Volume 13, Issue 1 | December 2021
Contents Volume 13, Issue 1 | December 2021
SCHOOL
School
3 5 7 8 9
New Begginings For Some, Others a Fresh Start The Roles Custodians Play in Our Lives High School Sweethearts in the Making Clubs Bringing Students Together Homecoming Art
11 12 13
The Life of an Artist Eli Holden and His Life With Music Artist’s Corner
Sports
16 19 21
Overlooked, but Not Forgotten Friday Night Lights Committed Athletes Advice to Young Players
Feature
23 25
A Lupus Warrior The Sisters and Their Cows Read more at belivewire.com
Cover art by senior Jenna Tipton 1
2
NEW BEGINNIGS FOR SOME, Brooke Stivers
“I love the community here, the culture for tradition. I felt like I, since I had such a good experience here, it was almost like my purpose to come back and kind of impact people impact other students to be able to have that same experience,”
English
Dave Bustetter CTE
Cameron Bernard
“I like the fact that when I did meet everybody, that there was like a tight knit group, like family. And I think that’s really what made me want to come here was the fact that everybody treated each other as equals around here.”
Social Studies
“This is something that I have wanted to do since I was 16 years old, so as a sophomore here, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. I had a teacher that really helped me mature and grow into my own and I wanted to be able to do the same thing for kids.”
17.9%
Health/PE
“At PRP, we would go to the elementary next store, Greenwood. In our program we would walk over during class to go observe other teachers. I was the last one over there and the only place left was the gym. So when I started observing PE, that was when I was like this is what I want to do.”
English
“I student taught here and grew up in a small town and wanted to teach in another small town,”
Kassi Vanmeter
Of teachers are new to teaching or new to the school.
Science
Dallas Adkins Brittany Witt
Maggie Crepps
“At Bullitt Central I had always heard how good Bullitt East was and then when I got the opportunity to teach here I really wanted to jump on it. All the other teachers here kept telling me if you get an opportunity to teach at Bullitt East you’re not going to want to go anywhere else.”
MSD Department “Last year, John Hoover won Prom King and Macy Britt won homecoming. Just seeing them succed in a school so big. With both of them winning my first year and seeing the cheer and smiles it brought to them.”
Cassidy Cook English “I have traveled to seven different countries. I have been to Canada, Brazil, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, Germany and the United States.”
Alexandra Wertz
ECE “I knew from a young age that I always wanted to work with kids and I didn’t want to work a nine to five type of job.”
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OTHERS A FRESH START Jason Novak
Fine Arts “My high school band director was a good teacher and just a good human. I enjoyed being in his classes and I wanted to do what he did; teach not just band but be able to interact with humans and young people.”
“I was a soldier for 12 years and was in foreign countries. I saw the way that people struggled and I saw what happened to them by not being educated and I just felt like if education was something that would have the biggest stroke that would help lift them the highest and the fastest. When I left the army, I felt like I needed to keep helping my country and teaching was how I chose to do it.”
Victor Snow Science
Kate Denny Science
“
“ I was the typical child that hung out with the teachers, usually, and I was, school was very important to me, it’s the only thing I really spend my time on. So it’s kind of a love for learning. And wanting to share that with people and also wanting to be a safe space for students that may or may not need a little bit of extra care and support.”
They’ve done nothing but continue to push our students, have great expectations for all of our kids and I’m very proud of what they’ve done
”
-Principal Chris Mason
4
Departments
Science
4
English
3
MSD
2
CTE
2
Fine Arts
1
Social Studies
1
ECE
1
Health/PE
1
Jessica Fust MSD Department
“I’m looking forward to starting Project Unify. We didn’t get to do so much last year but this year, there’s a lot less restrictions so that should be able to get started and I really wanna become more involved with it this year.”
Dylan Hooper Beth Hensley Science
CTE
“I want to figure out my pacing for lesson plans and what I can do to engage the students in it.”
“I want to help students to develop their skills such as studying, do homework, use physical paper, prepare kids for college going forward.”
THE ROLES CUSTODIANS PLAY BY COLTON HARBOLT
M
ore than a custodian.
The custodial staff help make the school a better place by going above and beyond each day with the work they do. Daytime custodians Christa Harley and Janet Robinson and the night time custodians Lynda Rhodes and Taylor Thompson work hard each day and night to keep the school clean and safe. The custodians worked many jobs before they ended up here, but they always have had a love for cleaning even before they were custodians. When they found their way here, they started working as daytime janitors and had to deal with the daily messes left by high school students throughout each school day. Before she started working as a custodian, Harley’s previous jobs had been diverse but she would always take the opportunity to clean. She worked as a waitress, she has done work for a special needs facility and worked for Amazon. At all of these jobs she has had to do cleaning and had worked in a similar way she does now as a custodian. She had actually gained experience as a custodian before she came here due to the work she did in Spencer County as a custodian and a bus driver. “I’ve done cleaning all my life, every job I’ve ever had to do cleaning,” Harley said. Though cleaning may seem like a chore to some people, to our custodians they are just doing what they like to do.
Taylor Thompson (left) and Lynda Rhoads (right) are the nightime Custodians at our school and work hard to keep our school clean, especially after large events such as Halloween in the halls. In their everyday lives they are faced with daily messes left by the student at our school. “It is what it is,” Thompson said.
drug problems the school has faced, they play a part in trying to end it by keeping an eye on students that may be misbehaving and keeping them in check. These custodians care for students and want to make sure their time at the school is the best it could be so that they could have a successful life after highschool. Harley and Robinson are used to the day to day messes students leave behind, but the “devious lick” trend that students have participated in lately has added a whole new set of issues. For this trend, students would steal or move school property (usually soap dispensers) to unusual spots or just make a mess in the bathrooms. This has put a lot more on the custodian’s plates than they have had to deal with in the past. “We don’t know how to stop it, no one wants to go in a bathroom and guard,” Robinson said. This problem has escalated to the point where the custodians have stopped replacing the soap dispensers in hopes that after a while, students would stop this behavior and they could place soap in the bathrooms without it being tampered with.
“I wanted to make a difference in the school,” Robinson said. Harley and Robinson work as daytime janitors, meaning throughout the school day they are picking up after students, cleaning the cafeterias and any messes that need their attention. “Our job is like safety, we have to make sure that there’s no wet spots on the floor or anything you could slip on,” Harley said. They need to make sure that any spills, or messes in the halls that could be a possible hazard to students are taken care of. While the custodian’s job mostly includes cleaning, they also make sure students in the halls are behaving and going where they are supposed to. With the current vaping and
“We’re understaffed and there’s a lot that’s put on us,” Robinson said. When Harley and Robinson’s shift ends and they go home, Rhoads and Thompson pick up the work. The whole school has to be cleaned before the next day and there’s only four custodians to do it. “When they can’t do anything we do it at night so 5
Below: Christa Harley (left) and Janet Robinson (right) are the daytime custodians for our school, who have tackled the messes made throughout the school day since the have worked at the school. “I like to be around all the kids,” Harley said.
