tilghman bell - Paducah Public Schools

THE
TILGHMAN
PADUCAH TILGHMAN HIGH SCHOOL
2400 WASHINGTON STREET
PADUCAH, KENTUCKY
BELL
MON. DEC. 17, 2012
VOL. 89 NO. 5
Tilghman gives back this holiday season
by Lilly Burba
PTHS students filled three bins with canned goods they collected--weighing nearly 3,280 pounds! Photo by Savanna
Whelan.
ROTC officers pack boxes at Seaman’s Church Institute Christmas on the
River event. Photo provided by LCDR Taylor.
NJROTC packs boxes for towboats
by Cole Spicer
The Paducah Tilghman High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps participated in the Seaman’s
Church Institute’s annual Christmas on the River Pack Out.
The event’s goal is to let the men and women who will be
working on the river over Christmas know that someone
remembers that they are out there. The PTHS NJROTC
unit is one of many groups that helped with this event.
Thirty-six NJROTC cadets helped to pack around 150
boxes on December 4th for towboats owned by Ingram
that will be working on the river through the holiday season. The boxes contained hand-knitted scarves, Christmas cards, books, playing cards, popcorn, and candy.
This was the unit’s third time participating in the event.
Students donate food in annual drive
by Lilly Burba
Mr. Nantz held his annual canned food drive again this year. Students brought in nonperishable items such as cans of soup and vegetables, boxes of Mac ‘n Cheese, and even Ramen noodles! The collected items will be donated to local food banks and distributed to those
in need over the holidays. From his and other classes throughout the building, Tilghman collected over 3,820 pounds of food, an improvement of 1,800 pounds over last year. A total of
twelve schools around the area contributed, collecting over 22,101 pounds of cans. Go Big Blue!
NHS rings bells for Salvation Army
by Lilly Burba
The Tilghman chapter of the National
Honor Society will ring bells and collect money at Kentucky Oaks Mall on
December 20 as part of the Salvation
Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. The
money collected will be used throughout the year to support the charitable
work the Salvation Army does in
our community. This is the 122nd
year for the Red Kettle Campaign.
Band marches in Christmas parade
by Lilly Burba
The City of Paducah Christmas Parade was held on
Saturday, December 1st on Broadway Street in downtown
Paducah. This year’s parade theme was “Christmas Time
in the City,” inspired by the Bing Crosby song “Silver
Bells.” Tilghman’s own Band of Blue marched in the parade and played “Joy to the World.” The parade featured
over 100 units and was heralded as a great success by all.
Continued on page 4
PT students earn perfect scores on SAT sections
by Lilly Burba
Pictured from left to right: Catherine Miller (12), Alicia Humphrey (12), and Marissa Davis (12).
Photo by Savanna Whelan.
Congratulations to three PT seniors for their outstanding scores on the SAT and SAT
Subject Tests. Marissa Davis and Alicia Humphrey both earned perfect scores on the Verbal section, and Catherine Miller scored perfectly on the U.S. History SAT Subject Test.
The SAT is the most widely-used college admission test. Though it is
less popular than the ACT in Kentucky, it tests students on similar subjects-math, writing, and reading--but not science. Unlike the ACT, where incorrect answers are not counted against your score, wrong answers on the SAT deduct ¼ of a point, and unanswered questions do not add or subtract any points.
Students can also take SAT tests in subject areas. There are 20 tests available in five
general subject areas. These tests can provide a more complete picture of your background and interests, and some colleges also use these tests to place students. A good
score on a Subject Test can even allow a student to bypass introductory-level courses.
Correct responses on Subject Tests also receive one point toward your score, but incorrect answers are penalized one of three ways: ¼ point is deducted for an incorrect response on a 5-choice question, 1/3 point is deducted for an incorrect answer to a 4-choice
question, and ½ point is deducted for an incorrect response to a 3-choice question.
When asked if she had any strategies for doing well on the SAT, Humphrey suggests brushing up on pre-algebra and geometry skills that you may
be rusty on for the math section. Once again, The Bell would like to congratulate our high-achieving students and wish good luck to anyone taking the SAT!
Source: collegeboard.org.
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T I L G H M A N
B E L L
COMMENTARY
A Tip of the Hat...
by Cason Walden and Andrew Zaninovich
If you could have any
person for Christmas,
who would you ask for?
A tip of the hat goes to “selfies” for constantly reminding us what you look like. Wouldn’t it be
awful if we forgot, even for a moment, your beautiful face? You’ve changed so much in the last hour!
Your devotion to updating us on your looks every hour without fail is awe inspiring.
A tip of the hat goes to snow. You make the entire winter season bearable by giving us breaks from
school and transforming the dreary and gloomy landscape into a swirling wonderland of sparkling,
white pleasure. You fill our senses with cascading, fluffy pillows of excitement and comfort as we
have never felt before.
A tip of the hat goes to the end pieces of bread loaves, the ultimate team-player. We salute you
and your courageous sacrifice in choosing to do a job that is crucial to the formation of the loaf as a
whole, knowing that society rejects you, that no one wants you. Your love for the loaf hasn’t gone
unnoticed.
“Will Ferrell in a cage.”
...A Wag of the Finger
A wag of the finger goes to Black Friday shoppers. It must be all the turkey that makes you
transform into barbarians over the smallest savings. You could wait another day, spend an extra five
dollars, and skip all of the lines and hassle. Immediately after giving thanks for what you already
have, you almost kill each other to get something new just because it’s on sale.
Clayton Wilson (9)
A wag of the finger goes to the word colonel (pronounced ker-uhh-null, we think) for sitting on
a throne of spelled lies. Your spelling makes no sense. In what backwards, alien universe does an
‘l’ make the sound of an ‘r’? Kids in spelling bees everywhere tremble in despair at the mere sound
of your name.
A wag of the finger goes to people who call out awkward situations. Loudly proclaiming, “AWKWARDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD” only makes things more awkward. Most of the time,
you are, in fact, the only person who even thinks that the situation is awkward.
“Trey Songz.”
Kirsten Collins (10)
“Young Jeezy.”
“Wag of the Finger” and “Tip of the Hat” are trademarks of
Stephen Colbert and his TV show, The Colbert Report.
Neither Paducah Tilghman nor the Bell Staff claim any ownership of these trademarks.
What ever happened to
Christmas?
by Katie Paxton
Tra’von Jones (11)
“Notorious B.I.G.”
Gus Hardwick (12)
The Tilghman Bell
The Tilghman Bell, a product of the journalism class, is an open
forum for student expression and is distributed monthly to the
students of Paducah Tilghman High School free of charge.
