Central High Times - Volume 108, Issue 2 - Winter 2021

IN THIS ISSUE: Bathroom Bust Pg. 12 Breaking Past the Surface Pg. 26 Staff Highlight: Mr. King Pg. 29

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Volume 108

Issue 2

Winter 2021

IN THIS

ISSUE

OPINION Letter from the Editor Queer Coding Senioritis

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NEWS Leads and Shorts Accolades World & Springfield News Fall Play Bathroom Bust The 20/20 Rule COVID-19 Booster Update Cassidy Rainwater Case Big Business, Small Towns

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SPORTS Athlete Highlight Cross Country Story Basketball Story Volleyball Story Tennis Story Breaking Past the Surface

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FEATURES Humans of Central Teacher Higlight: Mr. King

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Club Highlight

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HYPE Student Poll Food Review

PG. 33 PG. 34

Media Review Horoscopes Photo Essay Comic

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WAGS &

GROWLS

MAVERICK HILL / SENIOR REPORTER WAG

The theatre department for putting on a great musical.

GROWL The sun sets at 4:30.

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The boys wrestling team beat Hillcrest.

GROWL Winter break is so short.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Central High Times is a studentproduced publication of the Central High School journalism department. The staff and adviser strive to create an open forum for students and teachers. We take responsibility for accuracy and fairness and for work to be unbiased and responsive to the needs of readers in order to encourage the submission of readers’ ideas. We promise to practice honesty, to run the paper as a business and to avoid printing material that is legally considered obscene, libelous or private.

ADVISER Kori Chrismer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nathan Sharp ASSISTANT EDITOR Ania Kovacs PHOTO EDITORS Reid Biggers, Lauryn Duggins COPY EDITORS Arden Below, Ned Pickett COMIC ARTIST Natalie Reece REPORTERS Maverick Hill, Addi Jordan, Emmarie Logan, Morgan Martens, Caden Rector-Current, Kaitlyn Silkey, Madi Taylor THE CHT Volume 108 Issue 2 CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 423 E. Central St., Springfield, MO 65802 CONTACT kechrismer@spsmail.org FONT FAMILIES Palladio, Baskerville PUBLISHER Jostens Publishing

ADVERTISING POLICY The Central High Times has the right to accept, reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement at any time. Advertising will not contain statements, illustrations or implications offensive to good taste or public decency based on the opinion of the Central High Times staff (i.e. any content containing anything racist, sexist, illegal for high school students or violates journalistic principles). Advertisements accepted by the Central High Times staff are not an endorsement from the staff, adviser, administration, or Springfield Public Schools District. Advertisements should refrain from attacking competitors unfairly or disparaging their products, services, or methods of doing business.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR NATHAN SHARP / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that 2020 was a challenge for everyone. Our ongoing pandemic has affected us all in one way or another. Most Americans at least know someone who got COVID-19. While most people you talk to won’t argue against that point, I don’t think many of us want to face the lasting consequences of this event. Within this letter I will look into the pandemic’s influence over our school system, and how it has impacted both students and teachers. A lot of people’s mental health took a hit due to the pandemic. This is a fact for both students and teachers. Students had to adapt to taking their classes at home, and teachers had to change their curriculum on the fly to adapt to the new circumstances. Many studies have been done on student’s mental health declining due to COVID-19. Students around America have reported problems with their sleep, concentration, and workload. Depression and thoughts of suicide raised in students as well. Rates of stress, anxiety, and depression were also high in studies done on the mental health of teachers. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 20202021 school year wasn’t effective at teaching students. As mentioned, students were facing concentration and motivation issues. On top of that, not all students had the technology they needed. In 2019, a study by the Associated

Press found that 17% of students in America didn’t have a computer at home. With these factors, it would be impossible for all students to be on top of their classes. Through surveys with teachers, students are behind in their education anywhere from 3 months up to a year. This gap could be incredibly destructive to our education system, and discourse is still ongoing over how to combat the gap. Debates are still raging about how to fix this education gap. Holding students back a year has been considered, but would be disastrous for keeping our education system running. The most practical idea being discussed is to go with the set curriculum, but stop and help kids along the way when they get stuck. Here at Central, it doesn’t seem as if anything is being done widespread to combat the gap. It’s at the teacher’s discretion to help their students. I believe that the generation of K-12 students that faced the pandemic are owed more from their school districts to combat the education gap. I anxiously wait to see what ripple effects this will have on current elementary students who missed crucial development. If we want these students to go into the world with the knowledge they need, we need a plan. I put my faith in our principals, superintendents, and school boards to step up and fix the issue. If you need help in your classes, seek out tutoring, or find other options around you.

- NES

OPINION / 3

QUEER CODING IN MEDIA NATALIE REECE / REPORTER

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or hundreds of years, LGBTQ+ people have not been welcome in the public light. Even today gay rights continue to be ignored and politicized. For those living in the early to mid 20th century, it was hard to find representation. Finding a community of people who felt the same as you was difficult, and in film, it was no different. In 1934, the Hays Code was introduced as an industry guideline for producing “moral” films for the public. This meant that the code prohibited profanity, suggestive nudity, graphic or realistic violence, and “sexual persuasions,” aka homosexuality. But this did not mean queerness was gone from media altogether. The Hays Code actually permitted the “immoral” acts, as long as they were shown to be wrong or if the wrongdoer receives their comeuppance at the end of the story. This is how many queer characters were formed on film at the time. This could be seen in movies such as “Wonder Bar” in 1934 or “Dracula’s Daughter” in 1935. The former was a gay film that just barely passed the Hays Code guidelines with the death of the gay characters at the end. The latter had many lesbian implications within its main villain. Queer characters could be set up as villains or die at the end, setting up the “Bury Your Gays” Trope. Through that, gay characters could slip through the Hays Code. But the representation was still significant for the LGBTQ+ community, who had not been able to have it before. Many villains today still share similarities to queer villains of the past. Fun, flamboyant, and extravagant villains are fan-favorites,

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like Ursula from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” who was actually based on the drag queen Divine, or Dr. Facilier from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog.” Fortunately, today we are starting to see more types of representation for the LGBTQ+ community in media outside of the villain trope. Great strides have been made in queer media and showing gay or transgender people onscreen has become more common and less stigmatized. Some great queer films include “Paris is Burning,” “Long Time Champion,” “Call Me By Your Name,” and “Moonlight.” Even more, there have been great efforts to bring LGBTQ+ representation to children’s cartoons, some notable ones including “Steven Universe,” “Danger & Eggs,” and “The Owl House.” While there is still a long way to go in representing LGBTQ+ characters, we are already starting to see more and more characters on screen. No doubt, there will be even more steps taken in the future to make sure that everyone is represented, regardless of their sexuality.

Photos Courtesy of New York Times 4 \ OPINION

SENIORITIS: A STUDENT’S TIPS AND TRICKS TO STAY ADDISON JORDAN / SENIOR REPORTER

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ou notice the days going by too slowly, but in the blink of an eye, the week is gone already. You can not sleep, unless you are in the middle of a class you do not understand. You feel like you do not have enough time--enough time to do schoolwork, have a job, sleep enough, and have a social life. You have senioritis. And, unfortunately, I have it too. The past few months have been rough, to say the least. School has felt like a chore, and being expected to be into work 30 minutes after the dismissal bell has been even more of a hassle (especially with Springfield’s incredible drivers). Every day is the same; the cycle of school, work, a snack that should not even count as dinner, and then bedtime. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I can also squeeze in a few moments devoted to panicking about college! Fun! Anyway, if you are in the same boat as I am, it is likely that you have at least tried to figure out what works, and what does not. Here are some tips that have worked for me, and can hopefully be of use to you as well!

PROCRASTINATION: In true fashion of someone being plagued by senioritis, I have procrastination issues. Bad ones, at that. I have somehow managed to procrastinate filling out FAFSA information and college applications; which is totally reassuring. The habit of looking at everything all at once and feeling like you are drowning in assignments is one that is probably all too familiar to some of you. The way that I have found best to kick that feeling and start to make some change in your work ethic, is to make a planner, or a journal. I know, I know, it sounds cliche and you have probably heard it billions of times, but I swear it works. Having those sections for different classes, or prioritizing certain assignments takes away that overwhelming feeling. If you are a visual person, it also helps to be able to actually see what needs to be done, rather than trying to sort it all out mentally.

