May Edition by crimsoncrier

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Thursday, May 10 2018, Issue 8

THE OPIOiD ADDICTION Teachers share family experiences with opioid abuse

Sidney Al-Dijaili Editor uns, knives and clubs are all tools used to inflict harm. Rarely is a pill or a drug seen equally as dangerous, yet where drug abuse goes, pain and death are sure to follow. During the week of May 9, schools across the country will take time to make their students aware of substance abuse and the negative effects that follow closely behind it. Meanwhile, Congress is currently debating 20 bills to confront the opioid crisis. These bills take a mostly public health approach to addressing the issue, aiming to improve access to treatment and regulation of painkillers. At the current moment, there have not been any definite bills constructed to approach this issue. To those like teachers Lisa Ivey and Lisa Miller, who both have sons that have been trapped by opioids and drugs, that is a slap in the face. For Miller’s 24-year-old son, Jake, his abuse of different drugs, including heroin, began after he left high school. One party, one night, transformed his entire life. “He never used drugs in high school. He did not start using until he was out of high school. He said he attended a party when he was 19 years old and there was a lot of drug use at the party. He thought ‘Well they are doing it and they seem okay,’” Miller said. From that night on, drug abuse became the lives of Jake and his friends. They used frequently, regardless of consequences, but these actions did not go without repercussions. “He went to Riverton Middle and Buckhorn. He said that all his close friends that he went through school with are all dead except him. They all died of overdoses,” Miller said. “My son has also been in blood sepsis four times from needle use where bacteria is introduced in the bloodstream and your blood and your system just become toxic. It is just a wonder that he has even lived through any of it.” Ivey’s son was also not untouched by the consequences of his actions. Like Miller’s son, Ivey’s son is a heroine addict but also is an opioid abuser. Where his abuse went, loss followed. “He lost everything. He lost custody of his son and is having to fight to try and get him back,” Ivey said. As both boys were suffering for their behavior, the mothers had to struggle to reach a level of understanding and acceptance. At first Miller refused to accept or believe that her son had a drug problem until overwhelming evidence made it a fact.

“I didn’t believe it at first, because he does not same things he is but he has the drug as his outlet have the personality that think would ever go to and I did not have an outlet as his mother,” Miller that. Then I think it is so common and that you see it said. “I had to deal with all the circumstances and he and you are around people that do it so you become would tell me that I needed to go to Al-anon. When desensitized to it. You think ‘if they are doing it and I finally did, one of the first things they talk about is they are okay, then I will be okay too.’ I never would that your life has become completely out of control. of thought that would of gone to being an IV drug Just connecting with those people has helped me user,” Miller. “I actually think [finding out] was a keep my head about me that I did not cause this and process. I did not believe it for a long time. I had to I cannot cure it.” kind of see it and see him with my own eyes but not The support that the families receive from the only that, seeing the significant toll it took when he groups is a huge help but to them, it is not enough. started getting arrested and seeing his appearance Action is necessary to bring about change to and just everything going downhill. You just can't combat the opioid crisis, yet the families do not see deny it. It is just not something you believe instantly. substantial work being done with not only Congress It is something you have to put your finger on.” but locally as well. Miller hope cause overdoses After the acceptance and realization began, so around the country. did the feelings of worry and stress for both mothers. “[I would implicate] action towards actually As they grappled to grasp the gravity of their son’s catching the distributors of the product. I think a lot issues, the worry of the possibilities of what could of fentanyl comes illegally into the country. There happen—if they were going to live—overtook their needs to be more done to stop the trafficking and lives. that is [just] with the illegal drugs. “You live with There is also the legal drugs. There that constant fear needs to be a stiffer penalty for “You live with that constant and anxiety. For a the pill doctors. It is a concern of fear and anxiety. For a year, my year, my last thought mine that there is people out there last thought would always be ‘Am would always be and there is nothing being done,” I going to get that call tonight?’ Miller said. ‘Am I going to get that call tonight?’ and Even though it has been a and then my first thought every then my first thought long road for the boys, one that is morning was ‘Is it going to be every morning was not quite yet finished, both have today?’ You have to learn to live and ‘Is it going to be made attempts to turn their lives today?’ You have around for the better. Miller’s cope with that fear as a mother. It is to learn to live and son is currently in a year-long just terrible.” cope with that fear rehab program, and Ivey’s son - Lisa Miller as a mother. It is just is currently winning the battle terrible,” Miller said. against his addiction and is no Though time longer using. Both mothers have high hopes for periods like this for families of abusers are extremely their sons and are proud that they have stepped up difficult, both mothers stress the idea that getting to give addiction a fair fight. help is one of the most important things a family “I tell him every time I talk to him how proud I needs to do. By getting help, families become better am of him now. He has come a long way but needs equipped to help their loved one deal with the to continue to keep up the good work. I tell him struggles they face. At this same time, families also to continue to go to meetings and church. He put learn to better understand the recovery process for himself in this position but he needs to keep up addicts, learning it is not an overnight fix. Miller in doing good things and it will work itself out. I don't particular turned to a support group known as Alonly tell him that I tell myself that everyday because anon, which transformed her approach to her son’s if you don't have faith I don't know how you get issues. through the journey” Ivey said. “Prayer and faith “For a long time, my son would tell me that I is the only thing that has gotten me through this need to go to Al-anon and I did not for a long time. I journey that is never ending. It has been a constant do think that is the best thing is for people to connect battle that if you haven't gone through it you truly together. It is an issue that makes you question don't understand it. It changes you and everything your own sanity. My life just got completely out of you do. People say you are different, but if they control like his did, because I am experiencing the only knew the battles I fight every day, they judge.”

80% of people who use heroin used prescription opiods as a gateway drug.

More than 115 people die everyday from opioid overdose.

42,249 people died from opioid overdose in 2016.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/

Stop, collaborate and listen. Spread is back in a new May edition. Read more on

pg. 10-11

11.5 million people in 2016 misused prescribed opiods.

News pg. 2-3 Spread pg. 10-11 A Opinion pg. 4-5 A&E pg. 12 pg. 6-7 Look Lifestyles Sports pg. 8-9 Inside

May 10, 2018

NEWS

May set aside for bringing awareness to stroke prevention Brianna Stewart Reporter

ew Year’s Eve two years ago, senior Connor Grochowski had a personal encounter with the effects of a stroke when his father suffered one. Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in Alabama and the number one cause of long-term disabilities in Alabama. “It was New Years Eve two years ago. My buddy Garret Bodine was staying at my house and we were getting ready to go to sleep around onein-the-morning. All of a sudden we were woke up by my mom screaming at us to come down stairs. I did not think anything of it so I tried to go back to sleep but she kept insisting something was wrong. I went downstairs and saw that there was something obviously wrong with my dad,” senior Connor Grochowski said. “He tried to say something but I could not understand what he was saying. One side of his face looked numb and droopy. He could only raise one of his arms, so my mom called an ambulance. I rode in the ambulance with the paramedics and we arrived at the hospital. The doctors ran a few tests on him and determined that he had a stroke. He was given medication and

a few hours later he slowly started to return to normal. We caught it early so he was able to recover quickly but if we would have waited any longer the damage could have been more severe.” Grochowski’s father benefited from Face, Arms, Speech and Time (FAST), a system developed by health care workers to detect strokes. The first step is checking the person’s face, ask them to smile and if it is uneven or droopy it is a sign of a stroke. Ask the victim to raise their arms, if only one raises or the other is not fully-mobile, this is another symptom of a stroke. Finally, ask the victim of the stroke to say a simple sentence, if you are unable to understand what they are saying, seek medical attention immediately. The (T) in FAST stands for time. Time is important in stoke situations because the longer it takes to obtain medical help, the more severe the long-term effects may be. If accessed early on, the stroke can be treated and taken care of in a timely manner, However, if left untreated, you may experience permanent damage such as: paralysis, numbness, weakness, memory loss and even death. This sudden damage to the brain is not to be taken as a joke, because it

FACE

ARM

Does one side of the face droop?