Editor-in-Chief: Alicia Humphrey
Co-Editors: Will Hancock, Katie Paxton
Business Managers: Margaret Hines, Makayla Holt, Susannah Wilson
Feature Editors: Lilly Burba, Will Smith, Sabel Overlin, Cole Spicer
Commentary Editors: Katie Paxton, Andrew Zaninovich
Advertising Editor: Avery Harriman
A&E Editors: Megan Cantwell, Catherine Miller
Sports Editor: McKenzi Belt, Miles Butler, Jordan Kendall
Staff Writers: Jacob Blankenship, Miles Butler, Lilly Burba, Megan Cantwell, Will Hancock, Avery Harriman, Margaret Hines,
Makayla Holt, Amanda Hooker, Alicia Humphrey, Jordan Kendall,
Catherine Miller, Matthew Moore, Sabel Overlin, Katie Paxton,
Will Smith, Cole Spicer, Cason Walden, Emily Whitson, Audrey
Withrow, Andrew Zaninovich
Photographers: Katie Paxton, Will Smith, Savanna Whelan
Cartoonist: Savanna Whelan
Adviser: Susan Hancock
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time when millions of Americans spend hundreds of dollars, wait in lines for the latest gadget, and yell at their antagonizing family members
who are visiting for the holiday season. Because of America’s consumerism, this season in recent
years has been transformed from a traditional, joyous celebration to a stressful, exhausting ordeal.
Christmastime used to be a time we looked forward to all year long. It was a magical season. As children, we could barely sleep because we couldn’t wait for Santa Claus to visit with his team of reindeer and leave his gifts under the tree. It was also so special because it
only lasted a short time. Nowadays, the Christmas seasons begins abruptly after Halloween. Thanksgiving and the autumn season are completely skipped over all together. It could
be November 1st, yet Wal-Mart will be selling inflatable snow globes and sparkly garland.
The holiday season loses its special magic when it’s beginning not even halfway into autumn.
Christmas should be all about giving, not receiving. It should come from the good
of the heart. However, Christmas is now all about the latest video game system or expensive designer bag. People are willing to fight for these presents to please their children, yet their children throw tantrums when they don’t get EXACTLY everything from
their wish list. We have become a spoiled society, and the holdiday season now reflects that.
Christmas and the holidays have become entirely materialistic. People only care about
presents and, most importantly, forget that this is a time of selflessness. People forget it isn’t
all about them. We may claim to be giving and selfless towards our family and friends, but
when was the last time we helped someone in need out of sheer goodwill? When have we
worked not for community service hours, not because people expect us to, but because it’s
the right thing to do? We’ve lost the true intentions of Christmas. This year, try to remember to be grateful for what you receive, and remember the true meaning behind Christmas.
COMMENTARY
How to join
Santa Claus’s
Naughty List
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
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It’s the end of the world
as we know it
by Catherine Miller
by Alex Boyd
When thinking about Christmas, what
comes to mind--the thoughts of stuffed
stockings, presents, candy canes, even
Christmas carols? The Christmas season
is debatably the happiest time of the year
for most people, except for a select few.
These rebels are us boys and girls that have
landed ourselves on Santa’s naughty list.
While the majority of people would like
to be one of Santa’s little helpers, we say
forget the old man and do as we please the
whole year without regret. The naughty list
isn’t too hard to make; all you have to do is...
nothing! Just take care of number one and
don’t worry about the well-being of others.
Tee pee houses, shoplift, talk down to your
elders, steal candy from children; the possibilities are endless when you are on the
naughty list. Basically, do whatever makes
you happy and is not approved of by society.
I personally love being on the naughty
list, because I get to have fun for 364 days
a year while the others only get Christmas to celebrate their being good people.
Whenever Christmas comes around and I
receive my lump of coal, I accept it with
pride, like a badge of honor, reminding me
of all the naughty fun I had the past year.
-Alex Boyd, collecting coal since ‘94
The world is ending on December 21st, 2012. This much we know to be true. Do not listen to those nasally, self-righteous pontificators who make claims like, “The end of the world is just a myth; stop being so bourgeois” or “the Mayan
calendar is a cycle that repeats itself and December 21st is merely the beginning of a new cycle.” Do not be deceived.
Those verbose intellectuals have an ulterior motive: to dissuade you from stockpiling goods in preparation for the big day
so that their own chances of survival are better in the inevitable post-apocalyptic wasteland. It’s the basic laws of supply
and demand: less people battling for resources equals more resources available for the people like them—people who
would ruthlessly rob their fellow brethren of the gift of life. The next time someone tries to convince you that the world
is not truly ending at the end of the month, take a moment to search deeply in his or her eyes for a hidden agenda. The
deceiver’s eyes will express the truth that cannot stay hidden: the silent, invading fear of the upcoming Doomsday and an
animalistic sense of self-preservation. Or, you know, the fear of the lunatic with the crazy eyes standing alarmingly close
to his or her face. Those two are really easy to mix up, after all.
Countless websites exist solely to increase awareness of our imminent demise. And if the internet says it, you know it
has to be true. I would particularly recommend December212012.com. This lovely gem of a website even provides you
with a store (aptly termed “The Survival Store”) to purchase your Armageddon necessities. Don’t worry about having to
put a price on your own life; the Survival Store will do it for you. The “Emergency Survival Food Supply” ($141.99), the
“Deluxe 2-Person Perfect Survival Kit for Emergencies” ($98.99), the “East German Gas Mask” ($36.32) and countless
other essential items will serve to protect your fragile flower of a life.
A smattering of celebrities have endorsed the world ending on December 21st, 2012. Ranging from Lil’ Wayne
to the Smashing Pumpkins, these public figures have discovered the truth about the end of the world and are fervent about getting the word out. In an interview with Blender Magazine, Lil’ Wayne stated, “The world is about to
end in 2012; cause the Mayans made calendars and they stop at 2012. I got encyclopedias on the bus." Well said, Lil’
Wayne, well said. Even Mel Gibson has endorsed this belief! And who is Mel Gibson if not the poster child of honesty, and well, sanity? And if you fear merely “joining the bandwagon” by subscribing to this belief simply because
your favorite celebrity supports it, have no fear. The world needs more of that respectable mob-mentality, after all.
You only have a few more sweet days of live left, so it’s time to break out the bucket lists, people! Have you always wanted
to go sky-diving but are wary of the faulty parachutes? Have no fear! Have you always had a deep desire to go backpacking
across Europe to revel in the culture and “find yourself”? Might as well do it now and blow all the money you’ve saved
for your college education. There’s no point in higher education now, since you’re not even going to be able to graduate
high school before the universe collapses. Take that brilliant philosophical statement “YOLO” to the extreme with the end
of the world deadline of December 21st. In fact, you may even want to replace it with another inspired mantra: we’re all
going to die soon anyway, so MAWDSIR (Might As Well Do Something Incredibly Reckless). It’ll catch on…just wait.