Above: (left to right) Janet Robinson, Christa Harley, Lynda Rhoads , Taylor Thompson.
it makes it easy on them,” Thompson said. Between the four custodians not only do they work for the students and teachers but they work for each other as well. While cleaning the school, the custodial staff works as a team, tackling the labor of cleaning the school together, making sure they do their part, so when their shift ends and the other custodians come to continue the work, they don’t have as much of a mess to deal with. Rhoads and Thompson also help make sure the school is clean and sanitized due to COVID-19 protocols still in place, which adds on to the already hard work the custodians do. They have to go throughout the school and make sure all surfaces that may have been in contact with someone who has contracted the virus is sanitized for the next school day. This reduces the risk of students and teachers contracting COVID-19 and helps keep everyone safe while at school. “We love the kids,” Harley said. As the custodians are doing their job around the school, they have gotten the opportunity to talk and interact with students and get to know them. Throughout the day they would stop and have conversations about how their day is going, or just what’s happening around the school. Harley and Robinson have been able to form relationships with students and it helps create a better environment for students to feel comfortable and safe while they are at school and both plan on staying at the school until they retire. The job of being a custodian is more to them than just cleaning up the school; they feel that they have the duty to help make the school the best it could be in any way they can. Harley, Robinson, Rhoads and Thompson have created a safe, clean, comfortable and fun environment for students and they play a huge role in the lives of every student in the school. The school would not be the same without them.
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High School Sweethearts in the Making BY BROOKLYN SAUER
Y
oung love in the high school hallways.
Many students at the school are in longstanding relationships. There are multiple couples at the school that have been together for years. These couples attribute their success to holding to some key values for healthy relationships like perseverance and communication. In terms of post-high school education, there are a variety of plans for how their relationships will continue beyond the school’s walls. Juniors Karley Britt and Kaleb Taylor began their relationship almost three years ago. “We never really talked before at all, we were in different friend groups,” Britt said. After talking almost every day for a few months, Britt and Taylor began their journey to the place that they are today. “I just think we’re very compatible,” Taylor said. Brainer and Bryant at Broad Run Park. Spending time together has allowed them to grow and influence each other over the years of their relationship. “He influences me in such a good way, I really look up to him so much.” Brainer said.
Similarly, seniors Kara Brainer and Carson Bryant have been together for three years. “We met each other in lunch and then we were just really close friends, like we clicked immediately,” Brainer said. Bryant and Brainer share some mutual friends, which caused a bit of a change when they first started dating. “It’s a lot easier for us to be with friends now. It wasn’t not easy, it was just really awkward when we first started dating,” Bryant said. However, this feeling subsided as their enduring relationship became a normal occurrence. Between the two couples, there are many similarities in terms of what they believe has kept them together for so long. One of these similarities is perseverance through difficult times in the relationship. “There’s a fine line between arguing, bickering and normal relationship arguing and toxicity, and I think people confuse it a lot. Like, going through a rough patch, that confuses people, but every relationship goes through a rough patch and I just think that it’s so worth it to push through because that person is so good for you,” Brainer said. After being together for so long, these couples have gotten good at understanding each other and through that, how to resolve any conflicts that may spring up. “It’s just about working through the hardships rather than just letting those get to you and, like, just leaving it at that. We never stop trying,” Britt said. Something that resonated with both couples equally was the issues with taking ‘breaks’ in a relationship. “I’ve seen older friends who take breaks in their relationship and we’ve never done that, and we’ve never wanted to because we feel like that would just make things worse…. They feel like it’s a way out of dealing with their hard problems,” Bryant said. “I feel like that’s what makes people really drift apart,” Britt said, echoing this statement. In both of the couples’ around three years of dating, neither has done anything similar to breaking up or going on a break, which is only a testament to how strong their relationships are. Being that both of these couples consist of upperclassmen, they have 7
Britt and Taylor at the Pretty Place Chapel in South Carolina. They have both spent a lot of time together, and even gone out of state like they had here. “We’ve just become so comfortable with each other,” Britt said.
both had to discuss their own personal futures with each other, and their relationship’s future as a result of that. Britt and Taylor’s situation is much easier to plan for, since they are both planning on going to the University of Louisville. “We either wanna get an apartment out there once we go there together, or we might stay home for the first couple years of it,” Britt said. On the other hand, Brainer and Bryant’s situation is a bit more complicated. Neither is committed to a college yet, and most of the schools they are considering are not the same. “I don’t wanna base it off of each other. I want us to both be happy and both go to college for what we wanna do,” Brainer said. In spite of this, they currently still plan to stay together after graduation and just not seeing each other as often. “I get a lot of inspiration from my sister, Mandy. She and her boyfriend have been together for three and a half years and so they’re in the same boat as us. Her boyfriend stays home to do Jefferson County and Technical College and my sister goes to Eeastern Kentucky University and she comes home like every weekend basically, so I feel like even if we don’t go to the same college, we’ll still see each other a lot,” Brainer said. While the transition from high school to college is often a rough one, these couples have enough experience with each other to know how to brave through it together.
Clubs Bringing Students Together
Multicultural Club students gather in the library during one of their meetings. Students in this club have often met up for meetings multiple times a month. “The club allows for students to be able to give a voice to those that need it,” Fay Anderson said.
that this club is open to absolutely all students,” she said. On the other hand, there are clubs that revolve more around forms of media and arts rather than activism or community issues. The Art Club, run by teacher Jason Kelty, is an opportunity for many students to express their artistic talents and abilities. They meet every other Tuesday in room 401, where they are able to use a lot of the artistic equipment in the room and create different types of drawings and paintings.
BY CAROLINE WILLIAMS
C
ommunities bond together over common interests.
At a school as big as it is, there are so many different types of people that all have different ways of life and passions. The clubs at this school are a reflection of that.
“I think my favorite part of the club is hanging out with all of my friends and all of the art equipment we can use,” freshman Addy Livers said, who has been a part of the Art Club since the beginning of this year. She loves drawing in her free time, and the club helps her achieve that.
The activities within the clubs and organizations at the school are all opportunities for students to show their love for art, media and can even help them make huge changes within their community. Students can express themselves alongside people with similar interests and priorities as them.
The Sci-fi Club, run by teacher JT Lewis, was created for lovers of science fiction. They often participate in activities such as bringing in video games and doing group activities. “We usually do game days and try to learn about each other through them,” freshman Sean Seymour said. On Oct. 15, there was even a lockin for the Sci-fi Club, which helped the members bond. “I feel like it benefits the school because it helps bring people together over subjects that people like,” Seymour said.
The Multicultural Club, which is run by teachers Erin Emington White, Trevor Swearingen and Fay Anderson, meets every two weeks in the library. Completely student run, their mission statement is to “educate, inform and advocate” for multicultural issues in the school. Despite the progress of expanding this club being hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, they still find many ways to promote ideas of acceptance throughout the school. Some of the posters and flyers spread throughout the halls - including the ones for Women’s History Month and Black History Month - are created by this club. There have occasionally been guest speakers that attend meetings to cover topics such as microaggressions and racial issues.