ASKING FOR HELP: If you are like me, being able to see what you need to do is not always enough. Maybe you know what you need to do, but you do not understand how to do it. More often than not, I feel too scared to ask my teachers for help; I am afraid that I am bothering them, or that I will be judged for not understanding a certain concept. Lately, I have been trying to go easy on myself; after all, the whole reason teachers are here is to help. You could even make a study group with friends, or if that is not your thing, you could find a way to make studying fun! Asking for help when you need it is one of the best ways to be on top of your work and stay engaged in your classes. 6 \ OPINION

WORST NIGHTMARE AHEAD OF THE GAME TIME MANAGEMENT: Having too much free time can be a good problem, but if you do not divide it up wisely, it can be counter-productive. Not having enough time is pretty self explanatory. That will leave your work rushed and, in the long run, it will just stress you out more. Deciding whether to do that assignment or to take a moment of down-time can be a challenge, and to be honest, most of the time I pick the latter. Not only does it leave me feeling unproductive, but it makes time fly by in the worst possible way. As odd as it sounds, keeping a busy schedule is a great way to ensure that tasks are completed. It builds a routine for you, and it is a lot easier to stay on track if said tracks are flowing smoothly between each other. If you would rather not have a super busy schedule, a planner can also be useful for sorting out the things you do have to worry about. Though it may be preferable to not do homework during free time, having that balance really helps!

COLLEGE STRESS: Any time I have expressed my concern for my future, (moreso my lack of direction), I have been told, “It is okay if you do not know what you are doing. Nobody does!” And, as much as I appreciate the sentiment…. It is not helpful. Sure, some people do not need college, and props to them for that! But I have never been presented with any option other than going to college, hence my frantic, last minute attempts at creating a future for myself. If I could go back, even just a few months, I would be screaming at myself, “ASK QUESTIONS!! DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!!!” I cannot stress enough how important it is to complete that stuff out of the way ahead of time. If you find yourself procrastinating on college applications, FAFSA, and scholarship applications, I suggest talking to the adults in your life. I have found myself asking for advice from my coworkers, for example, and they have already shown and told me so much more than I could figure out on my own. One piece of advice that they have given me, that you may or may not have heard before, is to apply for EVERY scholarship you can. No matter how useless it seems, apply for it; other people may be thinking that it is useless enough to pass it by, increasing your chances of earning it. Overall message here: Ask questions! Seek out help! And avoid procrastinating!!!!

Senioritis stinks; nobody is going to deny that. But with a lot of effort (and some help from friends or family), it is a passable barrier. As they say every morning, “Graduation is the destination, we will make it there together!”

OPINION / 7

LEAD

& SHORT

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A brief update on what’s happening in the Central and Springfield communities.

NATALIE REECE / REPORTER The Fassnight Creek Project Will be Delayed into 2022

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pringfield residents will see more delays from the Fassnight Creek Stormwater Project in the upcoming months. The project, which was intended to rework Fassnight Creek and the surrounding areas, has had its completion time moved back from the fall of this year to March of 2022. Roadwork will continue throughout the winter following this development as construction delays persist. The project set out to solve water management issues in the area by replacing the concrete waterways with natural ones instead. It will also include more walkways and pedestrian accessible areas. Hopefully, barring any more delays, Springfield residents will be able to see this project come to fruition this upcoming spring.

Photo Courtesy of Springfieldmo.gov

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Downtown Christmas Parade Updates

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pringfield offers a variety of fun activities for the upcoming winter months for members of the whole family to enjoy. One of the most popular and most famous was the annual downtown Springfield Christmas Parade. It took place on Saturday, December 11, at 2 pm. This event featured both floats and performances, with a performance from Central’s very own Kilties as well. No matter how you enjoy spending the holiday season, this event is always sure to be a fun time for everyone.

Springfield Ranked Country’s 10th Most Haunted City

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pringfield now claims the title of one of the country’s top 10 Most Haunted Cities, the smallest city on the list to do so. Dozens of places in Springfield have been known to have supposed spiritual significance. Many unique places may be lined with spirits including places such as Pythian Castle, Walnut Street Inn, The Landers Theatre, Phelps Grove Park’s bridge, and more. Whether or not you believe in ghost stories, it cannot be denied that Springfield is one spooky place.

Accolades

Rocket League Success

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MAVERICK HILL / SENIOR REPORTER Bulldogs Football Ends Regular Season With a Win

entral’s Rocket League eSports team improved to a record of 7-2, making them the top ranked Rocket League team in their conference. The Rocket League team also officially received an invite to the Missouri invitational.

Blood Drive Participation on the Rise

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n November 11th, Central hosted its second blood drive of the year. Last blood drive, on entral’s football team ended the regular season September 9th, saw 79 people end up getting a needle of their best year in recent memory on a high in their arm. This time around, Central’s drive nearly note with a win over Forsyth on October 22. The 34-15 broke triple digits with 97 people getting the poke. This beatdown of Forsyth marked Central’s fourth win of puts Central’s total in the blood drive competition to the season. This win means Central ends the regular 177, firmly above second place Neosho who has 126. season with a record of 4-6--their best record since the 2015 season.

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Central’s Math Team Wins Big

Bulldogs Qualify for All-State Orchestra

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n December 4th, Missouri’s All-State Orchestra selections were made, among those selections are he math team at Central celebrated its first two Central Students -- Andy Su, 12, and Naomi Meng, competition of the school year on October 23 9. Andy Su was selected as a second violin and Naomi with a huge win. In sweepstakes, Central scored 172.3 Meng was selected into the All-State Orchestra as a first points, more than 120 points more than second place violin. Clever. The winning did not stop there, however, with Central taking second place in ninth grade, first through fourth place in tenth grade, all five top spots in eleventh grade, and the top three spots in twelfth grade.

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Trace Love, 12, donates blood while accompanied by Isabella Richardson, 12, as his blood buddy. NEWS / 9

Springfield News

ARDEN BELOW / SENIOR REPORTER

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n Tuesday, November 16, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt alleged that the Springfield Public School district violated the Sunshine Law in a lawsuit. The Sunshine Law in the Revised Statutes of Missouri states: “It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law.” Schmitt’s office requested “records relating to critical race theory and anti-racist teaching,” according to the Springfield News-Leader. The Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate filed a public lawsuit in Greene County Circuit court stating that the district tried to avoid transparency in response to his request for these records. Critical race theory (CRT) is an academic approach to discussing institutional and systemic racism in educational contexts. CRT is not currently taught in Springfield Public Schools. Statewide, it is taught in one Missouri K-12 district according to a Missouri state survey. Reportedly, a similar instance occurred a month before Schmitt’s lawsuit. Springfield Republican

Rep. Craig Fishel also filed a Sunshine Law Request for emails and documents from the district from the previous three years. The request specifically searched for records containing keywords such as “critical race theory” as well as 21 other phrases. The district is allowed to request financial compensation for searching these files. In this case, SPS requested $170,000. Aside from the taxpayer money used in this lawsuit, education officials have a concern about the number of staff hours needed to search and review documents. “SPS is accountable to taxpayers and to the educational needs of our 24,000 students,” SPS spokesperson Stephen Hall stated. “As a result, SPS should and will seek appropriate reimbursement. In the meantime, any deliberate misrepresentation of the district’s work by elected officials must end.” For now, under the Sunshine Law, SPS will have to provide the Attorney General’s office with this information. The amount of time and money required to do this task remains uncertain at the time of this publication.

