteson
team I have ever worked with.” As coach
and Kayla Stump pumped for revenge of
Midkiff adds, “This has to be the hardest
the Blue Demons.
Photos by Kelsey Frazier
working team I have ever seen and coached.”
Their record may not be as good as previous years, but
their skills have improved tremendously. One of the
things I personally have noticed is the relationship of
these girls; they all enjoy each other’s company. Win or
lose they walk off the court still the friends they were
when walking on. This team shows passion for the game
they love, and that is what makes them well-rounded.
Kayla Patteson went up for a
strong hit while teammates
Venessa Burnette and Meredith
Epperley covered for her.
Left: Keree Wilson
Above: The Varsity Team
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796 N Main St
PO Box 334
Pearisburg, VA 24134
921-3559
20
Roster
#
Michele Martin
Amber Martin
Brooke Anderson
Rachel Smith
Cassie Martin
Lauryn Hobbs
Shanda Higginbotham
Kristen Marcussen
Sierra Johnson
Kelsey Hayes
Sarah Morris
Katie Griffith
Heather Kirk
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2006 JV Volleyball Team
By Venessa Burnette
The JV Volleyball team, off to a remarkable start this season, came into districts with a 6-4
record which appeared to be really promising for them. With strong hitters on the front row and
determined receivers in the back row, this team looked capable of accomplishing a lot this fall.
They had amazing teamwork skills and game winning attitudes all through the season. Ms.
Whitney Matlock, the JV coach, commented, “ I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls. The
amount of talent on this team really amazes me. I am able to pull anyone off of the bench and still
have the same level of playing on the court.”
At first, Coach Matlock was apprehensive of how this season was going to be, but she said
that the six sophomores had really improved their skills and the seven freshmen had stepped up as
well. The Junior Varsity team had such a strong bond together and was willing to help each other
out during any critical play. After falling to Auburn early in district games, the team found new
determination and were able to defeat the Eastern Montgomery Mustangs and the Floyd County
Buffalos.
Coaches: Whitney Matlock
Mandy Havens
The JV Volleyball team huddles after an intense volley
against the Christiansburg Demons. Photos by Venessa Burnette
Front: Rachel Smith, Michele Martin, Amber Martin, and
Heather Kirk Middle: Coach Whitney Matlock, Shanda
Higginbotham, Brooke Anderson, Lauryn Hobbs, Kristen
Marcussen, Katy Griffith, Sierra Johnson, and Asst.
Coach Mandi Havens Back: Cassie Martin, Sarah Morris,
and Kelsey Hayes
8th Grade Volleyball “Bringing on the heat”
By Katy Allamong
th
This year the 8 grade volleyball team decided not to sit back and watch the game, but to jump in and prove what they could do.
With 14 members they know that everyone has to work together and share the ball. With that in mind they dominated 17 of the 20
games played, as well as 9-1 in the district. Way to go ladies!
Roster #
Melissa Spicer
Amanda Byrd
Teona Trussell
Taylor Carroll
Courtney Songer
Lauren Dalton
Brittany Jarrells
Kathryn Stump
Chelsea Barnett
Anna Millirons
Seirra Janney
Lindsee Seymour
Chasity Lucas
Chelsey Williams
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The volleyball team after their defeat over
Christiansburg on September 14
Photos by Katy Allamong
Captains Kathryn
Stump and Anna
Millirons
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On Your
Mark, Get Set
RUN!
By Megan Blevins
The Varsity Girls Team ran their hearts out in
the meet against Roanoke Catholic.
Photos taken by Kelsey Frazier.
Varsity Girls
Betsy Blevins
Gelsina Ceritano
Alexis Cox
Annette Deveraux
Abby Johnson
Nikki Martin
Erica Maxey
Grace Meier
Kim O’Farrell
Karelyn Ribbe
Lauren Schied
Cari Lynn Squibb
Lauren Thompson
The 2006-2007 girls
and boy’s varsity crosscountry teams kicked off
their
season
on
September 6, 2006 at a
five-school meet in
Galax. Both the boys and
the girls teams finished
in second place. At the
Giles Invitational Meet
Andrew Gusler and Casey Duff gave the other
teams’ members a run for their money in the
meet against Roanoke Catholic.
held on September 13, 2006, the boys team finished 7th. At the Roanoke
Catholic Meet on September 20, 2006 the girls team finished 6th out of 12
schools and the boys team finished 5th out of 12 schools. At the Galax
Invitational on September 27, the girl’s team finished 4th out of 18 schools and
the boy’s team finished 10th out of 18 schools. At the Grayson Meet held on
October 4, 2006 the girl’s team finished 3rd out of 10 schools and the boys team
finished 6th out of 10 schools. Some individual results for both teams are as
follows. Junior Chris Carpenter has been the top runner for the boy’s team in
every race. Other top runners include: Andrew Frazier, Andrew Gusler, Cory
Reed, and Matthew Craft. For the girl’s team, Karelyn Ribbe and Abby Johnson
have been the top runners in the races. Other top runners for the girl’s team
include: Grace Meier, Cari Lynn Squibb, and Lauren Scheid. The teams are
fairly young this year with only three seniors on the girl’s team and one on the
boys. The teams have battled continuous injuries and sickness but have
persevered through it all to finish the races they run. Overall the teams have had
an excellent season this year. We wish them luck in the rest of their season.
GHS # 1!
Varsity Boys
Sam Aistrop
Chris Carpenter
Matthew Craft
Casey Duff
Kyle Foreman
Andrew Frazier
Ryan Frazier
Andrew Gusler
Ryan Midkiff
Cory Reed
By Samantha Owens
The GHS cheerleaders are off to a great start this year. Under the coaching of Laura Epperly, Kara Meadows, and Amy
Pennington, the girls could be at the height of their form. This year, the girls have all new cheers and have worked hard to stay caught
up with all the stressfulness of having to completely start over. Varsity Captains Heather Thompson and Laura Ruark, JV Captains
Morgan Sumpter, Brittni Sparks, and Cindy Sadler, and 8th grade Captains Erica Johnson and Sarah Carbaugh have been excellent role
models for the girls. And good leadership is a key element in the sport of cheerleading.
The cheerleaders’ jobs are to promote school spirit. And that is exactly what they have done this year, with unforgettable peprallies, unbelievable spirit weeks, and a pumped up student section that can’t be beat. Thanks for all your hard work. Keep it up!
The JV cheerleaders get pumped up
before a game one Thursday after
Photo by Kelsey Frazier
school.
22
The Varsity Cheerleaders enjoyed a
soda at Queens, one evening before a
Photos by Samantha Owens
football game.
The new 8th grade cheerleaders were
ready to show off their moves at the
Giles vs. Narrows pep-rally.
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