Clubs like these are helping students feel comfortable with their growing interests. “I think the club offers a good and safe environment for people with common interests to interact,” club member Kyra Armstrong said. When it comes to school, sometimes it can be hard to find people that have similar passions as you do. However, clubs can help you find both familiar people and new opportunities. On the school’s website you can find a lot of information about these clubs, and many other ones too.
“I think [the club] has empowered students with the tools to tackle or approach any discrimination they see, and we try to give tips on how to handle the situation,” Anderson said. “We have had some teachers even attend our meetings as well so that they can even hear students’ concerns. One thing I like to stress is 8
Freshmen
Sophomores
BY BROOKLYN SAUER
BY ADDSION BYERS
Our fresman homecoming nominees, Camryn Demuesy and Luke Cox. Cox is currently on the basketball team and Demuesy is in volleyball but has plans to do more. “I’m trying to get into more stuff since I’m a freshman and I’m trying to get to know more things,” Demuesy said.
Brooklyn Clements and Grayson Lesnock received the honor of becoming the sophomore homecoming court this year. Clements is involved in several things at school; Beta Club, track and cheer. Clements has always been known for her talent as a flyer. Not only that, but she is such a caring and hardworking person. Many people love Clements because of her personality and kind spirit. “I did not at all expect to be in the homecoming court,” Clements said.
Demuesy and Cox’s plan to be nominated to homecoming court was a last minute decision that turned out in the end. In order to announce their campaign, the couple and some friends took to social media. “We both posted on social media, ‘vote for us’, and then we told people around us, like ‘hey if you haven’t voted yet, vote for us’” Demuesy said.
Lesnock is a kind and outgoing person. People around school love him for the way he makes everyone feel welcomed and appreciated. Lesnock is also on the football team, his position being left tackle on offense. “It felt very great winning and I didn’t expect it to happen,” Lesnock said. After the years of uncertainty in our world, we finally have the opportunity to do something great for the school, just like our sophomore homecoming court.
Due to the late announcement of their campaign, they both were unsure of the results which made the announcement of their nominations even more surprising. “I really didn’t think that we were gonna have a chance, but when they called out our name I was very surprised,” Demuesy said. Despite the obvious worries that come with being a freshman and being put in the spotlight, the couple are both very happy with their experiences on the homecoming court. “I think it was really cool, I was a bit nervous about walking out on the football field and all, but it was a fun experience,” Cox said.
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Juniors
Seniors
BY RAEGAN JACKSON
BY COLTON HARBOLT
This year’s junior homecoming winners were Austin Wilson and Sadie Janisko. Wilson is on the varsity football team and Janisko is involved in Beta Club, National Honor Society and Future Christain Athletes. This was both Wilson and Janisko’s first time being on the homecoming court.
The Homecoming queen and king for the senior class was Maddie Hurley and Cole Britt. Hurley is involved in Yearbook, SLAM, Academic Team, soccer, she is an FCA leader, secretary of NHS, and beta club. Britt is a student football coach, on the media team for basketball, and a member of project unify.
Neither Wilson or Janisko campaigned for homecoming court yet still had the majority of the junior class rooting for them.“I felt happy but shocked at the same time because I did not expect to win,” Wilson said. While it was neither Janisko or Wilson’s plan to be on homecoming court, let alone win, for the junior class they decided to go along with it and make the best out of the situation. “The best thing I could do was go along with the joke and make the best out of it. I was excited to get dressed up and make a memory of it,” Janisko said. Both Janisko and Wilson feel that even though it was unplanned, they had a fun time and would be happy to be on homecoming court again.
“To actually see my name on the ballot was pretty exciting,” Britt said. Both Hurley and Britt campaigned together leading up to nominations just by spreading the word that they were running for queen and king and it spread around the school. Britt also had the football team supporting him due to his connections with the team. When the ballot was released, Britt and Hurley were excited about the outcome. The day of the game, where Britt and Hurley were going to find out if they won king and queen, was nerve-racking standing in front of the school, but exciting.“I was actually super super nervous before, I was nervous for the game, and then on top of that nervous finding out if I was gonna win” Britt said. Hurley was just happy to be there. “I had never won something like this before, and it was a really exciting experience,” Hurley said. It was an exciting shock to Britt and Hurley when they found out they were crowned homecoming queen and king because of who they were running against, but they were happy to know they won together.
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THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST
wwLuke Rawlings artwork plastered on
the side of an abandoned building in the middle of town. This piece is an assortment of many of his artworks. Rawlings picked this spot for the traffic that comes through from all over town.
BY SHELBIE HEATH
L
uke Rawlings was born in a small town in Kentucky, so the thought of hitting it big never crossed his mind. Art was always a hobby for Rawlings but when life hit him for the worst, he came out with a successful career.
doing it all since then,” Rawlings said.
Reality got to him and he looked at the world in a more realistic way, and the dream then faded. An unexpected health problem that put him in a hospital from ages 17 to 25 that put a stop on everything. Rawlings had a seizure that caused him to break He grew up around Hillview in Bullitt County, Kentucky. his shoulder and shatter his arm. He has had two shoulder He chose a spot in Mount Washington to post his art and replacements on his left side and has a metal plate in his arm this was a big deal for people in the community. “It is because it broke into four pieces. After Rawlings’ second surgery, an awesome spot and there’s a lot of traffic right there,” he was upset and questioned whether there was more to life than Rawlings said. He put up these pieces because he thought this. “I didn’t know what I was gonna do so I just started trying it needed to be done. “I can’t remember something that to start a business,” Rawlings said. happened that made me feel like I needed to put up a bunch of art, so I went out there and put all that up,” When Rawlings’ wife had cancer, he tried to do everything in his Rawlings said. “Each piece of art has its own meaning, will to make her happy so he started to draw again. He started one about Afghanistan and the others about what is doing t-shirt designs and this unlocked something in Rawlings; happening in our everyday world,” he said. The art work it made him want to do more. “She was the first one to tell me that he puts out is an exaggerated version of what the that I needed to start going full throttle and since then I’ve been world could turn to if these problems escalate. doing like 8 hours a day, at least drawing,” Rawlings said. His wife was always pushing him to be the best possible version of Rawlings’ work is made out of wheat paper which himself even in dark times. is different from other artists. This type of art is biodegradable. Wheat paper is flour and sugar mixed Some people make each other flourish and that’s how Rawlings in boiling water so it’s not harmful to the environment. and his wife are. “She makes me strive to be a better artist just Like street art, his work is only up for so long but comes makes me want to be a better person,” Rawlings said. Before they with a meaningful message. met he was in a very dark place, every chance of a normal life got crushed down. Later on, they started dating and finally got Work is a place where some people dread going, but married 5 years ago. “I know she just, she saw something in me for Rawlings it’s a way to express his ideas and feelings. that, you know, I wanted someone else to see, but I guess didn’t Putting up art from Nashville to Los Angeles and more really believe that it was there,” Rawlings said. across the country, that came with a price. When he was around 17 years old he had unexpected health problems Rawlings is now creating artwork almost everyday. His goal is and later on broke his shoulder, this pain now affects his to open eyes, unite and coordinate against what’s going on in drawing. When his pain gets rough, his wife keeps him the world in his view. Rawlings has been able to create a wellgoing. rounded career for himself by reaching out to celebrities and making music videos for songs. This made him push harder and Disney is a place where kids go to see their dreams made him want to achieve more. Traveling to twenty two states come to life and for Rawlings, it’s where possibilities putting up artwork is how Rawlings achieved his platform. were created. As he walked into the drawing room for the first time, right in front of him were drawings and Hardships is what makes you a great artist and that’s what makes layouts of movies being created and it turned on a light him who he is. Rawlings is now living on making his art and he for Rawlings. “So I started drawing and have been kind of wouldn’t change it for the world. 11
Music
Eli Holden and His Life
With
BY EMILY RICHARDSON
M
usic can heavily impact lives.