Does one arm hang downward?

could easily take a life. “The next couple of months did not change that much. The only notable difference in my dad was his driving ability and memory. He now has hard time changing lanes, which was not a problem before his stroke,” Grochowski said. “His memory is not all that great anymore. It is not terrible, but if I call him and tell him I am going to hang out with friends he will stop me at the door and ask where I am going. It is definitely not the worst thing that could have happened to him. He made a really good recovery, but it is the small things that have changed.” Starting in October of 2017, the Alabama Department of Public Health created a Statewide Stroke

System. This allows health care workers to direct where certain stroke victims where they have a better chance for treatment. “Stroke Alert monitors every hospital in the state so they can see what neuro teams are on what victim. They can tell you, ““Nope. Do not stop at Decatur General, go straight to Huntsville Hospital.”” They are now able to keep track of every stroke victim and direct them to the best possible area for treatment,” teacher Angela Holland said. “We now have better information of how to handle them better because time is brain. If you do not handle the situation within the first three to four-in-a-half hours you are stuck with a potential death. If you

SPEECH

Does the speech sound slurred or unclear?

can proactively get that person to definitive care within the first three hours there is probably an 80 or 90 percent chance they can recover better and faster, almost back to normal within a year’s time.” May is Stroke Awareness month. It is important to not only know the signs and symptoms of a stroke but the lifestyles to combat stroke. By dieting properly, refraining from smoking, drinking and checking your blood pressure regularly as you age can benefit your well-being. Keeping a regular physical activity schedule planned and watching your weight will lower your chances of having a stroke. Senior Griffin Gonterman knows all

TIME

If you see any of these symptoms, call 911.

too well the impact high blood pressure can have on the body. His father’s high blood pressure and stressful life contributed to a stroke. Gonterman and his brother entered their home to find their dad laying on the floor, not being able to more half of his body and mumbling instead of talking. They called 911. “He was in the hospital for about a week, but he recovered very well. But the thing is, not everyone recovers well having a stroke. There are a lot of long-term effects that people never overcome,” Gonterman said. “Strokes are nothing to take lightly, they are very serious and you would never expect it to happen to someone close to you.”

Prom Party

More cords added to graduation ceremony Dylan Brotherton Editor

here are multiple events taking place before the 2018 graduates will walk across the stage, take their diplomas and leave their childhood lives behind. Current seniors first must complete their end of semester testing, collect their last high school yearbooks, club cords, take part in the senior breakfast and rehearse. Cords are an important part of a graduation experience. One is given a cord to represent their time that was volunteered and assistance that was put toward a club or organization to help it succeed. Student government president Grant Whitt is receiving one stole and one cord before graduation. He is granted the stole and cord for his service of being an officer in SGA for two years, helping organize several school events and his active participation as a member of National Honor Society by completing the required 40 service hours. “The cord and stole are achievements that I will be able to look back on in the future,” Whitt said. “They mean a lot to me because they represent

Reporter

F A S T

what I have done in high school and how the clubs have given me the opportunity to make a difference around me.” Students strive to receive cord because it shows what they have been working towards throughout their high school years. A sense of accomplishment runs through one when a cord or stole is given to them. Throughout their high school experience, the club or organization the student was involved means something to them, it has become a huge part of who they are as a person. Memories and the work that students do for their community is what matters most to them. “The cords are a huge honor in my opinion because they show continued involvement and dedication to a particular organization or club. Each one holds a different meaning to me and relationships tied to it.” senior Camryn Shields said. “I have been blessed with opportunities to serve my school and community. I am thankful for each organization and how each one of them has shaped who I am today.”

fter five years, the never ending question in Madison County seems to have a final answer. In a 4-1 vote on Tuesday, April 24, the Madison County School board approved to move forward with the 2018 Capital plan without the building of a new Monrovia High School. The road to this vote was not an easy one. Meeting after meeting and vote after vote no solution nor compromise could be made for the future of the Sparkman Monrovia Community. The agreement to a joint meeting with the Madison County Commission and the Madison County Board of Education, moved the process along when the two groups met at the Huntsville Chambers of Commerce on Monday April 23, to discuss the resolution to a contract signed all those years ago. The contract signed in 2013 was an

agreement between the two parties that the commission would give the board $500,000 per year for a 10 year period. Projects like the building of Moores Mill Intermediate and the infamous “new high school” were among the list of things the commission listed must be done with the money allocated to the school system. Five years down the road with a new superintendent and nearly all new members sitting on the board, emotions run high when it comes to ending the agreement. The three hour meeting began with a presentation by Superintendent Matt Massey, giving the numbers behind Madison County Schools followed by the review of front and back pamphlet outlining all of Sparkman High Schools accomplishments both academically and athletically. The Powerpoint showed the lack of major growth within the system ultimately suggesting

the unnecessary need of a new high school. “The problem is not the performance of Sparkman High School,” County Commissioner Phil Vandiver said. “Principal Shaw is doing a great job over there.” Both sides of the tables stand divided with Chairman Dale Strong stronghold on building Monrovia High School but Commissioner Craig Hill questioning the county’s business in telling the school system what to do. The same appears on the boards side with Massey seeing no need in a new school but district five representative, Shere Rucker, pushing towards one if there was more funding. To settle the agreement made in 2013, Massey offered up a $2 million check to reimburse the Commission for the money already give as a part of the contract. With the absence of Commissioner Phil Riddrick they could

not accept the offer but Strong made it clear he did not like the idea. “The 2 million is not the issue,” Strong said. “We told the people of Madison County you were going to build a high school and there is still no high school.” Despite the meeting ending with no resolution to the five year problem, the first steps towards using the BRAC money were taken when the board approved funding to the Capital Plan previously discussed in November of 2017. This decision made on Tuesday April 24 provided the funding for the renovation and expansion of Sparkman High School along with other long term needs. “We are here to be advocates for the students with Madison County Schools,” Massey said. “It is time that we come in and have the opportunity to add some things and make some improvements that allow Sparkman to be a first rate school.”

Business Academy

Cyber Patriot

SGA

Engineering Marketing

SSO

Crusaders for Cancer Awareness

FCCLA

Thespian Society

Engineering

Journalism Honor Society

Honor GPA

Gilder Lehrman History

Medical Academy

Junior Civitan

FFA

Spanish Honor Society

Crimson Society Key Club

Ania Stover Editor

n the 2018-2019 school year new procedures regarding final exams will take place. The Madison County Board of Education voted on a exam exemptions will once again be accepted. This means that if a student has a certain grade and a specific amount of absences they will not have to take their final exam for that class. Absences due to approved school activities will not count against the student’s attendance records. “Good student attendance enhances learning and equates with academic achievement,” superintendent Matt Massey said. “When a student is not in school he or she misses valuable instructional time and opportunities to apply learning in classroom activities.” In the last school year there were 50,490 absences both excused and unexcused from just high school students. The board thinks that exam exceptions will solve that problem. They also wanted to give students who do not take AP classes to have a chance to miss their final exam. “We’re trying to approve our attendance,” Massey said. “That’s why this exception will be earned through a total number of absences being under a threshold.” Even if a student earns exam exception they still have the choice to take the final exam to raise their grade for the class. The final examination grade will count as 20 percent of the student’s final grade. Sophomore Danielle Patterson does not like the idea of exam exemptions. She feels that it is not fair to the students that do not have a choice on when they miss school. “I am someone who gets very sick a lot and misses school I feel as if it isn’t fair,” Patterson said.

Exemption Policy Course Average

Course Absences (no more than)

90.0

80.0

70.0

60.0

*School field trips/events will not count against student for course absences “I think that every kid should have to take the exam to show their progression in the class rather than sliding by with just going to class everyday.” Upcoming senior Dylan Brotherton would prefer to not take his final exams. Having good grades and working hard, he feels like it is a good way to acknowledge his achievements. “Other schools in our community have already moved towards exam exemptions and have had no problems with it so why should we,” Brotherton said. “I believe this give students with good grades and attendance the opportunity to skip testing on information their grades already show they know.”

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The Chosen One. Seniors select Mr. Frank McKenzie to give commencement speech. Photo

by Eric Mittman

Seniors choose calculus teacher for grad speech Kaylyn Jone Reporter

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Partying at Prom. The Sparkman Learning Community held their eighth annual prom on Saturday, April 28. Top: Junior Sarah Cosgrove poses with Patrick during lead out. Botton: Senior Destiny Jackson dances with senior Jason Dohrman. Balloons filled with glitter covered the dance floor and and the Cotton Candy ladies visited to entertain and keep the dance floor moving. All members of the SLC had escorts and all seniors leaving the program were crowned Prom King and Queen. The event

New Digs. Superintendent Matt Massey poses with Monrovia Elementary’s principal, Dr. Renee Headen. With the passing of the capitol plan, without a new Monrovia High School, the needed repairs to the elementary school were able to begin. Photo courtesy of Matt Massey

Students will get to exempt exams next school year

Guide to Graduation Cords Chemistry Club

Capital plan allows for major upgrades Saylor Cuzzort

May is Stroke Awareness Month

NEWS

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rimson Crier: How are you preparing for your speech? Frank McKenzie: Just thinking about the things I needed to hear when I was a senior in high school, as well as what I see in society as a whole and how it may affect the seniors in their lives over the next few years. CC: What did it feel like to learn you were voted to be the graduation speaker? Did you expect it to happen? FM: My Calculus students have said they were trying to get me as graduation speaker for the last four or five years. This year’s class said the same. I didn't give much thought about it actually happening. When I heard that I had been selected, I was nervous and honored and just overwhelmed. CC: What’s your favorite hobby? FM: I enjoy being outdoors. I always have some project I am working on. I do not really settle on one hobby. I like trying new things and learning new skills. Right now my project is preparing to build a new house and doing as much of the work as I can myself. I was an electrician for 10 years before I started teaching, so I have some construction experience. CC: How long have you been teaching at Sparkman? FM: I have taught at Sparkman for 14 years and teaching for a total of 17 years. CC: What’s your favorite thing about teaching? FM: I enjoy challenging students and helping them to be successful. I enjoy helping students develop an appreciation of math, since most come to me disliking it. CC: What schools did you go to in order to pursue your teaching career? FM: I graduated from Buckhorn High, completed my Bachelors degree at Athens State University and my Masters degree at Western Governors University. CC: Have you lived in Alabama your whole life? If not, where? (when did you move here, etc) FF: I have lived in Alabama all my life except for about a year where I moved all over the US while traveling as a stage manager and pyrotechnic specialist for a production.