World News

CADEN RECTOR-CURRENT / REPORTER

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OVID-19 has killed over 5 million people worldwide. This morbid milestone has come after nearly two years of the pandemic. At nearly the same time, the United States has hit 750,000 deaths from the virus. The use of vaccines has slowed the rate of fatalities, although they still continue to climb. Mask mandates have begun to be removed due to the vaccination rates, regardless of whether the area has hit the golden 70% mark. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that everyone who can take the vaccine to do so. 58% of the United States population has been fully vaccinated, and 68% has at least one dose. Worldwide, only 39% of the population has been fully vaccinated, with 50% having at least one dose. This is far from the 70% mark, which is the minimum recommended vaccination rate to successfully combat 10 \ NEWS

the virus without masks. Without hitting the critical 70% vaccination rate, COVID-19 will continue to infect the people of the world. The World Health Organization recommends that everyone who qualifies take a COVID vaccine immediately. It has been thoroughly studied and tested, and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. in August.

Image courtesy of the BBC

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat KAITLYN SILKEY / REPORTER

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his year’s first theatrical production was “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is a humorous musical retelling of the biblical tale of Joseph, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, who was gifted a coat of many colors by his father. Joseph has the ability to foresee the future through his dreams and can explain other people’s dreams. Drama student, Ciel Backus, 12, was overjoyed to be a part of the fall musical. They have always loved theatre, and have a specific love for this production. “‘Joseph’ is a show that I have always loved because it was my dad’s favorite musical when I was little, and he played it a lot,” Backus said. It seems this play has a special place in many theater fans’ hearts. Another actor in the musical, Milo Paasch, 11, had a similar opinion. They believe this musical is an exceptional production as well. “It is presented to the audience like something right out of a dream, and it is just a wonderful production to be a part of,” Paasch commented. “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” has a large cast with plenty of characters. A majority of the actors are playing the 12 sons of Jacob--Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judhan, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, and Joseph. Backus chose to play the part of the narrator. They were very thrilled to have this role. “The narrator has been one of my dream roles for a

while,” Backus said. Paasch is also very happy with the part they were chosen for. They were given the role of one of the brothers, Levi. “I enjoy being a brother because there are 11 other actors who are brothers with me,” Paasch said. “We had to learn to act alike and work together as one, which was a bit of a challenge, but now I feel like I have connected to them as my fellow actors and friends.” Rehearsals have been a lot of work but very productive. “The rehearsal process is difficult and tedious, but I believe it will pay off in the end when we perform,” Backus said. This feeling was definitely mutual with Paasch. “Rehearsals are a rollercoaster of work and fun,” Paasch said. “We move at a quick pace and it is important to be exercising patience with each other as we all learn.” It is safe to say that this musical had a well-assigned and motivated cast. It seems everyone has a positive outlook of this musical and a similar vision for it, and were excited to see this production come to life and their hard work pay off. The play ran from Friday, December 3rd through Sunday, December 5th. The student matinee was held as the final performance on Monday, December 6th. The weekend shows were $5 a ticket, and the student matinee was $3 a ticket.

Cast of the musical rehearsing in the auditorium. NEWS / 11

Bathroom Bust CADEN RECTOR-CURRENT / REPORTER

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he custodians at Central High School go through and clean the bathrooms every day, and some of the students will reverse the progress of these custodians. This puts a significant amount of extra stress on the custodians and the students who use these bathrooms. “The destruction of property, particularly, in the restrooms throughout the building has caused us, custodians, unnecessary stress and lost time. The stress of not knowing what they are going to walk into during their shift, with regards to the restrooms,” Mandy Carlson, the Head Custodian at Central, said. With students not being able to wash their hands with soap, and having to see slurs scrawled on the stalls, the bathroom issue has become annoying for everyone. Bathrooms, by district policy, cannot have any security cameras. This can allow for people to use the bathrooms for rule-breaking activity, such as vaping and skipping class. The bathrooms are also a spot where people will grafiti the stalls, writing racial slurs and offensive messages. Other students have been stealing and destroying district property. Some of the most common of these acts of vandalism include stealing the soap from the dispensers and puncturing the bags and getting the liquid soap all over the bathroom. Stealing soap has been so prevalent that soap has been removed from at least one of the bathrooms, as the

soap would not last a week. “Simply put, the district didn’t have any soap or dispensers because they were being broken or taken faster than they arrived,” Carlson said. Students have also been putting objects in the toilets and urinals, such as food and paper. Custodians are responsible for cleaning these. “The custodians have encountered issues of broken toilet paper dispensers, clogged and flooded toilets/ urinals, broken soap dispensers, and so much more,” Carlson said. Some students are putting more and more work on the custodians. They keep our school clean, and students should not be making their job harder. This is unfair and disrespectful to the people who clean up after the student body.

“The destruction of property has caused us, the custodians, unneceessary stress and lost time.” 12 \ NEWS

THE 20/20 MINUTE RULE ADDISON JORDAN / SENIOR REPORTER

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n the past few months, Central has undergone several changes to policies and rules, one of the most notable being the “20/20 Minute Rule.” The 20/20 minute rule is aimed to keep students in their learning environments for both the first and last 20 minutes of class in each class period. The rule has impacted the student body, stirring up conversation and debate. Many students feel that the rule, paired with only five minutes to travel between classes, makes using the restroom, stopping by a bottle filling station, or traveling a difficult task. “Five minutes is not enough time to go to the bathroom and travel to class. Then as soon as I [arrive] to class, [we are] 20 minutes in; the teacher is still teaching and they give us work to finish by the end of the class period. By the time I finish my work there is only ten minutes left of class,” Goodnews Ehie, 12, said. “If you are going to prepare us for adulthood, at least let us use the restroom. Those that take advantage of it will face consequences on their own.” Some students say that potentially being denied something such as using the restroom has impacted their view on adulthood and their behavior outside of the classroom. “They want us to act like adults, but we have to ask to use the bathroom,” Becka Murphy, 12, said. “It is so jarring [to be] at my job to ask if I can use the restroom, and the manager [says] ‘Uh, yeah, why are you asking me?’” Students are not the only ones who feel the weight of the rule. In contrast to the students, the teachers are more open to the reasoning behind it. “We are trying to limit some of these kids that leave and go unsupervised because, when they do, trouble ensues. Sure, there are cameras, but some kids do not care. It is the same kids every day. In my professional view, it is a fine rule. It is a great rule. Is it a realistic rule?” one anonymous Central teacher asked. “In some aspects, it is not.” Another teacher shares the same view. “I have heard

a lot of outspoken students. I have tried to pacify them and explain the intent of the rule,” Cole Trent, Spanish teacher, stated. “We are trying to minimize people in the hallway, as well as classroom interruptions. I appreciate the intent of the rule, but it does not quite fit the reality of the classroom.” Teachers are doing their best to accommodate students’ needs while also following the new rule. “It puts teachers in a rough spot,” another teacher said. “It is difficult to tell [students] no; they are a little bit disappointed, and it is always an emergency. They genuinely have to go. I let them go, because my students do not take advantage of that. Some kids have trouble staying still for that long. If they are agitated or fidgeting, they sometimes need to go and take a break.” Some of Central’s staff have been more forgiving with the rule, letting their students go during safer times and trusting them to make responsible decisions. “I try to use common sense rather than the clock,” Trent stated. “I let them go regardless of the clock, but only during emergencies. I do not let them go during [tardy] sweeps.” Despite various struggles, teachers and students are working together to not only make the classroom a comfortable learning environment, but also to follow the rule to the best of their abilities.

NEWS / 13

Covid Boosters Made Available to Adults MADI TAYLOR / REPORTER

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ew steps toward COVID-19 immunity have been taken with the development and release of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. While COVID-19 is currently still classified as a pandemic, health officials believe it may turn endemic, meaning the disease is not completely eradicated. If COVID-19 becomes endemic, then booster shots may occur annually, similar to flu shots. Boosting gives people the antibodies that act as the first line of defense, increasing antibody levels that will help defend people against more serious symptoms or infections that COVID-19 can cause. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory group voted against booster shots for teens ages 16 and up in September, claiming that the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are enough protection. On November 19th, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory committee approved Moderna and Pfizer boosters for all adults. They must be aged 18 and older, and have received the second shot of either vaccine at least 6 months before. It is recommended for all who have received Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, and are 18 years or older and received the vaccine at least two months ago, to receive a booster shot. Johnson & Johnson’s single dose vaccine has a lower effectiveness than the two-

dose vaccines, especially against the Delta variant, which is currently the worldwide dominant strain. It is up to the recipient about which booster shot they receive. If someone received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, they can receive the Pfizer booster shot as well, but they can also receive the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson booster shot. The risks of receiving a booster shot are similar to those of the vaccines--headache, fatigue, fever, or pain in the injection site are most common for both the vaccine and the booster. The booster shot does not mean that the COVID-19 vaccines are not working. The vaccines are still effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19. Experts are, however, beginning to notice reduced protection against mild and moderate illness, especially among healthcare and frontline workers. Small clinical studies showed that Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson boosters resulted in an increased immune response, which should improve protection against COVID-19. Booster shots are currently recommended for immunocompromised people who meet the eligibility requirements to provide additional protection against COVID-19. At the moment, COVID-19 booster shots are not required.