“Music is part of my daily routine,” Holden said. With constant changes throughout life, he’s found that out of anything, music is the one thing he can depend on.
There’s a wide variety of music outside of common genres.
Junior Eli Holden has listened to and explored many different genres of music throughout his life. Holden has always felt a strong connection with music since he was a child and listens to it throughout his day to day life because it has a significant impact on his mood and emotions. His love for music has inspired him to potentially pursue a career in the music field in the future.
Venturing into different genres can make a person feel different kinds of emotions rather than sticking to one. Music frequently changes Holden’s mood depending on what he’s listening to and what is going on around him. Holden’s found that going without any music for a while can change the way he feels. Going without typically makes him tired or bored. “Sometimes all I need is to relax for a few hours and put my headphones in so that I feel better,” Holden said. He has also found that music does affect his mood, but it mostly depends on the genre being listened to.
Music is something that impacts lives every single day. While a majority of people only listen to very few genres of music, others have a large variety of genres they listen to. Holden listens to a very wide range of genres. “I think people should strive to open up their taste. Seeing what kind of genres people lean towards is very interesting, and can reveal a lot about their personality,” Holden said.
Holden still plays drums today, but no longer plays piano. Soon he is going to begin writing and producing music.
Since he was a little kid, music has always been a big part of Holden’s life. At a very young age, he began playing instruments. He learned to play the drums and the piano. A bit later, Holden got a Kindle and downloaded music onto it. “I used to just listen to them all day,” Holden said.
In the future Holden can see himself being involved within the music industry. He’s interested in going into audio engineering, producing, or songwriting in the future.
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Artist’s Corner BY TAWNEY NOYES
Molly Phelps, Senior, 17 Molly Phelps has been encouraged to create art since she was a toddler. She often creates realistic portraits of people and animals, but has been pushing herself to try out different mediums and styles through her four art classes. She has won a scholarship and is just now getting her art displayed around the school. Phelps has considered becoming a graphic designer, but she would be happy in any position that involves art. She can be found on Instagram as @mollykphelps.
Phelps was tasked to create a portrait for her art class and created this piece. She enjoyed the model and added the colors for contrast
This painting is of Phelps’ grandmother’s koi pond. She was inspired to paint it from the fond memories she had feeding the koi when she was little.
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Jenna Tipton, Senior, 17 Jenna Tipton has been making art since she was little. She has a more realistic but ever changing style, and often does fan art, creates characters or large scenes. Tipton utilizes many different mediums to create her art. Most notably, she has taken up digital art. Tipton is often commissioned to create pieces throughout the school and around Bullitt County. She has had her art on Livewire magazines and shirts for clubs and sports. Along with this, she wants to become a business owner creating things with her art on them. She can be found on Instagram as @krispy_sheep_12.
(pictured below) This piece represents the left and right part of the brain. It shows how the left brain is knowledgeable and calculative which opposes the right brain who is colorful and organic. Even though both are opposites they need one another to survive shown by the wires in the middle connecting the two.
(pictured above) Some portrait style graphics of characters I like to watch in my free time. This work reflects each character’s personality and what role they played.
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“Don’t say that you ‘just can’t draw good’ anyone can draw,practice and inspiration is what makes it improve!”
Victoria Debee, 16, Junior Victoria Debee has been creating art her whole life. She has a cartoon style and often does fan art or creates character designs. She uses different mediums often and usually creates digital art, uses acrylic paint or marker. Debee would like to become a storyboard artist but is open to different careers in art. She can be found on Instagram as @cia_mia_12.
Debee used this piece to create a portrayal of her character Adack. This character is the one she uses on the video game Skyrim.
This is a depiction of one of Debee’s favorite streamers, Purpled. Purpled is a member of the Dream SMP.
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Some Sports are Overlooked, but Not Forgotten BY BRODIE CURTSINGER
W
orking hard, but not credited.
Many sports go unrecognized, throughout the other 25 different sports we have here at our school, showing that they work hard, but aren’t really getting recognized for it. The fall sports that tend to be looked over include the girls golf team, the boys golf team and the marching band. During the winter season, there are four sports that are often forgotten about, such as the swimming team, the dance team, the bowling team and the archery team. The spring season then only really brings two sports that seem to be looked over, and those are the girls tennis team and the boys tennis team.
Senior Austin Hale bowling during the 2021/2022 bowling season. Hale has been on the bowling team since his freshman year, with him accomplishing many things such as becoming an “All-State,” winning regionals, getting three perfect games, and helping go to the state tournament. “For the bowling team, I have natural talent in it. My mom and dad are both bowlers; they’re really good. I also get to meet cool people and bring more attention to bowling,” Hale said. Photographer: Brodie Curtsinger
“I told Mike Farner at the Pioneer News, when in seventh grade, Macie was going to leave here as the best athlete that’s ever come through Bullitt East.” Steinmetz believes that the girls golf team is going to end up bringing one of the best athletes the school has ever had.
Girls Golf Coach Larry Steinmetz’s favorite thing about coaching the sport of girls golf is the growth aspect. “Golf is hard and it’s mentally challenging, so watching these girls come out, and work hard to get better at something, that’s difficult,” Steinmetz said,
Junior Macie Brown celebrating her results of the Bluegrass Invitational Tournament, along with her coach, Larry Steinmetz. Brown has won many competitions in her five years of playing high school golf. “The two biggest high school tournaments I’ve won are state and all state. Those were definitely some of my most memorable tournaments just because I got the title of best in the state,” Brown said. Photographer: Katelyn Powers
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Junior Macie Brown enjoys being able to play the sport of girls golf, as a whole. “My favorite thing about it is just that it is something I’ve always loved to do since I was a kid. So, getting to play in a big school, and I also get to see a lot of the girls that I play with outside of high school,” Brown said, “I wish it got a little bit more recognition. It doesn’t really bother me too much that it doesn’t get a lot of recognition, because it’s just something I like to do and I’m going to do it either way. I think definitely all the sports at the school should get the same recognition, and I know Livewire works hard at giving all the same coverage. I think the way to change that, I think there’s not much that the players can do, it’s more of a school thing, to give equal attention to all the sports. I think just getting in bigger tournaments, and winning bigger tournaments, will bring a lot of attention to that sport.” Brown wishes that the sport was less overlooked than it is, especially with her having won as many tournaments and competitions as she has, and making history for the school and
The marching band marching onto the football field, with senior Sydney Parrish as one of the directors. During this game, Parrish was the director of the marching band, to which she feels brings a lot of people together. “My favorite thing about the marching band is that it brings people together, like we all have a common goal. So, we’re all working towards that goal,” Parrish said. Photographer: Brodie Curtsinger
county so many times.
would like to bring more awareness to the sport.