Doubtlessly, the end of the world is nigh. And after it happens, be sure to be the first in line to rub it in the faces of all
of the doubters! Oh…wait a second…
Baker’s union kills iconic Hostess Twinkies
by Cole Spicer
Photo provided by CivilEats.com
A tragedy has struck the world. After eighty two years in business, Hostess’s reign of power in the snack industry
has come to a sad ending. Hostess’s closing was made official on November 21 when Judge Robert Drain decided
to allow Hostess’s liquidation after talks between the company and the union broke down. This move to liquidate
was a result of a strike by the bakers’ union, which started on November 9th. 18,500 Hostess employees will lose
their jobs as a result of the liquidation, and thirty three bakeries will be closed along with five hundred sixty five
distribution centers, around five thousand five hundred delivery routes, and five hundred seventy bakery outlet stores.
These job losses aren’t the only tragedy resulting from the company’s liquidation. Because those bakers in their little
white chef’s hats refused to work, the destiny of Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Sno Balls, and Donettes is currently
unknown. People afraid of losing their favorite brands have turned to sites such as eBay where entrepreneurs have begun
selling the snacks to the highest bidder. Desperate Twinkie fans have bid over $90 for a lot of one hundred Twinkies. One
entrepreneur (I use that word very lightly) even attempted to make a starting price of $2,500 for a single box of Twinkies!
Twinkie lovers shouldn’t be afraid, because the Twinkie probably isn’t dead for good. With the
death of Hostess, the company has begun to sell its assets including the major Hostess brands. So, there
is still a chance that you will be able to buy your beloved Twinkies again--they just won’t have Hostess on the label. But a Twinkie is still a Twinkie either way.
Sources: money.cnn.com, finance.yahoo.com, hostessbrands.com
Advice for finals: how to pass with flying colors
by McKenzi Belt
Beware students, finals are just around the corner. And I know you are reluctant to even acknowledge it, but the first step to rehab is acceptance. Being the knowledgeable upperclassman
that I am, I will give you some helpful advice:
-All-nighters are key. When you begin your studying weeks before finals, you will forget everything
for the actual test. Cramming the night before for
multiple cumulative tests will ensure a good grade.
-Waste those agenda passes, who needs four bonus
points on a test that’s worth 10% of your semester grade?
-Make a cheat sheet, teachers never notice when
you cheat. If they do, they might just laugh about
it, but don’t worry they won’t take it seriously.
-Drink an energy drink before you take
the test; it will obviously result in an A.
-Talk during the exam, the teacher will
take your test up and give you a 100%.
No matter which of these tips you take to heart and
attempt come finals time, you will have a high probability of failure. The real way to success lies in honesty and being prepared. Study a little each day in the
weeks before finals and your diligence will pay off, my
young Jedi. Stay well rested and eat the cliché healthy
breakfast. I wish you well on your finals endeavor.
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Katz participates in Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade in NY
by Katie Paxton
Photo courtesey of Mary Katz
While everyone was at home watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
on their TVs, Tilghman’s own Elizabeth Katz was performing live on screen.
Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts center in Loch Sheldrake, NY, offers 3-week
summer training camps in acting, singing, and Broadway performance. Each
session performs multiple musicals, dramas, cabarets, and a one-act play writing competition. Each year, Stagedoor Manor takes students’ applications for a
chance to perform in the parade.
Katz recently attended the camp this past summer and performed in Stagedoor’s Legally Blonde the Musical. She also participated in the highest level
performance class called Master Dance. “I think that’s what helped me get in the
parade,” Katz said. “They wanted dancers more than singers.”
The application process focused on students’ time of involvement in Stagedoor Manor and amount of experience in dance. “[The coordinator of the parade
performance] told us that we were chosen because we were dependable. She said
that she could trust us with the reputation of Stagedoor,” Katz said.
Rehearsal for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade consisted of long hours
day and night. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday’s rehearsals were six hours
long. On Tuesday night, the performers rehearsed on Macy’s Herald Square to
position cameras for NBC. “It was really fun. It was cool because it was like
a professional job. When we went to camera blocking, we saw celebrities but
couldn’t talk to them. We couldn’t freak out because they were there. We had to
be on time for rehearsals and had only a set amount of time for lunch. It was all
very professional.”
Elizabeth plans to continue dance as well as singing and acting. She hopes
to pursue it as a career. She plans to attend University of Michigan and participate in their high-ranked theatre program. Her dream is to be on Broadway. “I
want to combine singing, dancing, and acting for my career. Hopefully, the parade has prepared me for it!”
Davis selected as Belt chosen as
Rotary Scholar
Mid-Continent’s
Teen of the Week
by Cole Spicer
by Alex Boyd
Photo courtesey of Wayne Walden
Photo by Savanna Whelan
The Tilghman Bell would
like to congratulate Marissa
Davis on being selected as
the December
Rotary Scholar.
As a guest of
the local Rotary Club, Davis
will join other
selected seniors
to meet Rotary
members and
actively participate in and learn about relative community affairs. Scholars have the opportunity to listen to one of
the guest speakers that the Rotary club invites to the
weekly meetings and mingle with community leaders.
Marissa stated, “It’s a huge honor, and I am very
excited to represent Tilghman at the meetings this
month.”
Davis participates in Kentucky Junior Historical
Society, Beta Club, FCA, and Academic Team. She
is the treasurer of the National Honor Society, and an
Executive Board Member in Recycling Club.
After high school Marissa plans to attend college
and is considering studying Anthropology or comparative literature.
Paducah Tilghman
student McKenzi
Belt has been selected as Mid-Continent’s Teen of the
Week. Mid-Continent University selects students with
great academics,
community service
hours, and leadership in school activities and clubs to
receive this honor.
Winners are granted an article on
the front page of the Paducah Sun, as well as a $2,000
annual scholarship to the university of their choice. At
the end of the school year, all of the nominees’ names
are drawn for a chance at full tuition to Mid-Continent.
Belt told the Bell, “It’s an honor to be chosen for this
award, especially above all the other candidates.” McKenzi is currently deliberating between the University of
Kentucky and the University of Louisville, but she says
that she is excited to have this award to help with her
decision. Belt is the first of hopefully many Tilghman
students to be awarded this honor. The Bell staff would
again like to congratulate McKenzi on her achievement!