COVID-19 death rate among fully vaccinated and not fully vaccinated individuals. Photo courtesy of The Bemidji Pioneer.

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Missing Woman Case MADI TAYLOR / REPORTER R

umors of cannibalism recently spread on social media regarding the case of a missing Lebanon woman, Cassidy Rainwater. Rainwater had allegedly not been seen since July, and was reported missing in August. Two suspects, James Phelps and Timothy Norton, were arrested in relation to the case. When Phelps was originally questioned in August, he claimed Rainwater had been staying with him for a couple of weeks. He said she left about a month prior, and that he had not had contact with her since. Law enforcement would return to Phelps’s property in September after the Kansas City FBI received an anonymous tip. This tip, titled “Cassidy” by the person who sent it, consisted of multiple photos, including ones of Rainwater partially nude inside a cage and photos of her dismembered body. When detectives returned to Phelps’s property, they noticed items within his backyard that were also in the photos. Phelps was promptly arrested, and his house was processed for evidence. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office claims that over 200 pieces of evidence were found at Phelps’s home. The cage in which Rainwater was kept was on the property, along with a gantry crane, which is used to hoist and move heavy objects. In addition, there was a freezer full of human flesh, later officially confirmed to be Rainwater’s. There were also skeletal remains that were confirmed to be Rainwater’s.

When interviewed, Norton confessed to the murder of Rainwater. He told FBI agents that he restrained Rainwater while Phelps strangled her. Norton helped Phelps bind Rainwater to the gantry crane, where they dismembered her. When Phelps was done, he placed her in the bathtub inside the house. Phelps refused to comment further, and requested an attorney. On October 4th, the day before Phelps and Norton were scheduled to appear in court for the first time, Phelps’s house burned to the ground. A Missouri State Fire Marshal classified the fire as second-degree arson. While investigating, a Dallas County deputy uncovered a device similar to a tripwire, and the Springfield bomb squad was called in. They discovered two devices designed to cause fires. The origin of these two devices is not yet known.

Aftermath of house fire. Photo courtesy of Four States Homepage

James Phelps’s residence. Photo courtesy of KRCG News

As of mid-November, there was no evidence to link Phelps and Norton to other victims. Although there were rumors on social media claiming that they were cannibals and working in the black market, the sheriff openly disregarded them. Norton and Philips are being charged with kidnapping, murder, and abandonment of a corpse. Norton’s lawyer claims Norton will be pleading not guilty.

NEWS / 15

Big Business, Small Towns

NED PICKETT / REPORTER

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ig businesses negatively affecting small towns is nothing new, and yet it is always relevant. Smaller communities often try to lure big business into their communities for the economic boom it provides, the increase in employment, and the bonus it gives to the local government’s budget. Unfortunately, these benefits appear to be largely short term, and the negative effects on the towns outweigh the positives in the long term. According to Inc.com, out of the total funds from the Missouri Works Program in 2013 and 2014, $42.3 million went to large companies, while only $5.2 million went to small businesses. Although stories of this nature are always relevant, a large box store opened relatively recently in Springfield—Costco. Costco has taken more than $40 billion in state and local subsidies. Costco is, however, a bit of a different case. The company has a reputation for paying around 40% higher wages and using more ethical practices than many other businesses. Other companies, a particularly notable one being Walmart, are known for doing this while still not appearing to devote much work to their company and employee culture. The other issue with corporations receiving government subsidies and tax breaks hinges on the fact that these companies have the ability to strongarm small communities into giving them tax breaks. They are able to do this by giving the leaders of the community the option to either allow them to open up a location and give them tax breaks, or simply not open there and move to another location,

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potentially taking away members of the community and job opportunities. Losing these would hurt the community, but even if the location opens, there are still negative consequences.

...$42.3 million went to large companies, while only $5.2 million went to small businesses. There is usually a short economic burst following the opening of one of these large businesses, often in terms of new members of the community, new businesses, and employment. Unfortunately, these start to cancel each other out, as while the employment rate goes up, so does the population, making less of an impact. In addition to this, the money provided from this increase in business and population rarely offsets the tax breaks in the long run. Every way you look at this, someone loses—the government loses money, the consumers’ money goes to the company, everyone in the community suffers from lack of government money, except for the company.

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED.

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Athlete Highlight

MORGAN MARTENS / REPORTER

Heaven Shockley, 11, puts the “student” in “student athlete.”

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eaven Shockley, 11, has now been with the Lady Bulldogs basketball team for 3 seasons. She has proven to be a powerful force on this team. Now a junior, she has experience under her belt, as she has been on the varsity team each year. Many seniors from last year are gone, and there are no seniors this year for the captain role. Shockley is ready to step up into that position as a captain. Shockley is not only a great athlete, as she is smart off the court, in her classes, and in her daily life. She has proven to be a great student athlete during the difficult times last year, when she managed to keep her grades above average, and still performed quite well for the Central girls basketball team. Many athletes struggle with grades, but school does not seem to be an issue for Heaven Shockley. Shockley enjoys playing with the Central team. “I would not want to play with any other girls,” Shockley said. Shockley has prepared for a change in the team from last year with the absence of seniors on the team. “I feel this year is going to be different, but not in a bad way,” Shockley said. “We all connect so well, and on the court we play well.” 18 \ SPORTS

How the team communicates on the court makes it to where this team and Shockley will be fully prepared for this upcoming season for the Lady Bulldogs. Shockley has been playing basketball since she was 5 years old, making it a total of 13 years. “I knew basketball was the sport for me when I was in middle school, around 7th grade. I started to fall in love with the game, that is when I started taking the game more seriously,” Shockley said. “She is a really good player on both defense and offense. She not only does what she thinks is best for her, but anytime someone else on the team needs help with something she is right there to help. She is also very welcoming and always has a positive attitude,” Kiera Gravely, 9, another member of the basketball team, said. “I think that the best part of playing is going to be just going out there and doing what I love. Also, I think competing is going to be fun, we are not just out here to play, we want to win,” Schockley declared. “My favorite moment was winning districts last year!” Look out for the fantastic Heaven Shockley as she takes her junior season by storm.

Cross Country Bulldogs Make Big Strides ANIA KOVACS / ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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ince the fall 2019 season, the number of runners on the Central cross country team has almost decreased by half of its original amount, dropping from approximately sixty students to thirty-five. Though this might seem like a worrisome transition, the team has continued to bring home medals. The drop in numbers has made the group more tightly knit and supportive of one another. At the El Dorado Springs race, varsity took first place and JV took second place. These wins along with multiple individual placings have resulted in the team becoming closer than ever. “We no longer have 65 people on the team like we did my freshman year,” Zane Prater, 11, said, “but because of us having less runners we have all definitely become closer.” Prater has been on the junior varsity team for three seasons and plans on staying for the next year as well. This year he scored a fifth place medal at El Dorado Springs and a 17th place medal at Willard, his first two medals from running at a competitive high school level. Prater is keeping up the progress and looking to advance his performance even more by next year. “I have had this goal for a couple years now and I am really hoping I can earn a varsity letter next year by finally running a 5k in under 20 minutes,” Prater added. Will Goode, 11, has also been involved in the cross country team since his freshman year. He is a varsity runner and has medaled at two meets this year. Goode is planning on participating again in the upcoming final season of his high school career. He is optimistic about pushing himself and his teammates to be as successful as possible. “I am looking forward to having a strong team next year. This year we have made some people nervous, and we have five strong runners coming back next

year. My goal for next year is to continue to improve, but also to hopefully qualify for state,” Goode said.