Jason Novak truly has a love for getting to be the director of the marching band. “My favorite things are just the fact that we are working together as a team, and we’re working towards a goal that’s bigger than any of us as individuals, and I just really enjoy working with the kids here,” Novak said, “the stronger the program gets, you’re going to have people who want to go out and watch and support each other, especially as we get larger throughout the next several years.” Novak wishes that the band had people attending their competitions, instead of only seeing them at football games and he feels quality will bring that.
Sophomore Abby White enjoys being on the swimming team in the aspect of it not typically being something people do as a sport. “I think it’s fun because it’s not really something that you usually do, because not many people have pools. It exercises like all of your muscles, because you’re using all your muscles,” White said, “I think it’s been overlooked recently, because of COVID and stuff, because it’s not really the cleanest sport I guess, if you’re all in the pool together. I don’t know how I can really change that other than whenever COVID is done with, people will think it’s safer to join the swim team.” White wishes that the sport was less overlooked than it is, and believes the reason why it’s overlooked is because of COVID-19.
Senior Student Director and Drum Major Sydney Parrish enjoys how the marching band brings people together. “My favorite thing about the marching band is that it brings people together, like we all have a common goal,” Parrish said, “I think that the marching band is overlooked, because we do a lot, for especially the football team; we’re always at their home games, we always perform at their halftimes, we cheer them on, and I feel like it’s not appreciated enough.”
Dance Coach Jodi Osborne enjoys coaching and the friendships made along the way. “The girls, for one thing, the friendships that we make, the competitions, and the excitement of all of it,” Osborne said, “We are definitely overlooked as a sport, throughout high school, middle school, and college. They are D1 athletes when they hit college, and we are fortunate enough to have several girls at the D1 level, but it seems to be not recognized for, in high school.” Osborne feels that, “they seriously work very, very hard for where we are, and what we do.”
Swimming Coach Clay Snead’s favorite things about the team is seeing the progression. “I love seeing the progress of the swimmers, and their amazing attitude at every practice,” Snead said, “I feel that swimming is a hard sport to watch from the stands, unlike soccer or basketball. I’d like to raise more awareness to the students of our meets, and encourage them to attend our meets.” Snead feels as if the sport is overlooked, and
Junior Team Captain Bailee Higgins, loves the dance team because it feels like no other sport. “Some of my favorite things are getting to dance with my friends, and getting to 17
competitively. So, I think it’s a sport for a lifetime,” One member of Barrett’s team, senior Emma Wright, loves the sport and hopes to see the program grow. “If we did a little bit more work, we could go farther,” Wright said.
have different experiences that normally you don’t get to have with other sports. We go to competitions, and sometimes we can win things,” Higgins said, “I feel that we are kind of under compensated, as kind of the cheer team. They think of us as the lower part of the cheer team; they think of the cheer team as higher, and I feel like we should just be all equal.”
One reason senior Joshua Guy enjoys being on the boys tennis team is how it acts as an emotional outlet. “I kind of find tennis as a way to relieve stress in a weird way.” His coach, Dustin Armstrong, enjoys coaching being the coach of the boys tennis team since he gets a lot of independence. “I like the fact that I kind of get to do my own thing. I like helping kids improve, and it’s just fun,” Armstrong said, “Well, tennis is just not popular around here, and I really don’t plan to change it. We will just do our own thing.” Armstrong feels as if the sport is definitely overlooked, and doesn’t really have a plan to change that.
Bowling Coach Lenny Raley loves the competitiveness of the sport. “Well, I mean obviously it’s a sport, and it can be competitive. So, I always like to be around competitive situations. We’ve had so much success, not because of me, but we’ve had really good kids the last two years, and that makes it very enjoyable,” Raley said, “It’s a minor sport, I get it. It’s not even in the same classification as maybe cross country, which is another sport that doesn’t get much recognition. You would wish every sport would be recognized for any accomplishments, which has been done, we’ve gotten some recognition. We now have our banner up, so people will notice that, but it’s just hard.” Raley has been the coach since 2019. The bowling team has accomplished many feats since he’s taken over, such as the team scoring a perfect game, winning the regionals tournament, having two all-states and making it to state. The reason why senior Austin Hale joined the bowling team was because bowling runs in his family. “I have natural talent in it. My mom and dad are both bowlers; they’re really good. I also get to meet cool people and bring more attention to bowling,” Hale said, “I think bowling is overlooked, because it’s just something that only people really do whenever they’re on their free time, and whenever they’re bowling for fun.” Archery Coach Alden Stidom’s favorite things about having the opportunity to coach is being able to control the administration. “My favorite thing is actually being able to sign up for the tournaments, and kind of control where we go, and what we do. It’s just really interesting getting to meet all the coaches, and see things from the administrative side,” Stidom said, “People kind of overlook the amount of time and effort some of these kids put into it, because it very much looks like just getting up on the line, and pulling back the bow, and just kind of go at it, but there’s a lot more to it; it’s a lot more physical, and a lot more of a mental game than people imagine.” Stidom feels that people overlook the sport, with people not thinking it’s a challenge. Senior Trinity Smith thinks the sport of archery is absolutely amazing and loves it. “I love the atmosphere. Everyone gets along. We are one big crazy family. We have so much fun together and we are all so close. Archery is a hard sport. Is it the most physical? No, but it’s not easy either. It really bothers me that we don’t get much of any recognition because we are actually pretty good,” Smith said. “I feel like the archery team is overlooked, because around here we just talk more about cheer, football and basketball. Most people have no clue that Bullitt County has some of the best archery teams in the world. We placed eighth in the world competition, Bullitt Central placed third, Cedar Grove Elementary placed first, and the list goes on.” Smith feels that the archery team is quite overlooked and wishes it didn’t have to be like that, and her plan to change that is by giving the archery team more credit around the school.
Senior Enma Wright hitting a tennis ball in a private match. Wright especially enjoys the bond of the girls tennis team that all the players share. “I like the people. We have a lot of fun at practice. We have a new coach. It’s been great, and I can’t wait to see what this next season holds for us,” Wright said. Photo submitted by Emma Wright.
Girls Tennis Coach Daniel Barrett enjoys coaching, and has played tennis ever since he was a kid. “I really enjoy teaching people the game, because I just love tennis. I learned when I was 10 years old, I played in high school, in college, and I still play 18
The Red Zone showing off their signs before the game against Meade County. The theme for the student section was, “College Gameday,” where students made signs and wore their red Charger apparel for the game. “Gameday was one of the best themes so far. The pregame show and seeing everyone’s signs was so cool to see for us,” Bryant said.