Opinion

May 10, 2018

STAFF EDITORIAL

Opinion 5

The Crimson Crier

Students receive cords for breathing

Jacob’s Gibberish

Kanye’s recent controversy does not change my perception Jacob Whitlock Editor

have considered myself a Kanye West fan for several years. I believe he is one of the most influential artists ever, defining the sound of generations of hip hop music. However, perhaps more than with any other artist, his career has been a roller coaster of controversy that is difficult to justify at times. His most recent quarrel with mainstream opinion centers around his professed support of President Trump, however, Kanye has not positioned himself as necessarily a Trump supporter, but rather a Trump admirer. Even so, this can be hard for some who have unique personal attachments to him and his music. It is easy to see why they appeal to each other. Kanye and Trump are both very successful, but have an eternally aggrieved attitude because they feel that they are not the “right kind” of successful, and everything they do is centered around attempting to change the world around them to prove they are. Kanye, like Trump, feels he is not getting the right respect from the media and the people around him. Kanye continuously purports himself as a free thinker, and on its surface, these posts containing empty platitudes and madeup philosophy are not a problem. The issue arises when he uses his platform to misinform and talk freely without truth or context, like when he claimed that slavery was a choice. The truth is that all celebrities have narcissistic tendencies; Kanye just expresses his more outwardly. F u r t h e r m o r e , celebrities, in general, are politically out-oftouch, but Kanye, in his naturally contrarian fashion, chooses to be on the opposite side of that spectrum. We cannot expect the entertainment industry to be liberal hegemony and we should accept the idea that our idols might think differently. It disappoints me to know that Kanye has turned reactionary, but it does not change my opinion on him as an artist. I can still enjoy his music because I can, to an extent, dissociate it from his public persona. This whole situation could be an elaborate marketing technique, but we might never know, and that is what makes Kanye such a compelling cultural figure.

raduation is a time of celebration. It is a moment meant to recognize all of our accomplishments during our high school career. A traditional token of recognition are cords for achievements in clubs, classes or GPA. This year students received more cords than ever whether it was just for showing up to a class or club meetings. There are 26 cords available this year. Based on these new standards of excellence which is originally what the cords were supposed to represent, students might as well have been given one for breathing. In fact, some students are purchasing cords with the same colors of certain clubs online, possibly due to the fact that if they do not have at least one cord, they will be alienated. Practically

every student despite little accomplishment will have one so going cordless is the new outcast. It is almost like going naked. Aside from the fact that drowning in cords just looks plain tacky, it also hinders appreciation for actual student work. This issue is in part due to the self esteem movement. Everybody has to feel special even if they were lazy in a club or class or did not achieve as much as someone else. It is also partly due to students’ lack of respect and appreciation for their fellow peers’ accomplishments. Purchasing cords online despite lack of effort or even membership in a club is disrespectful to the sponsor of the club and students who actually worked in it. There are some students who did work above and beyond,

The Crimson Crier May 10, 2018 Issue #8 2616 Jeff Road Harvest, AL 35749 256-837-0331 www.crimsoncriernews.com thecrimsoncrier@gmail.com

Enrollment: 1854 Faculty: 105

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deserving the cords and stoles adorned on their graduation gown. But to appreciate their work will be difficult because we will not be able to differentiate those who worked and those who did not if they are

wrapped in a mess of cords. Needless to say, an accessory meant to showcase individuality, dedication and hard work is now a basic fashion statement.

Editor in Chief bids farewell to beloved staff

Natalie Craney Editor

his year had been a whirlwind of emotion. Some days were crazy and some days were calm but all ended with the overwhelming peace that only comes from God. Through the year I learned a lot about myself but I learned more about others, especially my staff. I learned that you can not

expect others to hold themselves to the same standards I hold myself to. I also learned that caring for people is the best way to love them. I found that actually sitting down with someone is the only way you will ever really get to know them. This position has opened numerous doors for me that I never even knew existed. If you would have told me freshman year that I was going to be the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, I probably would have slapped you in the face. I have never been the best writer so I would not have put it on my

schedule. But God has a great sense of humor and puts us right where we need to be and that is how I accidentally found my home. This year may not look like the most successful on paper, as far as awards go, but my staff organized a school walk out for the safety of our schools in less than a week. Personally, I think that is pretty impressive. We then were approached by a national news company and asked if they could do a story on us, sadly the administration did not want us to rock the boat any more than we already had. As for me personally

I have grown substantially in this program. In this past year I believe I have grown the most as a member of society. Since day one this class has made my stress levels rise but that is a skill everyone needs in the real world. I have learned how to cope with it, putting myself ahead of countless students that will have to learn stress management in their first job. I could not have done it without you guys. Thank you for an amazing year and an amazing experience. I will never forget it.

The Crimson Crier will report objectively on issues directly and indirectly affecting the student body and the school community. As student journalists, we understand our role in a global society to abide by the ethics of professional journalism in order to ensure a more informed student body. Policy The Crimson Crier is an open forum for free expression by the Sparkman High School Community. The Crimson Crier is a student-run publication produced in the state of Alabama. All final design, reporting and content decisions are the responsibility of the student journalists of Sparkman High School under the guidance of their adviser. The views articulated in The Crimson Crier do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, Sparkman High School or the Madison County school district. Copies are distributed to the faculty, staff and student body free of charge. The Madison County Record prints 2,000 copies, eight times yearly. Letters to the Editor The Crimson Crier will print all letters to the editor as long as space will allow, and may edit letters for grammatical mistakes. All letters to the editor must be signed and include contact information of the writer. Letters can be dropped off at the Sparkman High School newsroom (127) one week after publication.

he Alabama gubernatorial race is heating up as candidates debate (except incumbent Kay Ivey) to show their potential and strengths. There are two main players for the Republican primary: Huntsville mayor Tommy Battle and Gov. Kay Ivey. For the Democrats, Tuscaloosa City mayor Walt Maddox gains more attention along with former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb. The race is nowhere near as tense as the recent senate special election between Doug Jones and Roy M o o r e . But it is still the most

interesting event in Alabama politics at the moment. With the primaries coming up in June, what we value is most important. It is difficult to say yet who to choose but what comes to mind as most important is morality. Which is often easy to forget. Tommy Battle. A popular candidate as he holds Huntsville’s heart and is credited with its achievements. Even his background and home life are appealing as his wife is teacher who started the nonprofit organization Free 2 Teach. But what strikes Tommy Battle out is his forfeit o f

morals. Everyone ignores a simple fact. During the previous senate race, Tommy Battle said he was going to vote Republican no matter what. This was in the context of the revelations over Republican Roy Moore’s past with teenage girls which meant Battle would vote for the candidate even if he believed he was a pedophile. It is completely immoral to choose party over morality. Kay Ivey. The current governor. Kay Ivey has made some accomplishments for our state. Not all as agreeable a s

some. But once again, Ivey chose party over morality. Kay Ivey claimed to believe the women who were accusing Roy Moore and still said she would vote for him. Why forsake all morals for the purpose of power? It is easy for constituents to ignore this. It is all they know. Choosing morality over power is not a custom in Alabama or even the United States. But that has to change. We need to ask ourselves if we really want a governor like that. We need to ask Tommy Battle and Kay Ivey if they really want to be that kind of governor. If not, replace them with someone m o r e honorable at the polls.