Will Goode, 11, races at a cross country meet. As one of the cross country team’s fastest competitors, Goode finds strength in his teammates and their drive. He says working with fellow runners has allowed others and himself to reach personal records and place at meets. “My favorite thing has been pushing teammates during races, and them pushing back,” Goode commented. “When five of us come to the finish lines in a pack, it is such a great feeling. I have had teammates help pull me to a personal record and I have helped pull them to one too. It feels like we are not running on our own. When we finish after running three miles together as hard as we can, it puts a smile on my face--after the sick feeling goes away of course.” Even after overcoming the challenges thrown their way, Central Bulldogs can continue to push each other to accomplish amazing feats. SPORTS / 19

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

KAITLYN SILKEY / REPORTER

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asketball in-season has begun! November 1st was the start of the season, and the girls basketball team has been working hard ever since. The Lady Bulldogs are pushing strong this year, and preseason was a success. There were around 22-27 girls showing up everyday consistently. Coach Lamberth is thrilled to have this type of determination on her team. “Something very crucial for [the team’s] development going into this season is having girls present so they can develop their skills and [become] better conditioned,” Lamberth said. Showing up to the pre-season practices will benefit everyone in the future. The team is happy about how pre-season went as well. “The biggest positive [of pre-season] was definitely being able to connect and play with the girls,” said Heaven Shockley, 11. The Lady Bulldogs played in several games during the pre-season, attending a league at the new sports complex in Strafford. They played against a mixture of varsity players and younger players. These games are not school affiliated, so they do not count towards the players’ school records. The girls ended up doing pretty well—they won more games than they lost and gave their all. “It is something we do so that we can see where we are and keep playing game wise,” Coach Lamberth said. The basketball teams do not play competitive games during the pre-season, so doing league games

can help prepare the team for the official season. “It is important for us to [be in] those leagues in order to keep the stamina and make sure we are game-

Lady Bulldogs practice in the Pit.

ready coming into the first practice,” Coach Lamberth said. Tryouts also were successful for the Lady Bulldogs. They were held in October, and the turnout was better than expected. There were 35 girls who tried out. Unfortunately, cuts had to be made. Fortunately, this means that Central’s basketball team is growing and becoming more successful. Coach Lamberth is feeling great about the new team. She says that the tryout turnouts “show our program is something to be a part of and is going in a positive direction.”

Lady Bulldogs practice in the Pit. 20 \ SPORTS

Lady Bulldogs practice dribbling techniques in the Pit. The Lady Bulldogs’ first game was on November 22nd. It did not go as planned, and they lost to Branson. “Our defense went really well, but our offense was not the best,” Shockley said. This loss is not going to hold them back. The girls are keeping their heads up and staying motivated for the season. The last game, and end of basketball season, will be in March of next year during state finals. The Lady Bulldogs are staying positive while working hard to prepare for future games.

Lady Bulldogs practice dribbling in the Pit. “My team and my environment are keeping me motivated,” Shockley said. “Also, the thought of the season officially beginning… I am ready for our first game!” The team is a little nervous, but excited, to be out on the court and compete. All of the Lady Bulldogs have shown determination this year and are doing great, and a couple of girls have stood out during preseason and previous seasons. Juniors Heaven Shockley and Aaliyah Pittman are top players. They have both been playing varsity since their freshman year. They started every varsity game their freshman year and almost every varsity game their sophomore year. Both girls are reaching 500 points each and 500 rebounds as they go into their junior year.

Shockley and Pittman have put a lot of work into basketball and continue to do so. They practice over the summer and keep their skill levels up. These girls show a lot of dedication to this sport. They want to carry over their talent for basketball into college and pursue it even further. Shockley and Pittman are definitely experienced and adept in the field of basketball. With being a great player comes the responsibility of leading your team. Shockley has learned to become an even better captain this year. “I have to step up and be a big leader for the team,” Shockley said. This year’s Lady Bulldogs are really giving all they have. They are all about bringing teamwork to practice and upcoming games. Working together and helping each other out makes for a great team. They are becoming closer as the year goes on. “This team is doing great,” said Shockley. “We are building up a strong bond that will help us throughout the season.” Having a good connection throughout the team will make for better progress in the future. Communication is key and the Lady Bulldogs understand that. The girls basketball team is working hard and making progress together. They are ready to give it their all this year.

Lady Bulldogs practice in the Pit. SPORTS / 21

Volleydogs are n o i t i t e p m o C e h t “Kill”ing

RTER EMMARIE LOGAN / REPO

Kill (verb) Any attack unreturnable by the opposing team After a long, grueling 2020-2021 season, the Central Volleydogs took home the Class 5 District 10 trophy against Lebanon last year. Only losing one senior, the varsity roster was stacked with some of the best athletes Central’s volleyball team had ever seen, including D1 commit Arden Below this year. The volleyball team was in need of a new head coach, however, as Central’s former head volleyball coach, Coach Matsdorff, resigned to instruct college volleyball and eventually moved to California. The search began. “I was super relieved that it was going to be Coach Bri since I knew she was a coach who would promote hard work and bring a lot of energy to the team,” Coco Buschhorn, 10, said. Previously in Willard, Briana Walsh stepped up to

22 \ SPORTS

the plate. Walking into a new position is never easy, but Coach Bri handled it with professionalism and poise, and she was determined to keep every girl loving the game of volleyball. Hard work has always been a part of Coach Bri’s spirit, believing that conditioning and training prepares the girls physically and mentally. The Volleydogs have described her as genuine, strong, magnetic, passionate, caring, and confident. All of those qualities in a coach are reflected through her players. The Central girls radiate confidence, strength, joy for the game, and a determination to play their best. “I think this year we had hope, we had someone believing in us. This year we definitely played some of the best volleyball Central has seen,” Blakely True, 10, said. Central Volleyball performed well this year

ending their season with a record of 20-8-3. Each girl who played showed their passion for the game and expressed exuberant attitudes. Their training with the newly seasoned team and amazing new coach prepared them for everything and every team that came their way. On the court Central fans could not only see their hard work in action, but also the love they had for the game. However, the Volleydogs were most visibly a close squad. Always encouraging each other, lifting up every point whether it was theirs or the opponents, and leaving everything they had on the floor. “The team this year felt so much closer than the team did last year. We were all on the same page and we all had the same goal. We faced challenges—a lot of them—and instead of folding in the face of those challenges like we did last year, we fought through together,” Buschhorn said. As they say, there is no “I” in team, but Central showed just how “we over me” can change every angle of the game. Instead of worrying about what their next move was going to be, each girl focused on how to help

the other and how to work together efficiently. Their communication as a team was top tier and never shied away from being their most powerful asset. The team was gifted with very talented individuals, but each girl’s willingness to put behind their individual skills and use them for a greater good meant so much more than any win could ever mean. “I think the season went well. Of course it did not end how we wanted, but we built bonds that will last, and that is what matters to me. We have seen what it takes to be a great team, and that will benefit us in future years,” True expressed. Winning in life is not always everything and the same goes for the Central volleyball team. Gaining character, learning more about yourself, and learning to work with others for a designed purpose has shown Coach Bri and her girls much more of a reward. Central staff and the student body are so proud of these girls, they are proving that Central’s sports program is much more than a game. The future is incredibly bright for Central’s volleyball program.

From left to right: Finni Werner-Click, 11 Holland Hawkins, 12 Collete Buschorn, 10 The Volleydogs get low in their defensive position.

SPORTS / 23

Olivia Brinkman, 12, maintains focus on the ball.

