WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012
BUNA BEACON, PAGE 11A
WINNING THIRD PLACE steer at the Jasper County Junior Livestock Show this past Saturday night was Buna FFA member and Buna High School senior Brian Askew, below, while his little sister, Buna 4-H member Amber Askew, above, won fourth place steer.
BHS band plays for Spurs, visits Alamo By Troy Loftin Guest Contributor When people think of high school band, they think of Friday night football games, marching contests, and nerds. That being said, the Buna High School band broke all those stereotypes this past weekend with its trip to San Antonio. The band renewed the annual spring tradition of traveling to a place in the United States and performing. In the past, the band has gone to places like Colorado and Disney World, but this year the band directors decided to put a Texas twist on things. The McCartys, Buna band directors, lived in San Antonio for a few years before their stay in southeast Texas, so they know the area well. As well, the city boasts amazing tourist attractions that the Buna students were able to visit. The main draw was the chance to play a pre-game medley in front of almost 20,000 spectators at the AT&T Center before a fierce San Antonio Spurs home game against the Dallas Mavericks. The band left around 6 a.m. on Friday morning aboard two charter buses. The cramped quarters may not have been ideal, but they were much better accommodations than the “yellow dogs.” The buses drove nonstop to San Antonio and arrived at the Alamo around 11 a.m. The Alamo was the first stop on the whirlwind tour. The students got to explore the historic site and think about what the early Texans experienced in their fight for freedom. “I really enjoyed the Alamo,” said Buna sophomore Emily Jacobs. “I like learning about history, so seeing a place where real people fought and lived almost two hundred years ago was really cool.” After the Alamo, the students were allowed to roam around the Rivercenter Mall for a few hours. Every kid enjoys a shopping spree, and the band members were no exception. By the time wallets were empty so were the students’ energy levels.
The band then stopped by at its hotel, a Springhill Inn and Suites, for some rest and relaxation. The respite didn’t last long, sadly, and at 4 p.m. the buses started up again, this time set for the AT&T Center. Excitement was high as the students arrived at the arena, though it was still a good three hours before the band would play. A brief warm-up in the parking lot was all the band got before the group was corralled in the stadium to await the game. In what seemed like no time, the band was ushered out onto the floor. With bright lights and the roar of the crowd around them, the band played its heart out. “Playing at the Spurs game was my favorite part of the trip,” said Buna freshman Hannah Sartain. “I don’t really enjoy basketball, but playing on the arena was awesome. I was a little nervous, especially when the camera got in my face, but I had a lot of fun.” After playing, the students got to watch the game. The Spurs fought hard, and in the end it paid off with a 17 point victory over the Mavericks. The next day proved to be fun for everyone, even for the students who didn’t enjoy basketball. Seaworld was the last item on the trip’s itinerary. The band arrived at Seaworld early in the morning for a day in the sun and an opportunity to see Shamu, everyone’s favorite killer whale. “Seaworld was a ton of fun,” said freshman Madison Bonds. “I had a great time with my friends, and it was an experience I’ll never forget. I bought a penguin named Darcy, which was probably the highlight of my day.” After Seaworld, the band hopped on the buses and headed home, but not without a quick stop at Buc-ee’s. With junk food bought and bladders empty, the trek home officially began. The students rolled back into Buna at midnight, ending two full days of entertainment and memory making.
Happy Birthday March 28 Darlene Boutin Michelle Frickey Shelly Glynn Lisa Gonzales Alma Ham Amanda Holmes Garrett Nelson Kevin Swearingen Curtis Williams March 29 Joseph Richard Andy Smith Misty Watson March 30 Gary Anderson Spencer Blessing Minnie Brown Gina Cleveland Jo Gray Leanne Jordan Rhonda Green Jo Ann Parden Buck Swearingen March 31 Tammy Burton Melissa Hicks Lynda Sanford Cord Tucker April 1 Dacia Ann Belt Imogene Ellison Mike Mark Kelby Gene Risch Kelsea Mae Risch April 2 Kent Boyd Billy Buffington Sarah Reid Tonya Strickland Jen Tomas Chris Waldrup April 3 Tammy Gatlin Buck Hathaway Brandon Hillin Pam Hudson Lera Jean Turner
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