Human greed, selfishness puts vulnerable animals at serious risk Christian White Editor

e, as humans have the responsibility to protect and conserve the many species of animals that we have put in danger with our expansion. By putting them in danger, we put ourselves in danger as well. It is often a chain reaction. When a species becomes endangered, it is a sign that the ecosystem is slowly dying. Humans depend on healthy ecosystems to purify our environment. Without healthy ecosystems, we will not have clean air, water, or land. If we allow our environment to become contaminated, we risk

our own health. It is estimated that the extinction rate is accelerating 1,000 times faster now than in the past with expansion spreading in the uninhabited areas of the world, thus causing anywhere from 100 to 500 extinctions per year. These extinctions include all species from small amphibians to larger mammals. This world does not belong to humans. We do not own it and must share it. We continue to ignore this with eyes for nothing but profit as species around the world suffer and diminish. Endangered species should be protected simply because it is

Claudia Martinez Editor

Editor-in-Chief Natalie Craney Opinion Editor Camille Herren In-Depth Editor Griffin Gonterman News Editor Ania Stover Lifestyles Editor Shelby Lopez Sports Editor Jacob Whitlock A&E Editor Sydney Goggans Copy Editor Andrew Atchley Managing Editor Sidney Al-Dijaili Business Editor Saylor Cuzzort Photo Editor Cady Harbin Web Editors Dylan Brotherton Poll/Inforgrahic Editors Alaura Gordon Jessica Turnage

Photo Illustration by Storm Jessett

Social Media and Video Editor Jacob Whitlock Reporters Danni Jo Grider Storm Jessett Kaylyn Jones Claudia Martinez Megan McGraw Malik Nerelus Kennan Potts Brianna Stewart Jordan Waldrop Matthew Walker Christian White Bradley Wright Adviser Erin Coggins, MJE

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@TheCrimsonCrier Credentials The Crimson Crier is a member of Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Alabama Scholastic Press Association and Southeastern Interscholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll. The Crimson Crier is a two-time CSPA Silver Crown winner, a consistent CSPA Gold medalist, NSPA First Class medalist and ASPA AllAlabama rating.

the right thing to do. It is wrong that due to our expansion that we are willing to wipe out millions of animals and thousands of species and we must make amends. Our world is full of diversity and that is great. The beauty that this diversity causes and that these animals give to the world is not a gift that should be taken so lightly. The last male Northern White rhino died on March 20, 2018, in a conservancy in Kenya, marking the impending extinction of a species older than humans. These rhino were hunted to near extinction starting in the 1960s. This is an extreme example of human

disregard for nature in search of nothing but profit for themselves. Humanity is selfish. As of 2018, less than 4,000 wild tigers remain in the entire world; let me repeat, the entire world. The biggest of the big cat family was hunted to near extinction in the 1900s for their pelts, as they fetched high prices on black markets. At one point, the wild tiger population was less than a thousand. This prompted conservation projects to take place immediately and as a result, the population has reached an estimated 3,890. This proves conservation attempts have been successful and can continue to be in the

future. It also proves that they are worth the time and effort. We, as the cause of these problems must be part of the solution of these crimes. Conservation efforts such as sanctuaries and poaching penalties may just be the solution we are looking for. To the delight of conservationists and wildlife lovers around the world, many governments around the world have begun to recognize this problem and take action. The United States, for example, has enacted the Endangered Species Act. It is a key legislation for both domestic and international conservation. The

act aims to provide a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats. This was a fantastic first step in the effort to save wildlife. India has enacted my personal favorite policy of conservation, shooting poachers on sight. The conservation of endangered animals is a worldwide problem. Humans take this world and all who inhabit it for granted. We put millions of animals in danger every year and we must put aside our selfishness to preserve what we have destroyed and prevent this destruction from continuing.

Starbucks incident proves racial profiling still an issue

Staff

Party conflicts can make some candidates unfavorable Camille Herren Editor

Printed with rights by Creative Commons

Mission Statement

t is difficult to imagine that in today’s world an African-American man cannot simply wait on friends in a coffee shop without being harassed for the color of his skin. One would think that as the years go on that we would learn that we should not always “judge a book by its cover.” The recent incident at a Philadelphia Starbucks is not something that we can just put behind us or cover up with other stories. The two men were arrested then set free after Starbucks decided not to press charges. They were not only humiliated but held against their

own character because they were black. The employee saw them as a threat even though they came in and sat down like every other normal person. The president of Starbucks, having taken too many hits of this nature, demanded action so he closed all Starbucks on a Sunday and required all employees to undergo diversity training. The goal of this training is to make Starbucks employees more cognizant of how they treat people of different races. Despite Starbucks efforts to cure a problem, the overall issue is that this type of racial profiling is happening in the streets. It is going

on in front of the naked eye but no one sees it because it is different on the streets than it is in a restaurant or coffee shop. All one can do is keep walking and take comments or looks with a grain of salt. There is not a doubt that everyone has their own opinion about different races or people in general, but how is bias training going to help the overall issue. Yes, it will help in some cases but how long will that last. How long will it take for these people that go through extensive training not to stereotype every ethnicity race gender or religion? I feel like the idea of bias training is a waste of time because one can

change the stereotype of a person to someone but the perception of them will not ever change. It is so drilled into their minds that even if it did work it would not have long term effects. Within a couple months tops they will go back to thinking the same things and doing the same old mannerisms. Of course it will not hurt anyone to undergo bias or diversity training, but a real solution would be for everyone to imagine themselves on the other side of comments or biased actions. Until we learn from our mistakes, we will keep hurting people in the process.

Mixing big business with politics is recipe for disaster for our democratic institutions Andrew Atchley Editor

here is a huge and undesirable mixing of business and politics going on in the modern United States. Various political interest groups dominate our country’s institutions and it does not lead to a favorable outcome for the rest of us. A RepresentUs study found that for the bottom 90 percent income earners there is zero correlation, literally, between how popular an idea is and how likely it is to be passed. Both bills with zero percent popularity and 100 percent popularity had a roughly 30 percent chance to become law. However, for the elites they found that popular bills were much more

likely to pass and unpopular bills were likely to be blocked. If zero percent of elites support a bill, there is a near-zero chance of Congress making it law. If 100 percent of elites support a bill, the odds of a bill passing are over 60 percent. The biggest difference between rich and the poor is that the poor cannot afford to make huge campaign donations, and cannot afford to pay for lobbyists. The result is that the silent majority is unheard. We can see the effects of our government run by special interests on basically every major issue. The gun lobby blocks any attempt to regulate the purchase of guns, even when a majority of Americans support universal

background checks and an assault weapons ban. Our military budget is among the highest in the world, funding arms producers with plenty of bureaucratic waste for good measure. Our healthcare program costs the government more than any other in the world per capita, yet coverage is extremely low. Where is the money going? A new set of Goldman Sachs bankers get appointed to key economic advisory positions every new presidency, and we are surprised when banks get bailed out after making poor decisions? The people who were foreclosed on after the market crash were not given such an opportunity. Real wages continue to drop even though

Photo Illustration by Jacob Whitlock

productivity and profit margins are at an all time high. People are growing tired of waiting for the wealth to trickle down. People are told to get used to a having a job for which they are overqualified, or become unemployed, because their factory just outsourced to a

foreign country where they can pay their workers less. The common theme is that the people that politicians are getting paid by get what they want more than everybody else. The best solution would be to repeal Citizens United and remove

corporate money from our political process. This would make it so our politicians will value everybody’s concern equally. Then, hopefully, we could live up to our country’s reputation as a country by the People and for the People.

May 10, 2018

Lifestyles

Students use time after high school to complete mission for church Jessica Turnage Reporter

hese two brothers always knew what they wanted to do after graduating from high school. Usually people enter the world of college but instead of college Andrew and Michael Lowe entered the world. As Mormons they did a gap year to minister the word of Christ. “My gap year was actually two years from August of 2015 to August of 2017 during which I served as a fulltime missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, also known as the Mormon church,” Michael Lowe said, “For my service, I was assigned to work in the Colorado Denver South Mission under the direction of President Murdock and then later President Gifford, who during their respective time assigned me to certain areas and missionary companions under the direction of revelation from God.” Michael says that their missionary purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Even though the brothers were prepared on what they were supposed to do, they still had some fears. “Meeting new people and talking to strangers are two of my biggest fears. I had to get over

those pretty quickly. We would spend every day from when we would wake up and go to sleep going out and finding people to teach about our church. We would do service acts to anyone we found,” Andrew said They do not get to choose where to go. Andrew was in Canada while Michael was stationed in Colorado during his years. Andrew says that he has looked forward to this his entire life. Michael says a full-time mission is something that is heavily encouraged by the church in the youth as young as 3 years old. So for him this mission trip was something a long time coming. “This was the most defining point in my life. It's like the kid who always wanted to be a pilot getting to fly a plane for the first time, we went out there and enjoyed every bit of it,” Michael said. What Michael learned the most from his mission trip was the limits placed on the power of God. He had the opportunity to teach a family in which the parents were members of his faith but had not been to a service in years.. On their next visit a few days later, there was a clear difference in the spirit in the home and the appearance of the family. Andrew learned how to do better time management from personal and day to day life and how to be a more open person. But during Andrew’s trip

something happened and his time was cut drastically. “I was gone for five months. I was supposed to be gone for two years. We were cleaning off ice off the sidewalk. We were cleaning off one our church buildings. I started walking across the ice to get to the other side so I could clean it. I ended up in a free slide and after about twenty feet, I felt onto my right knee and tore my PCL,” Andrew said. Andrew is currently still recovering from surgery he underwent April 20. After this he has to recover for a year then continue his mission trip before he goes to college to study geology and education and Michael is currently pursuing a business management degree. But the trip gave them long lasting experiences. Andrew helped some people find God. One of his favorite memories was sharing the story of a man who got on drugs and was heavy drinker. The man was hit by a train. They found him right afterwards and started teaching him about God and that man changed his life after that. “When all you do is go and talk to people 24/7 you get a lot of different experiences. I have met some of the nicest people who had no interest in the Christian faith,” Michael said. “ I have met Christians who could give the devil himself a run for his