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
NEWS
PT Updates
Student Council
On November 6th, the PTHS Student Council
hosted the first of Tilghman’s bi-annual Blood
Drives, supported by the Red Cross. They managed a full schedule of Tilghman Blood Donors. Tilghman ultimately sent the Red Cross
off with 53 units of blood, which will go to
help victims of Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast. Freshman representatives are Parker Belt,
Wesley Blondell, Lauren Eickholz, Hunter
Golightly, Meg Hancock, and Samuel Tyrrel.
The Band of Blue
The Tilghman Band and Paducah Public
Schools Transportation Department won first
place with their float in the annual Christmas
parade. Their float’s theme was “Christmas
Time in the City.” Three PT students made the
KMEA 1st District Concert Band honor band.
Lucas Reed made 5th chair trumpet, Yasmine
Martinez made 4th chair clarinet, and Shelby
Lowry achieved 1st chair baritone. The PTHS
Band of Blue was well-represented at the
KMEA First District Symphonic Band Auditions that took place at Murray High School on
Nov. 15, with four members qualifying for the
All-District band. Shelby Lowry (1st Chair Alternate, Baritone), Rometta Washington (12th
Chair Clarinet), Erin Burba (7th Chair Trombone), and Sabrina Behrens (2nd Chair Horn)
will practice and perform with the All-District
Symphonic Band at MSU in January, 2013.
ROTC
On December 8th, the PTHS NJROTC unit traveled to Jackson, TN, where they competed in
the Northside High School JROTC Sports Day.
The unit won 6 trophies out of the 9 available
events. On the same day, another group of cadets traveled to Salem, KY, where they lead the
Salem Christmas Parade. Six cadets from the
PTHS NJROTC unit performed a color guard
for the Mid-Continent University graduation.
Interact Club
Stop by Mr. Rich’s
we meet every other
interested in joining.
nouncements
for
room (218), where
Thursday, if you’re
Listen to the anmore
information.
Beta Club
Beta Club officers for 2012-2013 are:
President: Kirby Black
Vice Presidents: Miles Butler and Cassie
Arboleda
Secretary: Logan Oatman
Treasurer: Andrew Zaninovich
Academic Team
The PT Academic Team has won the WKAB
District competition. This will allow them to appear on TV for the regional competition.
Wrestling Team
The Wrestling Team defeated Calloway Co. and
Graves Co. on November 27th.
Tilghman gives back, continued from page 1
FBLA and FCCLA serve as reading mentors
by Jacob Blankenship
For three Fridays in the months of November and December, 26 Paducah Tilghman students got the opportunity to travel to Clark and Morgan Elementary to
serve as reading mentors. The first two Fridays, students were assigned a classroom in which they would read a book to the elementary students. The book would
relate to the subject the children were studying at the time. On the final Friday,
Tilghman students assisted the kids in making their very own bookmark. In doing this, Tilghman students showed the children the importance of reading and,
at the same time, made it fun. Thanks to all who participated: Rachel Benzing,
Kiondre Bryson, Miles Butler, Jacob Blankenship, Kyler Brown, Kirsten Collins, Amy Grover, Cassidy Herndon, Alexis High, Makayla Holt, Amanda Hooker,
Claudia Horne, Abbye Johnson, Jade Kelly, Lindsey Kendall, Natasha Kendrick,
Mimi Leidecker, Mainy Moore, Amber Morris, Yasi Razban, Allison Rowe, Chantell Shaw, Taylor Thompson, Dakota Tucker, Jordan Wilhite, Audrey Withrow.
Interact Club leads card-signing operation
by McKenzi Belt
The newly created Interact club has, in its 3 week existence, elected officers
and completed their annual international service project. Under their supervisor Mr. Rich the following people were elected: President McKenzi Belt, Vice
President Miles Butler, Treasurer Meredith Morris, and Secretary Cassie Arboleda. Along side Tilghman as a whole, Interact has compiled nearly 300
handmade Christmas cards to send American Soldiers serving overseas. This
was made possible through a partnership with The American Red Cross out
of Louisville. Thank you, Tilghman students, for your creative contributions.
Football team helps with Thanksgiving meal
by Miles Butler
From 10 to 12 on Thursday, November 22nd, Thanksgiving morning, McNabb
Elementary School offered a free Thanksgiving meal open to anyone in the community. The event got several donations of food and preparations from several different sponsors. It partnered up with Texas Roadhouse who helped to make and serve
the food at the school. Various Paducah Tilghman football players and students
helped to clean tables, pick up and take out trash, and serve those in attendance.
Workman’s classes collect for those in need
by Margaret Hines and Emily Whitson
Mrs. Workman partnered with her Food & Nutrition classes to collect toys
to give to the Toys for Tots Foundation. Her classes voted on this community
outreach program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve that distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford Christmas gifts for them. This
campaign gives a message of hope to the less fortunate young children, and assists them in becoming “responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.” This year
the main focus will be to deliver toys to children affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Mrs. Workman’s sixth hour hospitality class has collected items for the Hope
Unlimited Family Care Center and Medical Clinic Inc., whose mission is to prevent unplanned pregnancies and promote sexual education through the Christian
faith and prayer. Mrs. Workman’s class will donate baby items to the clinic to
help new mothers in need. The 7th hour Hospitality class is working to donate
items such as snacks and sports equipment to the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls
Club. The class chose the Boys and Girls club to give back to the community.
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FEATURES
5
A Day in the Life of a Christmas Elf
by Savanna Whelan and Emily Whitson
The average day for an elf begins with waking up in the wee hours of the morning after a full 45 minutes of sleep, already fully dressed in uniform: the standard Christmas cardigan, striped tights, pointy shoes and a hat to match. After eating a balanced breakfast (containing the four main elfish food groups: candy, candy canes, candy
corn and syrup), the average elf’s pointy shoes jiggle as he proceeds to the workshop to clock in for his shift. The workshop is a hustle-bustle kind of place smelling of
peppermint and Christmas cheer, each elf finds his or her spot on the assembly line and tinkers away on toys for the good little children. For those elves that just don’t
have a knack for toy-making, there is always toy testing. This profession is not for the lily-livered elf. Those jack-in-the-boxes sure can startle you! Elves are allowed
15 minutes for a milk and cookie break, where they sometimes enjoy board games such as Candy Land, and practice their carols.
After work most elves spend their spare time playing with reindeer, engaging in snowball fights, caroling, and snuggling. Sometimes, they even hold hands. When
it is approaching time for bed, our average elf has warm milk with some of Mrs. Claus’s freshly baked, warm, gooey cookies. He then showers, brushes his teeth (can’t
have cavities, now can we?), and crawls into bed. To promote a peaceful 45 minute sleep, most elves sing to themselves before dozing off or even read a quick Christmas
story. After those refreshing 45 minutes, it is back to work!