Maintaining a Legacy NATHAN SHARP / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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entral’s girls tennis team has made a name for themselves as a formidable opponent on the court. Both our varsity and JV teams fought tooth and nail, and had an amazing season. Varsity players Brett Boney, Allie German, and Elana Hadi all made it to state individually. Boney and German played as partners, and Hadi played singles. Not only is each player strong on their own, the bonds they’ve made with one another have enhanced their games. This camaraderie between players is one unique to the team, and not easily replicable. “We have had a lot of players who have played with each other for two to four years. Our numbers five and six have played together for the last four years, and they are very comfortable together. Our one and two had played together for three years. That comfortability is what allowed a lot of success for our team. This year, we were able to take a lot of close matches and win, when we would have not been able to last year,” Dr. Cox said. Dr. Cox has been coach of the girl’s tennis team for six years, and has complete faith in their ability. Cox has been coaching tennis for 11 years overall. “It’s not just the top varsity players, it’s all of the top six that have to show up each and every day,” Cox continued. With the season having wrapped up back in October, the players have had time to reflect on their performance. The varsity players share Dr. Cox’s sentiments about the team’s comfort with one another. “My time on the tennis team was super fun, but still competitive and serious. I got to travel and play across 24 \ SPORTS

Missouri, and it was a really fun experience to meet other players and bond with my team,” Elena Hadi, 10, stated. The varsity team’s bond is a strong one. It’s one that the members themselves are very proud of. “The tennis team has helped me make a lot of close friends, and though tennis is an individual sport, I learned how much our team as a whole means to me. I can’t wait for next season, and hopefully we’ll advance past regionals and get to state,” Hadi said. While the team itself only got to regionals, each player shined on the court. Boney, German, and Hadi getting to state is testament of their skill. Central’s JV team also had a great season, and has a great dynamic of their own.

Stella Riddle, 12, follows through with a successful swing.

dedicated four years to the team, and only has praise to give. It’s hard to find a negative perspective of the team’s abilities and dynamic. “My time on the team was really amazing. I found a community of really cool girls that support each other at all times. I started as a freshman, basically unable to play tennis, but the coaches, and lots of experience on the team allowed me to grow a lot as a player. I loved playing doubles, as you and your partner learned how to communicate with one another to effectively score points against the other team. All in all, it was an amazing experience that I would do over and over again if I could,” Bowles stated. Bowles went on to recall the highlights of her time on the team. “Some of my favorite highlights are actually at off season practices, where the team meets up during warm summer nights and gets back into the groove of tennis before the official season starts. I loved the nights where we stayed at the courts until it was pitch black outside, just talking, having fun, and playing tennis. The bus rides back from matches were also a huge highlight of my time on the team because we Allie German, 12, readies for a swing. could just collectively reflect on how the match went and have fun with each other,” Bowles said. “For JV, the nice thing is that we don’t cut, and we With this season ending, Central will be losing had 40 players show up consistently every week. On many great players on both varsity and JV. All the the JV side, we look for development, getting better players who have spent four years on the team are now throughout the season, and having fun with one graduating. This season was the culmination of their another. There are a lot of girls that have been on the combined skill and a fine sendoff. This year’s team has team for four years that play together. It very much is left a lofty legacy, and the stage is set for new players to a social sport,” Cox said. take their place. The ball is now in these new player’s Grace Bowles, 12, is one of the JV players that has court.

Kate Steingraber, 12, aims low to return the ball. SPORTS / 25

Breaking Past the Surface O

ne of the great things about high school is how high school can provide students with endless opportunities. Whether it is sports, fine arts, or technology, high school will have something for you. In Springfield Public Schools, there are many opportunities to find something you love. Over the years, high schools around the nation have adopted new sports into their programs and embraced every aspect of what an athlete could be. One of Central’s sports, the boys swim team, has seen growing interest and has become a stronger program over the years. Swim may not be the most well known team Central has, but every swimmer has an intense passion and heart for the sport they play. “Swimming is great because there are individual accomplishments as well as team accomplishments. This means you can have the competitiveness of trying to be better than your teammates while also being able to have a lot of team spirit,” Jack Butler, 10, said. If you go into any sports practice, you will probably find coaches telling their players to compete with and push each other. The swim team does that quite well, not only competing with each other in relays, but also competing for new personal records and their own personal best times in the water. The thrill of meets and diving into the competition when the race horn blares fuels the swimmers with energy, power, and a determined mindset. “A lot of the actual competing part is solely just psychological. Swimming is by far the most mentally taxing sport as you only have one shot during your race to be the best you can be, and if you fail even one thing, your race automatically fails in your head,” Evan Cornelius-White, 10, claimed. This mentality is a characteristic any athlete strives to obtain, and the reward 26 \ SPORTS

EMMARIE LOGAN / REPORTER

for being able to overcome any anxiety, exhaustion, or defeat is worth more than a win on an athlete’s record. Swimmers are not going head to head, looking their opponents in the eyes. They can only stay in their lane and focus on what they are doing. That aspect in itself is extremely challenging, but Central students are never ones to give up. In most sports, you have a team that you see on the court or field where you have the ability to understand visually what your teammates are doing. Unlike those sports, swimmers have to find the ultimate trust within themselves and their teammates to know that they are doing their best because they are not able to communicate with their teammates mid-competition. The boys find their inner voices, adapt to the challenges, and persevere through everything. “Swimming requires a lot of consistent work to actually become really good at it, and the more time spent just simply swimming at practice means that you slowly become better and better. It is not usually something that somebody is naturally good at,” Cornelius-White said. In many cases, kids will start a designated sport young and play competitive all the way through high school, leaving chances for students who are new to the sport in high school to be slim to none. Central’s boys swim team is the opposite. If you find yourself interested, they would be more than happy to see you on the team whether you have prior experience or not. Having consistent work ethic and being willing to fail and try again is a trait that coaches will never turn away. Due to the openness of the Central swim team, three very talented freshmen, Quinn Smith, Jason Allen, and Jonas Tetlow, were able to improve the team on all levels. Individually they were strong, but they overall set the biggest change in the team’s relay races. The boys swim team competed and fought hard this year, falling just 0.5 seconds short of the State cut. However, that result only shows the immense amount of growth these boys are going to make and their bright potential for the future. The best moments come from grit, hard work, and commitment, something Central’s boys swim team knows like the back of their hands. SPORTS / 27

Humans of Central:

Kalea Aberle

ANIA KOVACS / ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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he International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is often looked at as intimidating, but junior Kalea Aberle views the program as an opportunity to expand her worldview and prepare for higher education. It is Aberle’s first year in the IB Diploma Programme, and her drive during the transition from sophomore to junior year is truly inspiring. Kalea Aberle is 17 years old and aspires to become a medical doctor, an ambition that IB will aid her in pursuing. “My goal of becoming a medical doctor in the future has always been my primary drive to pursue IB,” Aberle said. “I know that the critical thinking [skills], analytical [skills], and study skills I will build from this program will benefit me during future schooling.” Despite the rigor of the IB program, Central’s teachers always make the journey to graduation worthwhile and encouraging. Many IB teachers have been known to influence the lives of their students by broadening their perception of the world and motivating them to accomplish their personal academic goals. Aberle is currently enrolled in Environmental Systems and Societies taught by Paul Epps. “There are many teachers that have had a tremendous impact on me regarding both my perception of education and life as a whole. Mr. Epps’s teachings have influenced me a lot. He has changed the way I view different values, and inspires me to live a more simple, focused life,” Aberle added. Aside from tackling her school workload, many other extracurricular activities occupy Aberle’s 28 \ FEATURE

time. She is currently Co-President of the Library Archive Club and holds a leading position in the Central Botanical Society. She is an active member of Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), Envirothon, Central Photography Club, and Creative Writing Club. Aberle has a special place in her heart for Central Botanical Society, a club that maintains the beautiful flower and vegetable gardens surrounding Central High School. “Gardening at Central has connected me with many of my friends, and I love seeing all the progress we make working together,” Aberle said. “A lot of my passion for this group comes from my hope to build a community that brings people together through shared love for gardening and the school.” Aberle has a lot of appreciation for building support through connecting with people. She views Central as a diverse place that is ideal for finding friends with similar interests and ideologies, which is her favorite aspect about the school. “The thing I love most about Central are the communities we are able to build with each other. Although spending so much time with other teenagers who have similar interests can lead to drama and conflict, it is nice to see how many are able to enjoy spending time and working with one another,” Aberle commented. From keeping our gardens alive and well, to taking part in preserving the school’s history in the library, Aberle is surely one of the most active and dedicated students at Central. We are lucky to have such a devoted student in our community.