In the Air. Juggling chicken nuggets, senior Reid McNabb shows off his new talent to a classroom full of students. McNabb did not drop a nugget during his presentation. Photo by

Megan McGraw

Senior finds passion in juggling Camille Herren Reporter

xpression is subjective. Sometimes people express themselves with their talent. And through a unique talent lies an unexpected hidden inspiration: God. Senior Reid McNabb started juggling in the eighth grade and really began to practice the skill his junior year. He learned it by seeing The Crazy Tie Guy perform for end-of-year ceremonies for Upward basketball with Mount Zion Baptist Church. Since then, he has found a new purpose.

“In the Bible, Philippians 4:13 says ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ So the least I can do is give credit where credit is due, and I’m glad I can do that right here. I could take it further and go around the world juggling and preaching the gospel like The Crazy Tie Guy does, but I’m not there yet, and God has given me plenty of work to do here at home right now, so I’ll just wait and see if he calls me to do it,” McNabb said. Some patterns take McNabb less than a minute to learn. Others take weeks to months.

In fact, he has learned nine new tricks in only a week. It tends to vary based on the pattern. “I don’t know if I would say that I’ve mastered it. Especially since there are many other jugglers out there that can do much more than I can, but I’m young so I hope to have time to reach their ranks. To me, many people seem rather impressed at the level I juggle at, so because of the attention it gets, I really want to use this gift to glorify God in a way similar to that of the juggler that inspired me,” McNabb said. McNabb can juggle

money. I have even met a man who worships Odin. Seriously. But the greatest experiences I had were watching seven people make the changes in their lives to draw closer to God. Nothing I have ever experienced surpasses that feeling.” Michael says if there is one thing that he would do differently it would be becoming more dedicated to live by the rules of the missionaries. Michael’s favorite thing about the trip, though, was the people and the friends he made. Andrew enjoyed exploring new places, seeing different landscapes and meeting new people. “A lot of these experiences taught me more about myself that I didn’t know about. 18 years of living, I still didn’t know things about myself.: like

Lifestyles

The Crimson Crier

Junior visits Japan as the region’s Young Marine of the Year Camille Herren Reporter

hen the military becomes a solid family tradition, young people find themselves facing a choice between the branches. For junior Sam Styes, the decision was the Marine Corps. Styes wants to be a pilot. With the path he has picked, he will be the first Marine in his family. And with the rich military family background dating back to the Spanish American War, Styes finds excitement in this decision. “I have always wanted to go into the military. My grandfather and uncle were in World War II. My uncle was a fighter pilot. My grandpa flew C planes and stuff. They wanted me to be a pilot and I always liked airplanes. I first wanted to go into the Navy and be a pilot. But then I wanted to be the first Marine in my family if there was aviation in the Marines and there was. That has always just been one of my passions. Especially since I’ve got in high school, I have wanted to go to the Naval Academy and become a Marine Officer and through that become a pilot,” Styes said. For the 73rd anniversary of the Hiroshima bomb, Styes had an experience unlike any other. Through a nonprofit organization which develops skills like leadership and teamwork, called the Young Marines, he flew out to Hiroshima and met veterans who fought in the area during WWII. He had spoken to veterans before but received no perspective like this. “When you talk to them it is like talking to any other veteran but they were at this event and when they go back, a lot of times it is the only time, they are ever going to go back. One of them was showing me where he was when he landed. It was interesting talking to them. It was a different side than just talking to someone that [says] ‘I was in Iraq.’ Because you are not there. You can’t go back. It is still an active war zone. Being there 70 years after battle, it is different,” Styes said. “One [veteran] was a Marine who watched the second flag go up on Hiroshima on the twenty third of February, 1945. It was an interesting story.” From March 18 to 26, Styes not only went to Hiroshima but Guam as well. While Hiroshima had volcanic grounds, Guam was a different and almost dangerous experience.

helping people and how much I liked actually meeting new people and making new friends,” Andrew said. Michael says that he was so thankful for the opportunity to have had to serve a mission. Also to meet and talk to new people. He also still keep in contact with people met during those two years. “Right now, I wouldn't go back. But if God were to reveal that He needed all Returned Missionaries back in the field as soon as possible, I would immediately sign up.” Michael said.

A Soldier’s Soldier. Showing an interested visitor how a World War II era gun was loaded, junior Sam Styes uses his passion for war history to participate in the Courtland Celebrates the 1940s event. Photo by Erin Coggins

“When you got to Guam, it felt like Hawaii. But it was a lot smaller. Sometimes the jungle is so dense, that there are planes from World War II that they have not found. There is unexploded ordnance on parts of the island, so if you walk too far you might step on a landmine. There’s still stuff out there,” Styes said. The military can be deployed in all kinds of locations. Some are more exciting or safer than others. Styes has a few ideas for his location of choice and foresees where he may have to go. “I am open to a lot of spots. I am probably going to do 25 years in the military so I am probably going to have a couple of tours in Afghanistan because we are probably still going to be over there by the time I get in the military. Probably going to be stationed in Korea because that is where a lot of the Marines are sent to first. Sometimes in Japan. The Marines have a base in Hawaii so it is really all over the world,” Styes said. 1st Sgt. Walter Jones says joining the military is

an ‘individual thing’ whether rich or poor. He says he applauds those who sacrifice themselves to join and commit their service. “I think it is good if the person has that in their heart. Whether or not they want to serve their country. You will find some have a ready made mind to serve his or her country. My mind was made up when I was in ninth grade. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I had all my relatives who were military. Uncle that was in the Marine Corps. Uncles that were in the Navy, Army. And I had to make a choice. Which one that I wanted to join. But I knew that I wanted to be a part,” Jones said. Jones suggests research before joining a particular branch. Talking to the branches’ recruiters and finding out the jobs they offer is a smart idea according to Jones. “I tell young people now. Go in, have fun, don’t worry about the years. The years will come. Do your job,” Jones said.

Annual senior award inspired by school namesake Danni Jo Grider Reporter

People Along the Way. Andrew and Michael Lowe pose with a young lady that they meet throughout the travels. As members of the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Lowe brothers must complete a mission after graduating high school. Since his mission is over, Michael has returned to school. Photo courtesy of the Lowe brothers

more than just a few colorful balls. According to senior Tristan Mariani, McNabb has juggled ring objects, chicken nuggets and even phones. McNabb’s friends really enjoy it. “We were once on a beach breakaway with our church. A big circle formed of people and someone would go in the middle and do different stuff. Everyone would cheer for them no matter if it was really cool or something stupid or funny. It took a little bit but me and some of Reid’s other friends convinced him to go in there and he juggled four rings in the middle of the circle,” Mariani said. Mariani describes McNabb as extremely focused when he is juggling. McNabb is honed in on his hobby so that he can keep the objects up in the air rather than getting distracted and having them fall to the floor. Not only that but Mariani describes the focus as a sort of peace for McNabb. “I guess it’s kind of a meditation thing for him. Reid thinks a lot. Sometimes he will think out loud. He’ll talk out loud. I think it is a healthy thing for anybody. Juggling is almost like the whole

“I have finally found an actual hobby that takes up time that I’d otherwise be spending on a screen, so I would say that God has given me something that makes me feel somewhat fulfilled” - Reid McNabb

fidget spinner thing. People who use the fidget spinners, like ADHD people, do it so they can focus on something else. So in a way that might be what he is doing with the juggling,” Mariani said. Juggling is nothing new to McNabb as his father also knows a few tricks. He sees that the patterns that jugglers can make can be beautiful and appreciates the time he spends on it. “I’ve finally found an actual hobby that takes up time that I’d otherwise be spending

on a screen, so I would say that God has given me something that makes me feel somewhat fulfilled. My parents used to tell me, and I’ve always told myself, that I didn’t do anything, but now I do. Not to say that I finally found a purpose in life. Following Jesus has been my purpose. This is more of a quality of my persona now,” McNabb said. “Some people praise The Lord with books or songs or paintings; I don’t see why I shouldn’t praise him with juggling.”