On the not-so-average night for an elf, Christmas Eve, elves busy themselves by prepping Santa for take-off. First, they must wash, dry, and saddle-up the reindeer.
Then they have to polish Rudolf’s nose (just in case) and make sure all the deer eat their magical reindeer food. Next, the elves load Santa’s bag with all the toys for the
kids on the “Nice List” inside and fuel and polish the state-of-the-art Kringle 3000 (better known as: Santa’s Sleigh). Once the bag is ready, the elves all work together
to put the bag into the back of the sleigh. Elves are constantly coming up with more creative, efficient, and intuitive ways to load the sleigh, including last year’s licorice
pully system, and the year-before-last’s collective see-saw jump. With the bag loaded and ready to go, it is time to see Santa off. Elves line up one by one and personally
give Santa their best Christmas success wishes.
The life of an elf is super-dee-duper busy, but it is all worth it to see the good little boys and girls’ faces light up at the sight of the toys the elves have been working
diligently away at for the entire year.
Confessions of Mrs. Claus Dear Abby,
by Megan Cantwell and Avery Harriman
You all know Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, that fat guy in the suit, etc. Whatever
you call him, he’s famous worldwide. But, Father Christmas can’t do it all alone.
What you might not know is there is someone who is actually more powerful
than Santa himself. She washes his suit, oversees the elves, and makes sure all
the reindeer have normal noses. These are the confessions of Mrs. Claus…
I’m telling you, it isn’t all candy canes and gumdrops up here in the North
Pole. It’s freaking cold. There’s only so many ways you can fashionably wear a
red velvet jumpsuit. Also, I don’t know if you noticed, but a diet of only cookies and milk isn’t exactly great for your health. My dress goes up at least two
sizes every year. You’d think living in a perpetual winter wonderland would be
the best thing that ever happened to you, but you’d be wrong. There are vicious
polar bears (and walruses), there’s ice everywhere, and the elves just whine all
the time about labor laws.
Then there’s my husband. I feel like he values everybody in the world above
me. Every time I pull out the exercise tapes or the elliptical, he just vanishes.
And sometimes he leaves for the entire night with all his reindeers and doesn’t
come back until morning! Every time we get in a fight, he always tries to get
back at me by putting me on the naughty list. And his fashion sense is just appalling. He’s been wearing the same things since the third century.
And all the Christmas music is ridiculous. Silver bells? They’re not prettysounding after ringing every second of every hour of every day. “Baby, it’s Cold
Outside?” Yeah. Try living in the North Pole. And don’t even get me started on
“I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus.”
I guess what I’m just trying to say is that it’s not exactly a Winter Wonderland
up here. It’s hard work, and I’d appreciate a little recognition now and then. It’s
not easy being me.
One of my family members has five cats, and she wants to have the Christmas
festivities at her house this year. Every time we go there, I find cat hair on the table
and by the time we leave, I am covered! I don’t want to cause any hard feelings, but
how do I handle this? We have a lot of cat allergies in the family.
Sincerely,
Hold the Fur in Paducah!
Dear Hold the Fur in Paducah,
Well, your health must come first no matter what. If there is still enough time,
you could arrange to have the family Christmas festivities at someone else’s house.
Just simply explain that you have a cat allergy, and it would be much better if
someone else hosted.
If there are just too many hard feelings, here are some ways to simply skip
Christmas all together:
•
Take a cruise! It doesn’t matter if it’s Hawaii or Mexico, if you’re out of
the country, you can’t be held accountable for the family Christmas traditions.
Don’t disclose plans too early, though, or you could wind up with some unwanted family members on your cruise with you.
•
Head to the North Pole. You will just have to explain that you signed up for
the draft, and Santa could really use some last minute help. Surely, your family
will understand!
•
Quarantine! If at all possible, conveniently expose yourself to something
highly contagious; chicken pox is always a good one. It’s really easy, put your
pajamas on and lie around all day. Not only will you be pardoned from the torturous holiday dinner, but you could also receive some get-well cards or maybe
even some chicken soup.
•
Do the snow dance. Notify the family that you have been bombarded with
snow, and you’re trapped! The streets are just impassable and you’re so sorry,
you can’t help it, maybe next year!
XOXO,
Kindergarteners share their Wish Lists
by Margaret Hines, Emily Whitson, and Susannah Wilson
Writing a letter to Santa was always more exciting
than just telling Mom and Dad, but this year’s kindergarten classes of Clark, McNabb, and Morgan told the
Bell staff. On the first day of December, these anxious 5 and 6 year olds had fantastic lists for Santa!
Clark Elementary School’s Wish List
“I want a
toy car and
a football.”
- Tate
“A toy reindeer. Not a
plastic one, I
want a stuffed
one with a
red bow.”
- Maggie
“Big Pink
Barbie doll
house.”
-Meron
“I want a
Nintendo
DS and
a Mario
game. Oh
and Sonic
too!”
-Max
“DS games
and some
glue because my
glue ran
out.”
-Ty
Morgan Elementary School’s Wish List
“A dunebuggie, so
I can go
fast! Zoom
zoom!”
- Abby
“A baby
doll with a
crib.”
- Sasha
“One of
those
scooters
that make
all those
sparks.”
- Adam
“A skateboard to
ride on my
street.”
- Caleb
“A Lala
loopsy doll
with pink
hair.”
- Hayley
McNabb Elementary School’s Wish List
“A doll
that
dances.”
- Myrakal
“A pink bike
with streamers and a
basket.”
-Jerrika
“A computer with
a princess
game.”
- Ayonna
“I want a
drum set!”
-Cory’on
“A princess Barbie
doll.”
- Hailey
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T I L G H M A N
B E L L
FEATURES
LOOK-A-LIKES
by Savanna Whelan and Will Smith
This Month in History
by Will Hancock
Santa Claus
Mrs. Claus
Darrion Woodall (12)
Mrs. Adams
On December 7th, 1941, a Japanese fleet under Admiral Yamamoto attacked the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack was meant by the Japanese to be a strike
that would cripple American Naval power in the Pacific, preventing the United States from
entering World War II. However, despite over 2,000 casualties, the United States would rebuild the navy and enter World War II on the Allied side. A Japanese admiral would later
say that the tactical victory won by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor cost the Japanese the war.