Mr. King: The Voice of Central R

ARDEN BELOW / SENIOR REPORTER

oger King not only works as a paraprofessional for Central, but he also plays a much larger role in the Springfield community. Throughout his 24 years of working for the Springfield Public School district, King has worked with all types of students. “I work as a ‘para,’ or a paraprofessional,” King said. “Each school has a different idea of what the para does. At Boyd, I was the technology instructor. At Pipkin, I was Title I and worked with at-risk and some gifted students. At Williams, I worked with special education. Here at Central, I am under the special education umbrella; I do a little bit of everything.” King’s favorite part of being a long-time member of the district is being able to see those who he taught or coached along the way grow up. “In this year’s senior crowd, there are students that I have known since they were in kindergarten. I even have some kids that I coached on the basketball team at Pipkin. Seeing these kids grow up and seeing what they have become since being little kids has been the best experience,” King stated. Aside from being an educator in the school, King has also become a large proponent for Central athletics during his three years in the building. He announces at softball, baseball, football, basketball, volleyball, and wrestling events. He also runs the Twitter page for the famous Central “Pit” to help connect students further with athletic programs here. “I put just as much energy into announcing as just about anything else. I think that is what people expect,” King commented. “To make it more of an event, especially in the Pit, is something that I consider an honor to do. I try to make those nights more special for the students that are playing as well as the people in the stands.” In his spare time, King helps more than just the

student body. “They call me the Voice of Central. It is not just me becoming a voice you hear at athletic events, I also try to be an advocate in the community,” King said. Mr. King contributes to other activities outside of Springfield Public Schools as well. This year marks his 36th year of baseball/softball umpiring, and he acts as the youth choir director for his church. With his busy schedule, King has developed a system of orderliness. “It all kind of balances out almost perfectly,” King stated. “I have had the hard jobs— I have sold cars, I have worked for IBM, I was the front desk worker at a major hotel, I was even a radio DJ. Of all of the jobs I have had, this one has brought me peace from day through night.” King hopes to see an increase in turnout for athletic events here at Central. “It would be really cool to see students supporting their peers, and to look up in the stands and see more students than just cheerleaders, the band, parents, and boyfriends,” King said. “Students—come to the games, support your peers, and turn the Pit into a monstrosity for our opponents.” King’s favorite aspect of Central is the sense of community that has been created here. “There seems to be more of a family atmosphere here at Central. Central is a real family,” King commented. “With our tradition and history here, it is a long-time family. It is a community family; a midtown family. It is almost like Central is a neighborhood with your close friends and family always nearby.” If Central is a family, Roger King is the most devoted and multi-faceted member. Whether you are a parent, student, teacher, or member of the Springfield community, the Voice of Central and his legacy can be heard across the entire town. FEATURE / 29

Club Highlight: Ping-Pong Club MAVERICK HILL / SENIOR REPORTER

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entral has a very large variety of clubs, which is fitting for our very diverse student population. One of those many clubs is Central’s pingpong club. The club has become a place where students can have a good time, enjoy themselves, and learn how to play table tennis. “The goal of pingpong club is basically letting people have fun and enjoy their life,” Theo Luan said. Luan, who has since graduated from Central, started Central’s pingpong club in 2018, during his sophomore year, as a way for him to have fun with friends and improve at pingpong while doing it. “I started a pingpong club because I am a huge fan of pingpong and I wanted to improve my skills,” Luan stated. Since Luan’s graduation, the pingpong club has found new leadership in current club president Jonah Swann. “I really enjoy pingpong. It is a fun way to spend time with friends and gain a new skill and passion as well,” Swann said.

Pingpong club held a tournament earlier this year, offering up vice president, secretary, and treasurer positions to the first, second, and third place winners, respectively. Another purpose of the tournament was to fundraise money for a new table for the club to use. According to Swann, the tournament had over 25 people sign up, which helped the club raise over $200 to put towards buying that new pingpong table they need. Though the pingpong club has raised a lot of money with Swann in charge, he says he is not satisfied and thinks there is still more he can do for the club—and pingpong in Springfield Public Schools. “I am also looking to [have] table tennis [become] a MSHSAA sport for SPS by the time I graduate,” Swann stated. Pingpong club meets every Friday after school from 2:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is always looking for new members, regardless of prior experience or skill level.

Ian Rogers, 11, returns a serve from Jonah Carter Meints, 9, makes a point winning Swann, 11. stroke against Ian Rogers, 11. 30 \ FEATURE

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Sign up for Journalism 1! From New Horizons: Journalism is a course designed to acquaint students with various aspects of journalism, to help students develop journalistic skills. This class is specifically designed to train students to work on the school magazine, online magazine and yearbook. Students develop their skills as writers by creating numerous original stories using various structures and writing techniques. The course also explores the comtemporary media and the ethical responsibility issues inherent in the press today. Students will learn the fundamentals of news, feature, editorial and sports writing. Copy reading, news style and editing will be stressed. Students will also learn to create computer generated layouts and graphics. Prerequisite: All students who enroll in Journalism I should have an A-B average in other English Language Arts classes. Seniors may enroll into Journalism I ONLY with the journalism teacher’s written permission. Completion of Journalism I with at least a B average is a prerequisite for Journalism II, yearbook, and newsmagazine production courses.

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Student Poll: Holiday Movies MORGAN MARTENS / REPORTER

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ith the holiday season in full swing, what better time is there for a poll on animated holiday movie preferences? This poll was taken by many different kinds of students at Central, and has shown some interesting results. This list was chosen because I did not want the obvious movies to be all of the options. Different responses would hopefully give this poll a different output from every other. There were 13 films to pick from, but many were not chosen.

The top five films take up 82.2% of the responses given, including a tie for first place between The Nightmare Before Christmas and Dr. Suess’ The Grinch. It is notable that many classic holiday films like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer were not popular responses, with most hovering around three percent popularity. For the sake of brevity, only the top five responses will be shown. These responses show the consensus of most students.

The Top Five Responses: The Nightmare Before Christmas

28%

Dr. Suess’ The Grinch

28%

Rise of the Guardians

11.2%

The Polar Express

10.3%

A Charlie Brown Christmas

4.7%

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Food Review

Power to the

EMMARIE LOGAN / REPORTER

E

very year there is a point where people start to put away the pumpkins and take the lights and tree out of the attic. Holiday tunes begin to play on every radio station, and the thought of celebrating Thanksgiving fades away as soon as it comes. Gifts are being purchased, decorations are reaching their final stages, and the winter activities and food reign throughout many households across the country. I am personally a huge fan of this time of year. I love bundling up to go look at christmas lights or drinking hot chocolate under a blanket while watching Hallmark movies (I know, super corny... do not hate). Although, one of my absolute favorite things during the holiday season is the food or seasonal limited time treats. Many people think of the Starbucks drinks or the limited time only Little Debbie cakes, but there are some items which do not receive as much recognition. Peppermint milkshakes are not very popular, which kind of makes sense. I went to a few very popular places around town to try the peppermint milkshakes I have been seeing on my TV for the past month.

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Steak ‘n Shake Steak ‘n Shake brings back so many memories for me. My family and I used to go there frequently when I was younger, and I would always order the foldable car things that you could have as a toy. Considering the word “shake” is in the name of the restaurant, you would have to believe their shakes were pretty good. Let me tell you, I was blown away by the peppermint shake from Steak ‘n Shake. The presentation of the shake threw me off because of how nice and neat it was. It had a candy crumble on top of the whipped cream and two cherries. It had really good taste, and I liked the ice cream they used more than any other place I tried. The shake did not taste overly artificial; the peppermint syrup some places drench their shakes in is really gross, but Steak ‘n Shake’s had a good blend of flavor. I did not think this shake was overpriced too badly; the specialty shakes are a bit more expensive because of their limited time, but I went during the happy hour time frame and ordered a medium-sized shake for the price of a small one at Chick-Fil-A, so I was pretty happy. I would 100% recommend this shake to anyone, and I will be going back for another before it goes away. This shake deserves the title as the best of the three shakes I tried.

