April 17, 2021
Story by Makenzie Hofert, staff writerApril 14, 2021
Story by Doug Kyles, News EditorApril 7, 2021
Story by Margaret Mutoke, staff writer

One of the most common questions adults ask children is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Despite being only a few years into their lives, these kids seem to have very clear visions of their future careers. “I want to be a firefighter!” “I want to be a police officer!” “I want to be a ballerina!” As these children get older, those dreams change as the idea...

Jan. 7, 2021, the election results had been in for weeks. Joe Biden won. “It was rigged!” they screamed. “They cheated us!” they howled. Trump supporters had chanted and protested ever since the election results had been announced that their president had won “by a lot.” Dismayed that their maniatic cries had not been heard, not by any of the 60 judges across the country nor the electoral...

Snow day. It’s a phrase that conjures up nostalgic memories of running around the backyard as freshly knitted scarves trail behind us in the wind. It’s been a timeless tradition in schools since the birth of education as we know it. However, as we adjust to online learning as a means of COVID prevention, snow days may soon be “snow” more. Thirty-nine percent of principals, and those in similar...

The candle lit dinners. The endless bouquets of roses. The showering of kisses. All are likely expectations of your dream date but are rarely seen outside of a Hallmark movie. In today’s age, relationships have gradually begun to lose their meaning. Teenagers in the twenty-first century have adapted to relying on communication through technology. While texting is a major advancement and convenience,...

2020 had many new fashion trends. Some were outrageous, some were boring, and some were beautiful. This story is focusing on trends that aren’t necessarily bad or ugly, but very over-worn. Chunky sneakers There’s no doubt that these clunky shoes have become extremely popular in the last few years, but the shoes have become even more popular in the past year. Whether this style is modeled...

From a young age, I’ve loved books. There’s something about reading about someone else’s adventures, getting to know fictional characters, their motivations, who they are, that I’ve always been drawn to. Maybe it’s the escape from reality. Maybe it’s something else, something I picked up on when I was so young that I couldn’t even add. But every once in a while, a book comes along that...

Because of the recent events, the Republican Party has faced several blows to its reputation. However, not all Republicans supported this violence, and there are some of us who still cling to the Republican morals because of their stance on controversial issues. While our support resides with the Republican Party, we are thankful that we live in a country that allows its people to voice their...

For an hour a day students get to let their own individuality and creativity shine through as their own patience and skills are tested. Art can push them to create anything with only their own creativity as the limit. I believe that everybody should take an art class, of their own choosing, at some point in their high school career. Mental health Many students struggle with mental health while...

If there’s one thing that separates our school from the many districts of Texarkana, it’s its undeniably intimidating size. However, as one grows more comfortable roaming these endless hallways, they find their own groups amongst the student body. Many discover a passion for blowing their breath into shiny instruments and stuffing themselves in orange and black band uniforms. Others may seek...

In the Black community, hair has always been a staple of our culture. As children, we were taught by society that our natural hair was not good, that it was some type of curse bestowed on us. In elementary school, I woke early every Sunday morning before church crying about getting my hair flat ironed. I never liked it at all. In fact, I am still terrified of flat irons. Waking up extra early...

“She talked during class with a friend while I was teaching,” my elementary teacher lowered her voice in disbelief of the words coming from her own mouth. My mother let out a sigh and rested her hand on my shoulder upon hearing the news. They engaged a few more adjectives regarding my behavior, ranging from “well behaved” to “lacking social skills,” all while I lifted my head to watch...

As the year of 2020 winds down, national COVID-19 cases surge across the country putting senior athletes, along with many others, in difficult situations. Some student athletes still dedicate their life to sports due to their passion for the sport itself and the financial benefits they could provide heading into college. In retrospect, during a year unlike any other, how have athletes been affected...

I’m not a fan of a lot of food; however, I find eating very enjoyable. It has to be the right foods, like perhaps chicken strips. But at most Christmas dinners, I’m not going to find chicken strips, so what am I supposed to eat? Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to solve this problem. I tried every food available to me at a typical Christmas dinner. Ham: 9/10 This is a classic. I actually...

As all of my friends know, I love animals. If I was given a choice to adopt or shop and had the resources and money to do both then I would. I would adopt because I want to be able to help the animals in the shelter and try to give them a nice life after being abandoned. I would also shop for a dog because I want to have a dog that I would train them for what they do best. Unfortunately, as...

Six years ago, I met my best friend, Randi, but back then, we were just two little kids who decided to swim together. Now, we’re roommates. I never really made friends easily as a child due to being so closed off and shy, but Randi was friends with everybody. She was the first person I met in middle school to actually have a conversation with me and attempt to befriend me. We quickly clicked and...