On December 15th, 1995, the European Union announced the creation of a new, standard currency, called the Euro. The next day, 17 nations in the eurozone and 7 outside it adopted the euro as
their official currency. Replacing old national currencies such as French francs, German marks,
and Greek drachmas, the euro has become one of the strongest currencies in the world, even stronger than the US Dollar. The eurozone itself contains the second-largest economy in the world.
On December 16th, 1773, a group of Americans sneaked aboard British merchant ships in the
Boston harbor and dumped the tea on the ships into Boston harbor. The American colonists, who
were protesting increased taxes on imported goods, such as tea, dressed as Mowhak Native Americans in order to sneak on board. In response, Parliament closed Boston Harbor and enacted a number of regulations on the American Colonies, ultimately resulting in the American Revolution.
On December 24th, 1990, the bells of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow rang for the first
time since 1924. St. Basil’s Cathedral, located in the Kremlin, is a Russian Orthodox cathedral that had served as the central church in the Russian capital until the Communist
revolution in 1919. One tenant of Communism was a disdain for religion, leading to a suppression of the Russian Orthodox Church during the Cold war. The bells, which had last
rung at the funeral service of Vladimir Lenin, rang again on Christmas Eve, 1990, representing the cracks in the Soviet Union. A year later, the Soviet Union would dissolve.
On December 31st, 1879, Thomas Edison held a public showcase in Menlo Park, New
Jersey. Here, on the eve of a new decade, Edison revealed the electric incandescent lightbulb to the world. Before this, only fire could be used to light dark spaces, which was
notoriously dangerous. With Edison’s invention, it became possible to safely and efficiently light interior spaces at night with the predecessor to the modern lightbulb.
Source: Historyplace.com
How to make snowmen donuts
The Grinch
McKenzi Belt (12)
by Margaret Hines
and Emily Whitson
What better way to celebrate
Christmas than with some cute
snowman donuts? These simple,
tasty treats are sure to bring about
the Christmas spirit this December!
Ingredients:
Rudolph
Olajuwon Harmon (12)
Powdered mini donuts
Candy Corn
Black Frosting
Step One: Place donuts on tray.
Step Two: Place candy corn into the
center of the donut hole, with the
small
end facing out.
Santa’s Elves
Mr.Rich’s 7th
Hour Freshmen
Sources: tripletsintribeca.com; halloweencostumes.com; colourbox.com; elvesaroundtheworld.com; holderbaum.educationextras.com. Photos by Savanna Whelan
Step Three: Use black icing to make
“coal” eyes and mouths.
Step Four: Enjoy your yummy holiday treat!
Source:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J6TJnmNxw0g/
RyuoybPGY0I/AAAAAAAABK4/XCd9RKglmU0/
s1600-h/donut_snowman-1.jpg
Christmas music concert rings
in the holidays at Tilghman
by Savanna Whelan
The music program’s annual Christmas concert was another huge success! Held on December
6th, the concert featured Mr. Saddler’s guitar class, Mr. Van Fleet’s orchestra class, guitar soloist,
Michael Tavernaro, and Mr. Saddler’s jazz band and concert band.
The night started at 7:00 pm with the guitar ensemble, playing “Angels We Have Heard on
High,” “Ode to Joy,” “Silent Night,” and “Carol of the Bells.” The audience even participated
by singing along to “Silent Night.” Next, the orchestra performed “Fanfare Allegro,” “Walking Basses,” “Fiddle on Fire,” and “Christmas.” After the orchestra, Michael Tavernaro took
the stage to perform John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” on guitar. The jazz band
played next, performing “Autumn Mist” and “Vertical Vision.” Last but not least was the concert
band. They closed the program with “Down by the Salley Gardens,” “A Christmas Grab Bag,”
and “Celtic Carol.”
The concert was followed by a small reception in the lobby with cookies and punch. The night
was very successful and many thanks go out to everyone involved! “The concert was very festive
and enjoyed by all,” comments Mr. Van Fleet.
Photos by Will Smith
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Granite Countertops
Back Splash and Floors
Design and Installed
Judy Moore
President
3950 Olivet Church Rd
Paducah, KY 42001
Tel: 270-443-0006
Fax: 270-443-6009
judy@walkerstoneinc.com
www.walkerstoneinc.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Christmas movies spread holiday cheer
by Sabel Overlin
It’s that time of year again—Christmas carols are
playing on the radio, your parents are asking what you
want to see under the tree, and mall traffic is unbelievable. Yes, it’s the holiday season. For those of
you who cringed when you saw the first commercial for the year’s horrible Christmas comedy, don’t
worry. Check out this list of the tried and true best
Christmas movies to make it through the holidays.
A Christmas Story (1983) If you haven’t seen this
movie yet, where have you been? On Christmas, it plays
all day long on TBS, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch it. You’ll get to watch as little Ralphie has
the worst Christmas ever involving a fluffy, pink bunny
onesie, a sexy leg lamp, a freezing cold lamp post, and
a Red Ryder carbon-action 200-shot range model air
rifle that will shoot your eye out! Honestly, if you’ve
never seen this movie, watch it over break—preferably while eating a Chinese buffet Christmas dinner.
Elf (2003) No matter what your opinion of Will
Ferrell is (though I really hope that you like him), there
is no denying that Elf is one of the funniest Christmas
movies out there. After discovering he was adopted,
Buddy the Elf makes his way from the North Pole
through the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest and
the sea of twirly, swirly gumdrops to find his father
in New York. While he is there, he runs into problems dealing with cynical New Yorkers as opposed to
the cheerful North Pole elves. The worst, though, is
when he finds out that adults don’t believe in Santa!
By the end, Buddy is able to save Christmas when he
runs into Santa in Central Park. Make sure to watch
this over the holidays, because it would be nice to
meet someone who shares my affinity for elf culture.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) If
you’re stuck watching the little kids at your family
Christmas party, pop in the classic Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer. Though some say that the Claymation is creepy, whose heart doesn’t break when Rudolph isn’t able to join in all the reindeer games?
Rudolph’s kind spirit causes him to help all the unwanted toys on Misfit Island find homes and eventually become Santa’s head reindeer. This Christmas special is what earns Rudolph the rightfully
deserved postion as our favorite Christmas reindeer.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) and (2003)
Most would be quick to say that the classic cartoon
version of The Grinch is better, but both are must-see’s
over the holidays. The original brings back memories
of watching it with your family, anxiously waiting for
Santa Claus to visit, while the Jim Carrey version brings
a bizarre, funny twist to a beloved classic. Both movie
versions do justice to the timeless Dr. Seuss storybook.