Catch Reid in Action at www.crimsoncriernews.com

ince 1973, the school has honored a graduating senior the John Sparkman Award, named after the school’s namesake, Sen.John Sparkman. Until 2016, this award has been given with a check at graduation by Sparkman’s grandson, Taze Shepard. “Presenting the award at Sparkman High School graduations has added to my being proud of my grandfather as he continues to be a great example for young people who may consider going into government service,” Shepard said. Every year the faculty chooses a student who possesses good character, solid academics and is personable, kind, appreciative and well respected by their

peers, as the recipient of this award. Some recent recipients include Braden Garrison in 2017, Christopher Little in 2016 and Kyle Anderson in 2015. “We as teachers consider the student’s leadership, character and scholarship. These characteristics are similar to those of Sparkman. He was very well respected in the community because he was always trying to push for the betterment of students and the community,” history teacher Jennifer McKinney said. Sparkman was the son of relatively poor farmers in Morgan County and had to work to pay his way through the University of Alabama undergraduate and law school. His first job was in Tuscaloosa, shoveling coal at night for the steam boiler that provided heat for

the buildings. He did this while also going to classes in the daytime. “Despite having to work and attend classes, he became editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper and president of the student government,” Shepard said. The effort he put into his activities in Tuscaloosa showed how much he valued education. In addition to Sparkman High School, Sparkman School in Somerville is also named after him, showing his dedication to Alabama’s school system. “He was very pleased to have your school named after him, and I also am pleased that his example may inspire current and future students to value their education too,” Shepard said. Shepard described his grandfather’s best quality as a combination

of qualities. He was very smart and very hard-working, but he was also very open and personable. “He could come into a room, meet everyone and make friends, and he never seemed ‘too important’ or ‘too busy’,” Shepard said. Sparkman was a traditionalist in the sense that he always supported the president's programs when he could, regardless of which party the current president represented. He concentrated his own efforts on pocketbook issues like better jobs and housing and helping small businesses. “I have always been proud of my grandfather, not only because he achieved high office, but because he was a good person and really tried to help people,” Shepard said.

The Notable John Sparkman After graduating from UA Law School, Sparkman established a legal practice in Huntsville, Alabama. He won the election to the House of Representatives in 1936 and served as House Majority Whip in 1946. He left the House in 1946 after winning a special election to succeed Senator John H. Bankhead II. While he was in the Senate, he helped establish Marshall Space Flight Center. Sparkman served as Adlai Stevenson II’s running mate in the 1952 presidential election, but they were defeated by the Republican ticket of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. He became the longest-serving Senator from Alabama in 1977. Sparkman chose not to seek re-election in 1978, and retired from public office the following year.

Making Music. Able to play a variety of instruments, sophomore Ethan Dixon demonstrates how to play the jaw harp. Photo by Dylan Brotherton

Unusual instrument makes life interesting for student

Brianna Stewart Reporter

rom a young age sophomore Ethan Dixon has learned to play various and unique instruments. At 3-years-old, Dixon began to learn how to play piano, later moving on to different types of guitars, including bass, electric and acoustic. More recently he has picked up playing the Jew’s harp or better known by the names jaw harp or mouth harp. This type of instrument has an iron or steel frame and a tempered iron tongue. The harp is placed in front of the teeth which must be separated as they player plucks the tongue on the instrument and silently says the sounds of the vowels. “The Jew’s harp is definitely one of the instruments that I play that gets the most attention, not many

people know what it is or how it is played,” Dixon said. While Dixon does not intend to make a career out of the many instruments he plays, he writes songs that go along with each of them. Originally he started playing each instrument simply out of curiosity, and he continued wanting to know more and more about them. He only plays and writes songs for his own amusement. He never intended for it to catch on. “Music is for my own entertainment as of right now, I never really knew people would be so interested into knowing that I was able to play instruments in the way that I do,” Dixon said. “I love what I do, I love the different sounds they all make,” Dixon said, “Music will always be apart of my life, and it will always tell different story.”

May 10, 2018

Sports

TAking A LEAP

Shelby Lopez Editor

unning, weightlifting, training and flying through the air. These four things characterize one of the most overlooked and dangerous sports according to ABC News and Gamespot: Pole Vault. Pole vault is a track and field event that incorporates running and jumping with a long, flexible pole in order to pass over a horizontal crossbar. Sophomore Jon Keiser has been pole vaulting since he was in sixth grade and knows the effort and dedication it takes more than any other student, due to him being the only pole vaulter at the school. “We have a friend from church who said I would be good at it so I decided to give it a shot and now I win,” Keiser said. Keiser also competes in discus, javelin and shot put at most track meets and has ran at others in order to qualify for the decathlon. “The decathlon is a separate event from state,” Kesier said. “It felt great to be the only one from the school to qualify for it. “ Despite his young age, Keiser has beaten multiple seniors in these events and has qualified for state. “I throw 119 feet for discus and 38 feet for shot put,” Keiser said. “My PR (personal record) for pole vault is 13 feet and 1 inch.” In pole vault, Keiser has to lift his body over the crossbar without touching it or letting his pole knock it off. The motion from sprinting to vaulting in the air requires incredible strength and training in multiple areas. In order to do this, Keiser trains in the gym almost every day as well as practices at University of Alabama in Huntsville with his coach. “I already go to the gym almost every day, but once the season is over I can really focus on going to the gym in the morning and night and focus on toning,” Keiser said. “When I start toning more, I’ll have to really focus on meal prepping and change my diet in general.” Senior April Johnson has competed alongside Keiser since her sophomore year and has seen him improve over the past seasons. Johnson practices with Keiser for discus and shot put and has developed an appreciation for his “helping methods.” “I’ve known Jon for a few years now and I have always seen him work hard for the success he now has in this sport,” Johnson said. “I’m glad to have him as a teammate and he always there for a “helpful” critique when you need it and sometimes when you don’t want it.”

The Trifecta...keiser Sets Personal Records Pole Vault

Javelin

Discus

13 feet 1 Inch

146.5 Feet (school Record)

119. 8 Feet

by Scott Lowe

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SPORTS

Sports to face area changes next season

Sophomore qualifies for state, sets school and personal records along the way

Getting a Lift. Racing toward the jump zone, sophomore Jon Keiser prepares to make his jump. Keiser was the only school athlete to qualify for the state decathlon competition. Photo

The Crimson Crier

ith the addition of multiple schools to the 7A class, the varsity football team and varsity basketball team schedules will appear much different next year. Head football coach Laron White and head basketball coach Jamie Coggins both had successful seasons this past year and hope to repeat this again. Coggins has played some of the teams being added to the area in the past and is able to prepare his team efficiently against them. “It’ll be very different and new, but we have been playing Huntsville for years and now they will be in our area so we are used to playing them,” Coggins said. “We also have beat Grissom a couple of times and they are in our area now as well as Gadsden City, who we have not played in a couple of years.” The new additions to 7A might cause some coaches to change their gameplay. However, Coggins has confidence in his team and his strategies that have proven to win game after game. “I don’t really think we’ll change our gameplay at all,” Coggins said. “We always try to win the area games during the regular season and now we have different teams to place emphasis on.” Basketball loses James Clemens, Bob Jones and Buckhorn as area foes while football loses Buckhorn but adds two teams. White is focusing on different teams than Coggins but also plans to keep his winning record the same. “We had some quality teams added to our region,” White said. “The addition of Austin and Florence makes our region a lot tougher and we don’t have any easy games but plan to adjust to the new accordingly.” White plans to focus on the depth of the football team more so than anything else. He plans to strengthen his team and increase the playing level of all of his athletes. “We have to always have someone ready to play,” White said. “You have to be able to have your second string running back in against a quality team and still expect to win.”

Touchdown. Senior Devin Kimbrogh rushes past a James Clemens defender in the first win over the rival. All photos by Scott Lowe/ Story by Matt Walker

Winning year in review Darron Howard

Maddie Cardamone

Dell Pettus

The guys basketball team broke their new court out in style. The high flying, high scoring team dominated at home and throughout the season sporting a 31-4 record and 8-0 area record. The guys team and girls team had an oddly similar season. Both teams opened up on a brand new, shiny floor. Both squads went undefeated in area play. Both squads won their area tournament. Both teams avenged losses to Hoover with second round victories over the Bucs and both teams got put out in the Final Four by McGill-Toolin. The highlight of the guys season was the shot that should have went in. The score was all tied up, and Sparkman had the ball. Senior Darron Howard got a clean look to send the Senators into the 7A Championship game, and his 18-foot jumper went halfway in, and rolled out. Even though the shot was missed, it was probably the most edge-of-your-seat type moment all sports season across all the major sports. The guys team has major shoes to fill next year as they are losing four of five starters.