Peppermint Braum’s I am sad writing this review because I love Braums. However, I was very disappointed with their peppermint shake. My mom and some friends of mine had even predicted that I would probably think Braums was the best, but I would rank it as my least favorite. There is the saying “You get what you pay for,” and I believe that to be true in this situation. I ordered a medium-sized shake for less than $4.00, and I think the price is set right for what I received. The taste was okay, but to put it straight, I felt like it was vanilla ice cream with random pieces of peppermint candy barely throughout the shake instead of a peppermint shake. Maybe my opinion sounds wack and Braums is the best to some, but I do not think I will be willingly ordering another one of their peppermint shakes. I love most of their food, but sadly this just did not match up to the other shakes from around town.

Chick-Fil-A Chick-Fil-A could be described as one of the best fast food places in Springfield, in my opinion. They have great food and one of the most welloiled drive-thrus I have seen in my life. I do not go as often as I would like because of the pricey menu, but whenever I do go, I am never unsatisfied. I was pleasantly surprised with this shake. It was very colorful and never lacked flavor when I took a drink. There were small pieces of peppermint candy and chocolate mixed in. It was thick, but not to a point where I could not drink it, which I appreciated. The presentation was not sloppy, and there was even a cherry on top. If I were going to complain about anything, I would say the shake was a little overpriced. I ordered a small shake, and it was over $4.00, and I had to switch out the straw provided to me with an extra Braums straw I had because Chick-Fil-A’s straw could not be used effectively with the thickness of the milkshake. Overall I would say if I went back to Chick-Fil-A, I would definitely contemplate buying another one before the season is over. HYPE / 35

Film Review: “Last Christmas” NED PICKETT / REPORTER

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hristmastime is here. Happiness and cheer, snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere, and inevitably, a day ruined by the unexpected playing of Wham’s 1984 hit “Last Christmas.” Two years ago, a romantic comedy directed by Paul Feig (“Freaks and Geeks,” “The Heat”) named after the song came out. I resolved to see it the moment I found out about it, but for some reason, I never did—until two days ago. Upon release, the film received somewhere between mixed and negative reviews. I went into watching the movie expecting utter garbage, but found it to be much more entertaining than I thought it would be. I am still torn on this film, however. On one hand, there is just something about “Last Christmas” that makes it so captivating I would have a hard time not recommending it. On the other hand, there are moments when I just wondered, “What in God’s name were the writers (Emma Thompson, who acted in “Sense and Sensibility” and “Love Actually,” and her husband, David Wise) thinking here?” “Last Christmas” is a personal redemption story, wrapped in a romantic comedy, disguised as a Christmas movie. It stars Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story”) as Kate Andrich, a rather selfish young woman who is down on her luck after a heart transplant. She is currently working in a Christmas shop but auditioning at local musicals as a singer in London. One night, she meets a guy named Tom Webster, played by Henry Golding (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “Snake Eyes”). Tom is a man who rides his bike instead of driving a car, volunteers at a homeless shelter, has no phone, and essentially acts as the kind of person many aspire to be. The two begin to fall in love, and Tom inspires Kate to fix up her life, make peace with her friends and family, volunteer at the shelter as well, and enjoy the things in life she had missed. One of the best parts about the film is without a doubt the chemistry Golding and Clarke share. In fact, the whole cast is hugely talented, with Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “Crazy Rich 36 \ HYPE

Asians”) playing Kate’s mother and boss respectively, being particular standouts. The relationship between Kate and Tom, however, outshines almost any other interaction in the film. The two have just a perfect system of two completely different people poking at each other in a flirty manner, one that feels like just the right balance of realism and entertainment. There is real heart to be found in this film, with the sequence of Kate’s attempt to reconcile with her sister, whom Kate outed, and her mother, whom she pushed away being surprisingly emotional. In addition, although there is little focus on it, there are some well done resonant scenes about anti-immigrant sentiment during Brexit. The comedy aspect does not fail either—there is a rather entertaining bit of a homeless man doing an absolutely spot-on impression of Elvis. In addition, Michelle Yeoh’s character and Kate’s boss at the Christmas store (the appropriately named “Santa”) have a fair bit of witty lines. All of this set to a soundtrack of George Michael’s and Wham’s lesser known songs plus two or three of their big hits leaves you a lot to like. Although the main meat of the story, so to speak, has quite a lot to it, the ending lost me on it a bit, with a bizarre twist ending that is so on the nose as it takes a line from “Last Christmas” to a point it should not be taken to. The twist is so bewildering thematically that it had me wondering how this had passed so many different levels of management, but at the same time feeling a sense of crazed respect for the sheer audacity of Thompson and Wise to have pulled this. And therein lies my dilemma—how did this ending affect my feelings on the film? Overall, it did not really ruin my experience of the movie, so I suppose I must say I quite liked “Last Christmas.” Despite my initial disappointment at not being able to hate-watch it, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how this turned out. “Last Christmas” may not be as good a romantic comedy as “Sleepless in Seattle” or as instant a classic holiday film as “Home Alone,” but I still feel I have to recommend you devote a day to viewing “Last Christmas” over your break.

Horoscopes

CADEN RECTOR-CURRENT / REPORTER

Aries: Mar. 21-Apr. 19 Taurus: Apr. 20-May 20 Gemini: May 21-June 21 Cancer: June 22-July 22 Leo: July 23-Aug. 22 Virgo: Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Aquarius: Jan 20-Feb. 18 Pisces: Feb. 19-Mar. 20 ARIES Be wary of men with sunglasses and khakis. They will try to steal your second most valuable item. They will take it to a supervolcano, and cast it into the fire.

CANCER At some point today you will yawn. This yawn will change the future of the world. This yawn could create war or peace, wealth or poverty, or even a new type of burrito. All this is in your hands. Good luck.

LIBRA Get off your phone and read a book, you jock. Learn something. It is good for you.

CAPRICORN Have you heard about your car’s extended warranty?

TAURUS Get your nose out of that book and go get on your phone, nerd. Socialize a little bit. Make some new friends.

LEO The FBI will seize your best friend’s third favorite item. You must figure out why.

SCORPIO The forces of nature have decided that you will find a very important worm. Care for it. Nurture it. Teach it. Learn from it. You will never know why this worm is important, but trust me, it is.

AQUARIUS You are the water bearer. Go hydrate. You really need that water.

GEMINI A rock will poison you. You must find the cure. You have 24 hours before you turn into an igneous rock. You will then be cycled through the earth for the rest of eternity. Good luck.

SAGITTARIUS VIRGO A giant wolf spider Your lucky numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, is hunting you down. You must fight it to save and 0. yourself from its fangs. The fangs are dipped in a type of posion that transforms you into what you are annoyed by most.

PISCES The last person you talked to will come to be known as “The Last Outlet.” You must decide what this means.

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Shayla Frost, 11, performs a solo in her role as Joseph. (Lauryn Duggins)

Antonio Starks-Fewell, 10, gets ready to make a play. (Reid Biggers) Griffin Ray, 11, shakes hands with his opponent during the varsity lineup. (Lauryn Duggins)

Allana Wilmoth, 12, and Ciel Backus, 12, begin the start of the fall musical. (Lauryn Duggins)

Photo Essay

Reid Biggers / Photo Editor Lauryn Duggins / Photo Editor

Jaxson Marte, 10, and Shayla Frost, 11, rehearse Act 2 for the musical. (Reid Biggers)

Seniors Ian Miller, Justin Schmitt, and Claire Sheeley sing during the tree lighting ceremony. (Elaine Klepper)

Chamber Choir poses together after the Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony. (Elaine Klepper) Josie Glynn, 11, sings a solo during “One More Angel in Heaven.” (Lauryn Duggins)

Caleb Doty, 9, looks to the referee ready to begin his match. (Lauryn Duggins)

Jamarius Lawrie, 11, shoots a free throw. (Reid Biggers)

NATALIE REECE / COMIC ARTIST