Of course, with every heart warming Christmas
classic drenched in holiday cheer, there is a whole
slew of painful to sit through movies that come with
it. Over the holidays, make sure to avoid any sequels,
remakes, ABC Family original movies, and most of
the ones made in the last decade. The 2000’s have
really had an unfair share of obnoxious, slapstick humor Christmas movies. Do yourself a favor and steer
clear of any movies falling under these categories
unless you want to turn into Scrooge this Christmas.
Pictures courtesy of:
http://drafthouse.com/movies/a_christmas_story_mini_feast//austin
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/
http://moviesandpinchofrandomness.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmasmovie-recommendations-part-i.html
http://www.impawards.com/2000/dr_seuss_how_the_grinch_stole_
christmas_ver3.html
Breaking Dawn is released Lincoln blows theatre-goers away
by MaKayla Holt
by Miles Butler
The last installment from the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn: Part
2, was recently released, succeeding Breaking Dawn: Part 1, which left
audiences anticipating the outcome of the Cullens’ newest family member, Renesmee. The birth of the half-mortal child left many fans on the
edges of their seats over the future of the Cullens and added a more human side to the film. In the past, vampire children were seen as threats and
immediately put to death by the Volturi, the governing body of vampires,
in an effort to keep the vampire world a secret. After hearing about the
possible threat of Renesmee’s birth, the Volturi took immediate action.
As soon as Bella realized that she had a gift that could be used to
protect her family, she started to prepare herself for what was to come.
The Cullens, alongside Jacob and a team of new vampires, come together to witness the growth of Renesmee Cullen in order to prove her
harmlessness. Knowing that the Volturi will not stop to listen to reason,
the Cullens and their friends prepare themselves for a bloody battle.
The film’s highlight was the climactic battle sequence, complete with an
unexpected twist. The scenes are intense and close-up, digging into the audience’s emotions and setting the mood. The point of this movie was to bid
farewell to the Twilight Saga, and it achieves this in the final scenes, leaving
the audience with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Worried about their future, Edward
and Bella live to treasure each moment that they spend with their daughter.
Overall, Breaking Dawn: Part 2 relates to the audience well, especially its
sentimental ending with many plays on the last word of the series: “forever”.
History-buff or not, Lincoln is one of the best movies of the year, and possibly one of the best
of all time. Directed by Stephen Spielberg, Lincoln portrays the final four months of the life
of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Daniel Day-Lewis’s portrayal of the tall and calm
Lincoln is a fantastic performance. His innocent look and confidence fits the description that
many picture Lincoln having. Lincoln offers great insight into the time; most importantly,
it shows the severity of the Civil War along with the mental and physical impact that it had
on President Lincoln. It also gives the audience an enhanced feel of the society at the time.
The movie begins with a dark, grim scene of Lincoln fulfilling his duties as Commander in Chief of the Union army as African-American soldiers speak to him about
battle. As the movie progresses, it portrays the struggle over the passage of the 13th
amendment in Congress, which Lincoln desperately thought should be passed. Perspectives from multiple views are portrayed in Congress, as radical advocates and
opponents fight strongly for and against the passage of the amendment. Appomattox Court House is shown in the scene where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysesses Grant and the Union army. Soon after this, a play is interrupted
with the announcement of Lincoln having been shot. This is followed by a heartbreaking scene of people surrounding the bed on which a dead Abraham Lincoln lay.
To end the movie, there is a flashback to Lincoln giving his Second Inaugural Address. Despite many fellow Northerners wanting to harshly punish the South, Lincoln didn’t see this as the best option. Lincoln’s desire to forgive the South and unify the nation is evident in this famous speech.
Lincoln is truly an awe-inspiring movie. It combines a very realistic setting, relevant historical evidence, and a great cast to deliver a fantastic, unforgettable movie.
New Skyfall Bond movie draws rave reviews from fans and critics alike
by Will Hancock
Photo courtesy of: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/
This November, James Bond returned for his twenty-third movie, Skyfall, released on the fiftieth anniversary of the first ever James Bond film. In this
film, Daniel Craig returns for his third Bond film,
accompanied by the returning Judie Dench and the
new-comers Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben
Whishaw. With a stunning performance from Craig,
Skyfall brings Bond roaring back from the mixed reception of Quantum of Solace for an impressive film.
Daniel Craig returns as secret agent James Bond,
007. Now in his third film, the blonde Bond grapples
with the question of his role in an increasingly technological espionage society. This is brought up by the
new Q, MI6’s chief of technology, who comments that
“Occasionally we need someone to pull a trigger.”
Craig is also joined by Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva, a
former MI6 agent that is the film’s primary antagonist.
Skyfall begins with a chase across the rooftops of
Istanbul, which far exceeds the similar scenes in Taken
2, released earlier this year. From there, Bond travels
to Shanghai, where he enters scenes both modern – a
fight on a Shanghai rooftop with digital images floating
in the background – and rustic – a fight in an oriental
bar, complete with Komodo dragons eating people’s
legs. Spoiler alert: Bond doesn’t get his legs eaten.
We join Bond as he escapes from China back to
England, where he flees from London to Bond’s
chldhood home and the film’s titular manor, Skyfall.
The film concludes with a spectacular fight at Skyfall manor, complete with a gun-toting Aston Martin, a destroyed helicopter, and a host of improvised
gadgets scrapped together by Bond and his allies.
If there’s any complaint to be made about Skyfall,
it’s that the film seems unsure about itself. At times,
the film emulates Casino Royale, Skyfall’s fantastic predecessor. However, the film often slips into a
style more reminiscent of Roger Moore’s Bond of the
70’s and 80’s, such as when Bond enters the oriental, otherworldly bar in Shanghai or when Bond uses
a mechanical crane to tear apart a train while pursuing
his enemy. The most glaring example is Bond’s Aston
Martin, which is not only remote-controlled but has
machine guns incorporated into it – much more like
the outrageous gadgets of Bonds past. The main villain, as well, is somewhat weak. Javier Bardem does
an excellent job of portraying an often unthreatening
man – even his dramatic entrance and opening monologue is ruined by his casual, almost peppy demeanor.
Only once, when captured by MI6, does Silva break
from this unassuming façade and become truly frightening – a spectacular scene that is over all too soon.
Despite the weakness of the main villain, Skyfall
still keeps a strong array of characters. Judie Dench
returns as M, the head of MI6, for her sixth and final film in that role. She is replaced as “M” by Ralph
Fiennes, who has shelved his ambition to destroy
Britain as Lord Voldemort and becomes Gareth Mallroy, a former member of the Royal Army. Naomie
Harris enters as Eve Moneypenny, a famous Bond
character. Joining the array of recurring characters
is Q, the head of MI6’s technology department, who
had been conspicuously absent from Casino Royale
and Quantum of Solace. Q is now played by Ben
Whishaw, who is arguably one of the most memorable additions to the cast, as a quirky genius and a foil
to Bond’s more serious, combat-oriented character.