Under new direction, a bright light shines over the band as they perform at halftime. New seniors stepping up and a different conductor has fueled a lot of success for the band. “We rehearse our music, our marches and always get food before we perform. It gets us ready to perform and is always a great time,” Mitchell said.
The cheerleaders encourage the Chargers and get the before a game. The cheer team has had tons of succes continues to get stronger as time goes on. “It is just natu so good getting in front of everyone and getting to do Haddaway said.
Photo by Brodie Curtsinger
Photo by Samantha Gourd
Photo by Raegan Jackson
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e crowd on their feet ss over the years and ural to us now. It feels o what we enjoy,”
BY KEELIN DAVIS
C
oming together under the lights.
Friday night football games are one of the highlights of the week in Mount Washington. They bring the community together to celebrate the football team and become one. There are many elements to Friday night football games that come together to make it a memorable night. The Red Zone Rowdies are the student section that attends most big sporting events. They often follow a theme for each night and fill the air with loud chants and cheers. The Rowdies are led by seniors Carson Bryant, Caydan Snyder, Mia Maguire, Sydney Higdon, Kara Brainer and Karissa Hudson. “It is important that we have people that genuinely care about the school spirit and being able to lead our student section to be the best that they can possibly be,” Bryant said. The band, led by new hire Jason Novak, provides the soundtrack to the night. The long, intensive summer practices helped form the band into who they are now and they can perform at a high level during the games. They have had a lot of seniors step into leadership roles this year and they have led them to a successful season so far. “It is really thrilling. Having the lights on you with everyone paying attention is so interesting because you can’t get that experience anywhere else,” senior Connor Mitchell said. The dance team, which is unusually shorthanded this year, is still performing at a high level. This season, there are no seniors currently on the team. Junior Bailee Higgins is one of the dancers who has taken on the leadership role and stepped up so far. “While we are on the sideline, we are all really nervous… when we get out there, we’re fine and we just have fun,” Higgins said. The football team is having a strong season with a record of 7-1. The team is led by an offensive explosion fueled by the junior class. Quarterback Travis Egan, running back Mason Gauthier and receivers Camron Brogan and Nolan Davenport all have top placings in the state for their productivity this season. “It’s pretty electric being out there under the lights. We’re all just out there having so much fun and it is a feeling you cannot describe,” senior Cole Britt said. The cheer team yells out their chants and cheers to lead the crowd during the game. The flips, stunts and signs all pull together a cohesive encouraging routine to help lead the crowd. The continued success of the cheer team has created a culture of success around the team. “The feeling of being able to cheer in front of all the students and parents is an exciting experience. It is sometimes hard to see how the games are going and try to cheer but I love the experience,” junior Emily Haddaway said.
The dance team is performing their halftime routine under the lights. The extensive practices and hard work put in all comes together during their performances to put on an entertaining show for the audience. “We all work hard and put our mind to it and practice a ton. This year is different with me as a captain but we don’t feel that we are at a disadvantage,” Higgins said. Photo by Brodie Curtsinger
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Committed Athletes Advice to Young Players BY RAEGAN JACKSON
A
s children, we are often asked what we want to be when we grow up. There is always a variety of answers given anywhere from princess to astronaut to firefighter, but one answer that was almost always a guarantee from any child who was involved in a sport was to go pro or to play in college. It is no secret that sports are competitive and there are slim chances of getting offers from colleges for any sport. However, we have a few seniors and a few alumni that have shared their experiences as student athletes and some advice they have for young athletes hoping to go to the next level.
Emma Egan’s commitment photo for LaSalle University.
Emma Egan is currently a senior here. Egan is involved in soccer and basketball. Egan started playing basketball at 5 years old and always had the dream of playing through high school and college. After playing for so many years it is natural for many to want to play for fun or to grow bored of your sport but Egan found the motivation to continue from many different aspects of her life. “My team really motivates me because I want to be a leader for them to be someone they can look up to,” Egan said. She knows first hand how grueling being a student athlete can be and the pressure you can feel trying to get to the next level. “Don’t let fear hold you back. Some people struggle with confidence and things like that especially when they play a serious sport that they have a lot of expectations from so I would say to go for what you want and work as hard as you can for it,” Egan said. Through lots of hard work and commitment, Egan is now committed to play women’s basketball at LaSalle University in Pennsylvania.
Emily Tinelli’s first media photo for Northern Kentucky University. Zak Perdew’s 2020 commitment photo for of North Greenville Univeristy.
Zak Perdew is an alumni who graduated in 2020. Perdew was involved in many sports, clubs and after school activities. His schedule consisted of school, soccer, basketball, football, journalism and an after school job. With a full schedule, Perdew’s time was hard to manage but he found that the most challenging part of being a student athlete was the image he had to maintain. “You have to be a leader in every aspect of your life. You have to be a role model for those below you and those that are there with you in those moments. You always have to be at the top of your game, being a friend, a teammate, an athlete and a student. One slip up is magnified and everyone sees that,” Perdew said. Even with the stress and the pressure, Perdew felt being a student athlete he stuck with it and is now playing basketball for North Greenville University in South Carolina.
Emily Tinelli is an alumni who graduated from East in 2021 and currently runs track at Northern Kentucky University. Tinelli was involved in three sports, 11 clubs and took Advanced Placement and dual credit classes every year. While Tinelli never struggled with her student-athlete life in high school she has had a much different experience in college. “It is a commitment. It affects your day-to-day, I go to practice everyday for three hours and I weight lift every day. Practices also affect your weekly schedules and how you schedule your classes,” Tinelli said. Tinelli must also meet with an advisor every week to discuss her grades, Grade Point Average and the work she has due in all her classes. Even though playing a sport through college can be stressful and a lot of work, Tinelli believes that if you truly love the sport and it is what you want to do it is all worth it. “If you love it then it’s great. I’m glad I’m on the team and I am happy,” Tinelli said. 21
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BY KYLIE HUBER
“
L
A
upus is an immune deficiency illness that causes your immune system to attack its own tissues causing inflammation in your joints, muscles, and on the skin.”