The varsity cheerleading team, which always strives for, and comes close to reaching, perfection, had another great year. For the first time ever, the team competed in the World Championship on Feb. 11. They walked on the mat having already placed second in the nation ready to take on the world competition. After hitting a flawless routine, they were named the champions of the world and received white jackets. On the road to Orlando, the squad first won regionals before dominating at state. It was an impressive run of dominance, as they beat some teams at state by almost 100 points. Each year the team grows as a family but yet some still must graduate. Next year’s season holds some uncertainty as nine seniors are moving on to the next stage of their lives. As the team changes with each year, seniors always hope the ones behind them will go on to bigger and better things. This loss of extreme talent leaves the 20182019 squad with a legacy to uphold.

The football team had a great bounce back year. After over 10 years of mediocrity, the football team was finally able to string some big wins together. They finished the year at 9-4, and they were a solid 6-2 in the region. They made their first playoff appearance since 2006. New head coach Laron White made an immediate impact and was named Alabama 7A Coach of the Year. Three players were also named to the all state team. None of their nine wins were bigger than the early season upset of James Clemens at their home stadium. The student section was packed full to witness the dominant defensive performance as the Senators cruised over the Jets 20-6. This win put them on the inside track to make the playoffs. After this win they took care of business versus weaker competition and made the playoffs as a three seed. The upcoming seniors have big shoes to fill, especially on the offensive side of the ball as senior quarterback Devin Kimbrough along with senior running back Hunter Gibson and star left tackle Isaac Edwards are departing.

“I lived and died with this team. It took some time for me to overcome that loss in the Final Four, but these guys really showed what a true team is.

“Working on the little things is important because there is no feeling better than hitting a routine.”

Mildred’s Restaurant 27926 Main St, Ardmore, AL 35739 southern made-from-scratch cooking served buffet-style

“GO SENATORS”

- teacher Erin Coggins

- senior Anna Hall

“It was great to have a winning year this football season. You could really feel the community rallying together and the atmosphere was incredible.”

- senior Garrett Bodine

Jackie Beard The girls bowling team had another solid year. The team was recently formed and has already become very successful, winning a state championship three years ago. This year the team won area and finished third in their region. They fell just short at state, but this season still needs to be looked at as a success as they finished up 2018 season better than they finished in 2017. The team is small, only eight players, so it is a tight-knit group, that spends their time looking at stats and techniques as well as oil patterns on each lane to decide which type of ball to use. They also look at rev rates to find out how hard they should throw the ball in order to be most effective. They use video to help perfect their techniques, and they often look at their old scores and compare them to newer ones as well. This team focuses on the little things which is why they are so successful year in and year out. This team has the majority of its players returning, and those players coming back will look to continue the tradition of winning on a greater scale.

“I will miss having a sense of a second family. I’ve basically grown with these girls all throughout high school.”

- senior Jackie Beard

Cassidy Duskin

TJ Webster

The softball team has been on an amazing, dynasty-level run as of late. It seems that every year, the softball team is in the conversation to win the state title. This year is no different. The team is off to a 40-4 start with the area tournament still to play According to Maxpreps computer rankings the Sparkman softball team is the eighth best team in the entire country, and easily the best team in the state. No softball team over the past 10 years has had a better start through 45 games, or a higher Maxpreps ranking. This team is poised and ready to take care of business in the area tournament and make a run at another state title. Even though in a dominant program like Sparkman softball it seems like winning games is all that matters; it's not, and we as a community are reminded of this every year when the team hosts their annual breast cancer game. The softball team might win 50 times this year, but this game, a run rule of area rival Buckhorn, means more to the community than any of them, and it's definitely the highlight of their year.

The girls basketball team had a phenomenal year. The senior Derienne Black led team finished 26-7. They also boasted an undefeated 7-0 area record. They won their area tournament and advanced to the final four of the state tournament before losing a heartbreaker to McGill-Toolin down in Birmingham. The highlight of the year for this team was an electrifying fourth quarter comeback fueled by their stellar defense to defeat reigning 7A state champions Hoover by one in the Elite Eight of the state tournament. This one meant even more to them because they got knocked out by a Hoover buzzer-beater three the year before. Coach Dale Palmer is widely known as a great coach for the softball team, but coach Patrick Delay has built a special program in his own right. The girls basketball team has been very good in Delay’s tenure as head coach, and next year should be no different as most of the talent is returning. Next year, the girls team will bring back four of the five starters from this season.

“The breast cancer game was full of many different emotions. Most of the players were sad because many of our family members being

- senior Taylor Davis

“The energy at the girls game against Hoover was phenomenal. The whole student section stood the entire game. I’ll never forget their comeback.”

- senior Sidney Al-Dijaili

May 10, 2018

InDepth

The Crimson Crier

InDepth

Soundcloud culture surges through student body Griffin Gonterman Editor

Student expresses soothing power found within popular genre Sydney Goggans Editor

oom. Bat. Boom. The power of music always connects one together. It’s art is a stress reliever and young and old alike are drawn to it. As much as music unites the soul and heart together, people don’t feel the same about certain kinds of music. The biggest controversial of all is hip-hop. The constructions of social justice embedded into hip hop makes it like no other. It is a coping mechanism for kids and that is important. Kids in this age are more accessible to be bored and be in a sad state. The poetry of hip hop is therapeutic and helps kids mentally. Beatboxing, reciting lyrics and producing beats allow kids to expand their creative horizons. It’s a form of music therapy and this is something that is unnoticed by parents. Older adults tend to hate it because of the presumption that it’s a bad influence on their kids. The belief is hip hop is the blame of the destruction

of youth culture turning them into disrespectful, mindless drones. However, that’s not true. Yes, some lyrics in certain songs can be violent and are affiliated with the greediness of sex, drugs and money. But wasn’t rock and roll the same way. The same generation that criticizes the hip hop revolution were the same in the ‘80s going to rock concerts full of that rock n roll spirit. It’s powerful and a cultural influence on America. It’s upbeat moods and soulful vibes make it so much different than other genres. The combination of its origins from the Bronx, the blues and jazz embody it to be one of the most influential music pieces of this age. Hip Hop is fun to dance to and rap or sing along too. It can provide a general feeling of fun and enjoyment. That element seems to be missed amongst the older generation. To them it may be us being rowdy but it’s all in having fun. Happiness is one of the most purest feelings and without it,

what would life be like. It would be empty. Music in itself makes us happy or it’s our life. Hip Hop is exactly that. Hip Hop can be more than just having fun. It can be personal and real. It’s more than just party music. It is life. It speaks to our fears and our experiences. It is therapeutic. Some individuals go through the hard lives of gun violence and addiction and when rappers rap about it not out of glorification, it gives one something to connect to. Hip Hop music makes them feel like they are not alone and even the most famous people was once hit at rock bottom. Artists like J.Cole and Kendrick Lamar are one of the greatest to speak on their past troubles and past relationships. People like them are the people that speak to those who go through those troubles. The power of hip hop helps the kids. It is essential to our society and without it, we will be lost.

usic is a way of influence over so many people in the world, including the student body. For students like seniors Justin Cornett and Khris Downing, music is just not for listening, but for creating. “I’m in a group called “ICG”. The members in the group besides me is Sam Lowery and Austin Cartiledge,” Downing said. “I was originally separate, and we didn’t come together as a group until we had a few diss songs between each other. The real reason I started rapping was because I got disses and I had to come back with something. My cousin also makes beats for a living so he is a nice asset to a group.” To some, hip-hop is more than just a genre of music. It is

more of a lifestyle and culture that they live by. Creating music is just the beginning of that. “Rap gives me a viewpoint of the world because I listen to multiple artists,” Downing said. “I can listen to the Weeknd, a trap artist like Gucci Mane, predominantly pop music like Lorde or Fifth Harmony. So I would consider myself to have a pretty diverse taste in music. All these different taste help me make music.” Although ICG does not plan on getting big one day, if it were to happen they would

embrace the opportunity. Until then the group will continue to make music and remain on standby for the famous life. They plan to release a senior goodbye mixtape before the school year ends. “This group is for fun but if we get discovered and have a song that gets thousands of views I will take it more seriously if I need to,” Downing said. “Until then I will be focusing on college.”