L U P U S
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, 90 percent of people living with Lupus are women. Most people develop this disease between the ages of 15 to 44. They estimate that there are 16,000 new cases every year. Lupus is a life changing disease that currently has no cure. Junior Raelee Hawkins was diagnosed with Lupus during the month of Oct. 2020 when she was 15. Hawkins is an athletic, healthy teenager so when she started to notice drastic physical changes taking place, she knew something was up. In the early stages, Hawkins thought it was just the side effects of being a runner. As a member of the Cross Country team, most of the things she was experiencing were common. But soon things worsened. “Before I was diagnosed, not knowing I was in a ”flare” everyday, I would wake up with my ankles and feet swollen, it was hard for me to even walk, but, as a runner I just thought I was over doing it with my workouts and needed new shoes. We tried it all and surely enough my body started breaking down completely,” Hawkins said. Her family took notice almost immediately. “Up until Raelee’s diagnosis, she was extremely healthy. She ran five to six days a week, ate well, always slept great and was rarely sick. She was known for having perfect attendance. She began showing symptoms at the end of May of her freshman year. It started with swelling in her hands, feet and ankles. It began to hurt her to run; to the point where she didn’t want to anymore,” Mother Holly Hawkins said. After a trip to the pediatrician, they were still not given any answers besides rest, new running shoes and more water. “I knew she wasn’t herself. Growing up with someone your whole life, you become part of them. Seeing her change, not associating with the family as much, her body changing and having bad days where she wouldn’t even come out of her room, we knew something was wrong,” Sister Jordyn Hawkins said. As Hawkins’ symptoms began to increase, all signs pointed to COVID-19. She was tested multiple times and each time came back negative. Then in June, her mother took her back to the doctor. “I took her back to the pediatrician after she spiked a 104 degree fever. Urgent Care’s COVID-19 test came back negative, strep was negative and nothing made sense. Fast forward again to July and the pediatrician suggested she be admitted. At this point she was running temperatures every night, her weight dropped below 100 pounds, she was barely eating and she felt terrible,” Holly Hawkins said. The Hawkins family explained how the “not knowing” stage was terrible, scary and infuriating. It was extremely difficult for them to have to watch someone so close to them suffer,
Raelee Hawkins when she was first hospitalized July 2020
and not be able to do anything about it. Holly Hawkins shared that she made the mistake of resorting to the internet for answers, which only increased her anxiety. After months of unexplainable pain, Hawkins was admitted for five nights at Norton Children’s Hospital on July 21, 2020. Her doctors leaned towards something autoimmune related, like drug-induced Lupus. “Like many teens, Raelee’s dermatologist had put her on a common antibiotic to treat mild acne, called Minocycline. Turns out, this is one of the top prescription antibiotics that can lead to drug- induced lupus. The diagnosis was alarming, but should only last six to nine months after she stopped taking the medication. However, as more labs were drawn by her Rheumatologist, it became evident that if this was drug-induced, her labs would be trending in a more positive direction,” Holly Hawkins said. October 2020, Hawkins received her official diagnosis of Systemic Lupus. Her doctors were able to come to this conclusion after the “butterfly rash” appeared on her face. This rash being a leading sign of Lupus. The Hawkins family felt a range of different emotions that day. “There were two sides of me that felt two different emotions, one being that I was relieved that we felt like we moved a step forward and we could possibly get on a medication plan. Second, being really down on myself and not wanting to talk about it with people because I was almost embarrassed and hated the attention. I felt as if I was weak now that I had an illness,” Raelee Hawkins said. “I was lost and confused. You never hear of Lupus and what that is. You hear about a lot of different types of cancer illnesses, but never Lupus...She’s always been so healthy. How could she be the one who ends up with something like this,” Jordyn Hawkins said. “When the doctor called to confirm, I was driving to pick the girls up from school. I called my sister crying. I knew this was something 23
W A R R I O R
to. She lost her hair, struggled with her skin due to steroids and other medications, and was unable to run cross country, the sport she loves. She felt distant from her friends even more than most during the pandemic. She sees people, she relates to what they’re going through on so many levels, yet she encourages them to keep moving forward. She knows there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and she would support anyone going through struggles and difficult times, as she’s been there,” Holly Hawkins said. Hawkins wants people to know that Lupus does not determine who you are or what you can do. She believes that it is simply a bump in the road that will be overcomed. She refuses to let Lupus restrict her from doing the things she loves and pushes each and every day to overcome challenges. “Raelee is relentless. She is the strongest person I know. Through everything, no matter what she puts her mind to or believes she can do, she does,” Jordyn Hawkins said. “She is the kindest, hard-working, full-of-faith young woman I have ever met. She is determined to not let this disease define who she is. She is a Lupus Warrior and we are beyond proud of who she is and who we know she will become,” Holly Hawkins said. With the tremendous support from her family and friends, great work ethic, faith and determination, Hawkins has not let Lupus take over her life and hopes people going through the same thing or something similar knows that they are not alone and that what they’re going through is not easy, but they are strong enough to fight it.
she would battle forever. While the worry flooded my body, at this point, we went into reaction mode. What are the treatments? Is this something that will last forever? How will this impact her everyday life? So many questions with a tough road ahead. We needed to find the right medication, change her diet completely, and manage her symptoms the best way possible. It was terrifying,” Holly Hawkins said.
Having Lupus has inspired Hawkins to give back. “In the future, I would love to open a Lupus foundation business that helps not only adults but teens who are not commonly diagnosed and need support, diet plans, and medication plans,” Hawkins said.
They did just that. Hawkins and her mom eliminated all dairy, eggs, and meat for 6 weeks. They slowly added things like salmon and shrimp to their diets. Hawkins explained how much support she received from her family, even though it was hard. Starting a cleansing diet and medication made her symptoms more bearable.
Realee Hawkins is a loving daughter, a compassionate friend, and a hardworking teammate. Raelee Hawkins is a Lupus Warrior. Hawkins first race back. “Towards the end of the race, we could tell that’s when she was losing it and starting to struggle. Usually when she comes through the shoot, she knows exactly what to do. Keep walking, hands over your head, get water. All of these things are what are said by the workers at the end. When Raelee was falling over and couldn’t walk to the end was when we knew she needed help. My parents got to the end and just caught her collapsing.” Jordyn Hawkins, her sister, said.
When Hawkins was diagnosed with Lupus, she had to take a break from something she loved. “Cross Country is a sport I’ve done for about nine years now. I love running and I’m so blessed that my body allows me to do what it does. The hardest part was hearing the doctor say I need to take a break from running and build my body...all I wanted to do was run with my teammates again and be as good as I was freshman year pre- Lupus. I came back very strong and got back very quickly. A struggle and let down is racing and seeing my times and knowing I’m not like I was a couple years ago. The road is very long with lots more training ahead,” Hawkins said. She continues to put the work in and is regaining her consistency back day by day. Lupus brought all different struggles to Hawkins whether it be physically or emotionally. Hawkins, being one who hates the attention and complaining, will never let on how hard it was at first with her new diagnosis. “Raelee has always been a kind and compassionate person. However, after her diagnosis and what she has been through, her empathy has grown and her faith in God has strengthened even more. She went through some very dark times that not even her best friend, or family members outside our home, were a witness 24
THE SISTERS AND THEIR COWS
BY DEMANI BUTLER
M
uddy shoes, country music and a lot of cows.
Junior Sadie Janisko and her sisters Haley senior and Shelby Butler sophomore annually participate in the Kentucky State Fair Cow Show along with their family members. If you live in Kentucky or around Louisville, chances are you’ve attended the Kentucky State Fair and seen the cow show. The family spends a lot of time training and preparing their cows for these events. The Butlers own a specific breed of cows called Jerseys. They travel all around the country showing their cows and their hard work throughout the year. “Preparing for the Kentucky state fair is a year-round job. We are constantly working with our animals, figuring out which ones we will bring and preparing our display,” Haley Butler said. “We have to work with our cows to make sure they will be calm and cooperative when around other people,” she said.
The family on showing day 20201. “I really enjoy being with them,” said Saddie Janisko. Photo taken by mother Alicia Butler.
Cows are not home pets so it is not as easy to train them and get them used to other people. It takes dedication and natural care from the Butlers in order to get them ready. “Although prepping is a lot of work and very time consuming, it’s all for fun,” Butler said. Haley has participated in roughly 20 shows and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. “I have been showing with my family my whole life but I have been showing on my own for seven years,” Butler said. The girls have spent most of their lives working with these cows so a love for the activity is an understatement. Many people aren’t very aware of what this family does and how important it is to them and their community. “Training calves takes all year long and the process of training your cows really never ends. There are always things to improve on, whether it’s a calf or a cow you’ve shown for three years,” Shelby Butler said, “I am very thankful to have been able to grow up around something that not many people are fortunate enough to experience.” Shelby has won the past two years at the Spencer County fair winning grand champion with her 5-year-old cow Pepper. “I believe it is important to inform people on what we do because not many people get the opportunity to do it. Most people who come by the state fair are eager to learn because they don’t know much about dairy cows or farming and they find it very neat,” Janisko said. When younger kids are going to state fairs or events, they get excited to be able to see live animals in their elements.
Shelby Butler and her competeing cow, Pepper just chilling around. pepper is now a professional when it comes to showings. “This is my baby,” said Shelby. Phot taken by stepmom Alicia Butler.
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They become more interested as well as adults and like to learn more about the animals and also look at all the fun things the Butlers offer to show.
The family showing their accomplishments from previous years. These banners are now hanging up in the family’s home. “I love being able to celebrate times like these with my family,” said Alicia Butler. Photo taken by Jackie Butler.
“I would say I enjoy the family bonding more than anything. Even though we are doing things that aren’t necessarily fun at all times, being together and finding things to laugh about makes it enjoyable,” Janisko said.
“My momma’s heart is always proud of these three, however, watching them on the farm makes me a little extra proud,” mother Alicia Butler said, “agricultural life teaches so many life lessons that many are unable to experience. My kids know hard work, physically hard and mentally challenging.”
This is a unique bond for this family that a lot of other families can’t share together. Not only are their friends and family members watching their cows progress and get older, they are watching each other grow.
As a parent, Alicia Butler is able to train the girls and watch that she teaches them pay off. “Individually they have won many awards but the one that makes me most proud is the Kentucky State Fair Dairy Herdsman award two years in a row,” Alicia said. This award is based on things like appearance and cleanliness of the area, how well your display is put together, and how much you conduct a crowd. The sisters plan on carrying this tradition throughout their lives and many others. Siblings Sylus Janisko, Ragan Butler Evan Butler, and Ellie Butler have recently joined the events to further out the family tradition. The Future Farmers of America (FFA) pathway is available to those who wish to understand more of what these people do. The program has grown immensely over the years and has great opportunities for students.
The family on competition day ready to win some gold. “This was a really early more for us,” Shelby Butler said. Picture taken by dad, Jamie Butler.
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Staff Editorial
T
he people that work hard for what they want are the ones that inspire others and how they earned their spot on the red carpet of the world.
and hard work of people pushing to have a spotlight in our world and create new ideas. These people can be team captains, leaders in a class, or just someone who’s friendly walking through the halls of school. These people don’t start from anywhere, they’re the people that go out and do. They see where they’re starting and know where they want to end. People start to grow where they’re planted in the world and succeed because of this.
People who push themselves are the ones who keep the world moving and growing. They find something that they’re good at and want to get better at it. When we get better at things, we challenge others to do the same and to start finding themselves. They push new opinions and ideas on the world to show that they’ve made it in the world and are ready to continue doing the best they can do.
The people who have pushed themselves are always the ones we see the most recognized and are usually the most deserving of their time in the spotlight. Many fail to find what they’re really passionate about and take time to find their time to shine. Finding the things and people that you love can push you to better yourself and help you go after the things you want in life. Being the best that you can be is what makes most people find the things they’re good at. Showing the people around you that have accomplished this helps push others to find themselves and learn to do the same.
New ideas and new ways to do things are created and these new things allow people to discover new ways to grow. We change the world with the way we give certain ideas the opportunity to rise over the others and to challenge what we think in our everyday lives. People have to push for their voices to be heard in the world and have to take charge when new opportunities arise to question others. When people question others, they get pushed into new things and have a new chance of discovering something they could excel at.
Spotlights in the world don’t just start from popular ideas but start with someone who’s willing to work for something they love. They work to find their own red carpet spot to shine and grow. How will you work to find your place to shine and have a spot on the red carpet spot in the world?
Success is something that everyone in the world wants, even if it’s just with something little. We quite often see people succeed and persevere through the world in our lives. New advancing ideas come from the success
Sincerely, The Livewire Staff
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Meet Our Staff
Adviser Larry Steinmetz
Editor-in-Cheif Mia Maguire
Website Editor Keelin Davis
Magazine Editor Natalie McGarry
Design Editor Colton Harbolt
Sports Editor Brodie Curtsinger
Phtography Editor Emily Richardson
Social Media Editor Sierra Karner
Copy Editor Brooklyn Saur
Content Editor Macie Brown
Copy Editor Demani Butler
APD Liaison Sophia Blanton
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Staff Writer Katelyn Powers
Staff Writer Brandon Mudd
Buisness Editor Tawney Noyes
Video Editor Raegan Jackson
Staff Writer Kyla Combs
Staff Writer Shana Parish
Junior Design Editor Caroline Williams
Staff Writer Kylie Huber
Copy Editor Violet Wise
Junior Photography Editor Shelbie Heath
Staff Writer Chloe Radford
Staff Writer Addison Byers
Staff Writer Riley Elmore
Staff Writer Bryant Faucett
STaff Writer Jackson Silliman
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Fun Coordinator Isaiah Wright
Staff Writer Amy Burelison
Livewire is a 32 page newsmagazine and accompanying website that is updated daily. All content is generated by student journalists at Bullitt East High School in Mount Washington, Kentucky. The Livewire operates as an open forum following the guidelines laid out by the Student Press Law Center which our staff presented to the Bullitt County Board of Education. The staff appreciates your patronage and, as a public forum, encourages any feedback or submissions you care to offer. Letters to the editor must be typed and submitted via email, to Mr. Steinmetz’s mailbox or directly to room 606 within one week of the publication to which you are responding. Letters will not be censored, but must be deemed appropriate according to staff policies to be published. In order to be eligible to appear in the magazine, all letters must be signed and verifiable. Names may be withheld upon request, but must be submitted with the original letter. The Livewire is printed by aPrintis Printing Company. Its website is hosted by Student Newspapers Online.
Bullitt East High School 11450 Highway 44 East, Mount Washington, Kentucky, 40047 (502) 869-6400 30