Some rappers decide to go at the industry alone. Senior Justin Cornett also known as “Saucy Justin” has been making music since his sophomore year in high school. “I started rapping and making music a few years ago in tenth grade,” Cornett said. “I put my official first song out then. My role models are Trill Sammy and Famous Dex. They are my favorite rapper by far.” According to Cornett, he key to doing well is to just have fun and ignore the haters. “ R a p

means having fun and and doing what you like,” Cornett said. “Some people just take it a little too serious. When they do not take it serious as much they can really open up their view on music in general. When you have fun with your music, and people hate you just have to ignore it and brush it off.” Former student, Zach Eads has also been rapping for over a year. Eads is growing as an artist daily, and it all started from a simple joke and an app called “Soundcloud”. “I first started by just making beats and never really planned on rapping,” Eads said. “But one day I bought a mic and recorded a song just as a joke. It turned o u t that I

really enjoyed it and I wanted to see what I could really do with rapping.” Eads has taken the opportunities he has been given and he plans to try and make a career out of it while having fun. “I have actually had my music played for someone that works at a radio station,” Eads said. “They also told me that once I put out my new EP to send it to them to hopefully get air time. I am also working on finding some social influencers to help me promote works, as publicity is one of the most crucial aspects to advancing in the music industry.” Eads has grown a deep passion for rapping and creating music. It gives him a different view on life and the culture of rap and hip-hop. “I have learned that when you love something, like I love making music, it doesn’t matter whether anyone’s really listening to my songs,” Eads said. “I get to express how I’m feeling through my music and It is an experience that I would never want to give up.”

Jacob Whitlock Editor

n 2017, for the first time ever, hip hop overtook rock to become the United States’ favorite genre of music. This confirms what many people have been feeling for several years; there is a large cultural shift occurring in the music industry. Older and more established genres have been taking a backseat to a new generation which is bringing its unique sound into the mainstream. This trend can be seen not only in hip-hop’s raw popularity among fans, but its wider acceptance among music critics. The 60th Annual Grammy Awards featured rap staples like Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z getting Album of the Year nods, as well as Childish Gambino and Bruno Mars, who draw heavy influences from the genre. Its acceptance goes beyond mainstream award recognition, however. Recently, Lamar was also awarded with the Pulitzer Prize for music for his album DAMN., becoming the first rap artist to ever win the prestigious honor. Most of its gigantic popularity can be attributed to the swarm of young listeners on streaming

1994

“You know very well who you are don’t let ‘em hold you down reach for the stars” - B.I.G.

services such as Spotify. Last year, 17 out of the top 20 most-streamed songs were hip-hop tracks. These platforms propelled artists like Migos, Cardi B and Drake onto the top of the Billboard charts. The most incredible thing about its ascension is that it has not sacrificed its sound to include more elements of pop. Instead, pop music has adopted many of hip hop’s defining characteristics. Another major reason for the genre’s vast appreciation is that it is easier than ever to produce and gain exposure on websites like Soundcloud. A large underground culture of collaboration brings together producers and rappers, many of whom have gone onto major labels and mainstream success. Hip hop is not only on the rise in the United States, but it is having a moment in several other nations. Most notably, the U.K.’s grime scene, which is a genre very similar to American hip hop, has seen a dramatic increase in exposure and acceptance. Latin American music has also seen a rise in hiphop-related tunes and rappers like Daddy Yankee have had extreme pop success.

1998

“Nothin’ is for sure, nothin’ is for certain, nothin’ lasts forever but until they close the curtain, it’s him and I” -Outkast

The “passing of the torch” and its subsequent backlash is not anything new in the music industry. Many have made the observation that rap may be the “new rock and roll,” implying that it plays at similar role in 21st century culture as rock in the ‘60s through the ‘90s. Disregarded as noise by older listeners and seen as nothing more than a short fad, both genres have now gone onto becoming the primary voices of their respective times. Hip hop, like rock, has long positioned itself as the counterculture, and that status is still applicable, but increasingly, culture has caught up. Like it or not, hip hop has captured America’s zeitgeist, and it is not showing signs of slowing down. From the jazzy boom-bop that characterized the ‘90s to the trap-infused party bangers in the ‘00s to the revival of conscious rap happening currently, hip hop has proven itself to be a sustainable and evolving genre since its inception. It’s diversity allows the genre to create music that is eclectic, bombastic, introspective, and supremely enjoyable.

2010

“Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it. I guess every superhero needs his theme music” -Kanye

2018

“That’s a real one in your reflection without a follow without a mention” -Drake

“My favorite song I have done is probably “Sophomores Ft. Lil Visine.” I made it last year to state my dominance among the younger classmen,” Justin Cornett said.

“The best song I think I’ve done is “Hype Now” with my group ICG. It is my favorite because when we recorded it we were learning how to drive and now we are about to graduate,” Khris Downing said.

Photos/ Graphics by Danni Jo Grider ,Storm Jessett and Saylor Cuzzort

Hip-Hop takes top selling spot naming it favorite in United States

A&E

May 10, 2018

Summer lovin

Lowe Mill offers new festivities to do this summer Alaura Gordon Editor

ince its renovation in the early 2000’s the former cotton mill has offered artists and fans alike a unique place to gather to celebrate the arts. This summer Lowe Mill has a variety of events for everyone.

Concerts on the Dock is back for

another year. Starting in 2008 with only a small group of people, the concert series has grown. Every Friday night, through Oct. 5 there will be a concert at Lowe Mill., highlighting artists from all genres singing originals. It is a family friendly event that starts at 6 p.m. The concerts are free, but there is a $5 parking fee. Take chairs, blankets and picnics and enjoy the music under the tower.

Out

Loud

HSV

is an opportunity for those who enjoy poetry. Participants are judged by the audience to advance to each round. It is an open sign up and participants have to have three written

poems for each round. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and the winner of each round will win glory and a $10 roll of quarters.

both days.

Yoga in the gallery

is yogi heaven for all levels. The sessions are one hour and cost $15 per person. This yoga is just an arrangement of poses at a faster rate to calm your body and mind. The perk is the art that surrounds the gallery. Participants are required to bring their own mat.

Thursday Night Swing is a variety

of leveled classes in: Charleston, Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz, Balboa and Blues. Participants are required to have a dance partner to participate in the classes. Lessons begin at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday night. After the lesson there is an open floor social for an hour and a half. The cost is $5 for students and first time dancers and $10 for general admission. Spicefest is an open genre annual festival with acts from all over the Tennessee Valley. This year is better than ever. It is a two day event having a preshow on Friday, May 18. On May 19 there will be eight performances. The event is from 9-11 p.m. Spice Radio is a non-profit that records Tennessee Valley arts and music. The admission is $20 for

Epic comedy hour

is on every fourth Friday of the month. It is a night of family friendly comedians from around the country. The event begins at 8 p.m. and admission is $8 per person. BonnaWHO? Is an anti-festival every year to end the spring season. It is a bigger version of the normal Friday night Concerts on the Dock. This year’s headliner is Skyaway Man from Music City performing their brand of Folk Futurism. There are also 10 other acts performing inside and outside. This is a 3-hour event and will be held on June 8 starting at 6 p.m.

Under the Stars. Clara Belle and the Creeps perform at Lowe Mill for the Concert on the Dock series. The series began the last weekend in April. The next concert will highlight Abby Hawkins who blends rock, classic, country and pop. Photo printed with permission by Lowe Mill

Summer 2018 seems to be the year of big box office sequels Cady Harbin Editor

If there is anything more anticipated in the entertainment industry, it is a sequel to a popular movie, and this is the summer of sequels. From follow ups being from three years apart to 17 years, this summer will not disappoint movie fans.

Incredibles 2: 156 votes

Movies students are most excited for this summer Deadpool 2: 35 votes

Solo: A Star Wars Story: 5 votes

= 5 students out of 200 polled Ocean’s 8: 4 votes

Deadpool 2 In 2016, Ryan Reynolds claimed his title as Deadpool. In the first movie, Wade Wilson was transformed into Deadpool from a evil scientist, which leaves him with accelerated healing power and he sets out to destroy the man who did this to him. “Deadpool 2” will continue his story as he faces more enemies.

Ocean’s 8 Featuring an all star female cast including Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson and Rihanna. Together they come up with a plan to rob the New York Met Gala, with the target being a 150 million dollar necklace.

June 8, 2018

May 18, 2018

May 25, 2018

June 15, 2018

This movie is based off the life of Han Solo before he became the famous smuggler seen in the original Star Wars trilogy. This movie takes place after Revenge of the Sith, but before Rogue One. Mysterious like the origins of the millennium falcon should be revealed.

After 14 years of waiting, Pixar is releasing the sequel to “The Incredibles” on June 15. The plot follows Elastigirl as she springs into action to save the day. Meanwhile, Mr. Incredible is tasked with taking care of the three kids.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Incredibles 2