These strong characters, coupled with a tense, edgeof-your-seat plot, make Skyfall one of the best movies
of the year, on par with The Dark Knight Rises. Daniel
Craig’s strong performance continues to elevate him
towards the coveted level of the original Bond – Sean
Connery. Despite a weak villain and some uncertainty
about the direction of the movie, Skyfall ended up an
excellent Bond film and a box office hit this November.
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Arts & Entertainment
Machinima breaks ground in storytelling
by Will Hancock
Favorite Christmas Movies Horoscopes
by Amanda Hooker
Sagittarius (November 23 - December 21)
Picture courtesy of polyvore.com
With such big-name video games as Halo 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, As- has worked on a number of movies, including Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadsassin’s Creed 3, and Far Cry 3 hitting the market this winter, it’s no surprise that ows and Snow White and the Huntsman. Matt Hullum, the owner of Rooster Teeth,
the internet is full of videos from these popular games. However, there is another turned down an offer to work on the popular show Smallville in order to work at
phenomenon that is sweeping popular culture, and it isn’t watching disgruntled ten- Rooster Teeth productions.
year olds yelling into microphones. No, this is Machinima.
If there is any downside to machinima, it is that machinimas are notoriously
What is machinima? Simply, it’s
short-lived. Because machinia video made into a movie. The charmas are made in a video game,
acters in a game become the characthe studios that make them do
ters of the video, and voiceovers add
not own the intillectual propin dialogue and plot. Machinimas
erty to the various characters.
can range from those made by XanaBecause of this, many popular
tos, popular on YouTube, which are
machinimas have been forced
largely slapstick comedies with diato shut down - The Leet World
logue overlaid on normal gameplay,
ended after only two seasons
to more serious works, like Shelf
because the creators couldn’t
Life, which includes full animation
economically continue to prosequences and a completely original
duce it.
plot.
So why is machinima so
While many machinimas are
popular? The most likely reafunny, one-time videos made beson is that the people who make
tween friends, others are involved From left to right: Red vs. Blue, Shelf Life, The Leet World
machinima are in touch with
projects. Some longer series include photos courtesey of roosterteeth.com, pixeleyesproductions.com, and smoothfewfilms.com
their audiences. Rooster Teeth
Forecast: the Series, a campy show
began as a group of friends who
made in the Halo games where forwould like to play video games
mer soldiers become weather forecasters, The Leet World, a reality-show style ma- together. Smooth Few Films started as a group of film students who would have
chinima where four terrorists and four counter-terrorists must live together in the gaming sessions after class. Instead of big budget, multi-million dollar production
same house and compete in challenges, and Shelf Life, an unfortunately short but companies, these machinima studios are small groups of friends who are in touch
extremely high-quality series made in the Half-Life series. While a lack of market- with popular culture. Because machinimas are rarely for profit, the people who
ability due to intellectual property laws often shut down machinimas, many groups, make them are the people who love them. If they’re making things that they are
such as Smooth Few Films, continue for years in order to finish their works.
passionate about, then the products have a higher quality.
The most recognizable machinima, though, is certainly Rooster Teeth’s 10-year
If you’re interested in machinima, Red vs. Blue just finished its tenth season, and
masterpiece, Red vs. Blue. A series that began with a simple enough question, all ten seasons are available for free viewing at roosterteeth.com. The Leet World,
“Why are we here?” has become the longest-running web series there is. Rooster although it is now over, has two seasons on smoothfewfilms.com. Many other maTeeth, the production company behind Red vs. Blue, is staffed by people drawn chinimas are on YouTube, and most machinima studios have websites.
from across the entertainment industry. Gavin Free, the director of Red vs. Blue,
This month, Sagittarius, you should watch out for gossiping and rumors,
for they can threaten your romantic relationship. Your stern and serious manner
will make you take things way more seriously than they ought to be. Put any travel plans on hold until you know that you can please everyone when making your
plans, if necessary. Also, you should have the eyes in the back of your head wide
open because you will be approached by some clever con men or women with toogood-to-be-true schemes, which will waste your money. There are some negatives
to this month for you, but the positives will outweigh them. Just watch out for
conflict with Taurus and Libra, and beware signing any contracts on January 13th!
Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)
Capricorns, this month will be a month of surprises for you. Your desire
for new experiences will pay off for you when a venture you take surprises you
pleasantly. Be careful to not ignore people who scoff at your imaginative ideas.
They have ulterior motives that will come to light soon. Signs are looking good
that you’ll survive the end of the world (unlike those Sagittariuses), so make sure
to buckle down and go to work, because your skills will be extremely important
and needed on the 22nd once the damage has come to light. Make sure to always be
polite to strangers who approach you on the street searching for help cleaning up
after the disaster, because one will have something that benefits you in the future.
Also, avoid playing in the snow, because you’re especially at risk for hypothermia.
Holiday Quiz
by MaKayla Holt and Cason Walden
1. What is hung above a doorway and helps you steal a kiss?
2. What holiday character said, “You sit on a throne of Lies!”?
3. Who sang “The Christmas Song”?
4. Who asked for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas?
5. Who took the job of Santa Claus when Santa fell off of his roof?
6. Fill in the missing words: “On the night before Christmas, when
all through the _____, not a creature was stirring, not even a ______.
7. How many reindeer carry Santa’s sleigh?
8. Who developed the tradition of kissing someone under the mistle
toe?
9. Whose heart grew 3 times larger on Christmas?
10. During what war was the famous Christmas Day cease fire?
11. What religions started the celebration of Christmas?
12. What kinds of trees are typically used as Christmas trees?
13.What street did the Christmas miracle happen on?
14. What three words does Santa ALWAYS say?
15. In what movie was Santa kidnapped?
Answers:
1. Mistletoe 2. Buddy the Elf 3. Nat King Cole 4. Ralphie 5. Scott Calvin 6. House,
Mouse 7. Nine 8. The Greeks 9. The Grinch 10. WWI 11. Cult of Sol Invictus
12. Evergreen 13. 34th Street 14. Ho, Ho, Ho 15. Nightmare Before Christmas
Sports
PT athletes sign to play
at the next level
Chelsey chooses Chattanooga
by Andrew Zaninovich
Photo by Savanna Whelan
We at The Bell would like to congratulate
Tilghman’s very own Chelsey Shumpert, who
has committed herself to attending the University
of Tennessee at Chattanooga to play basketball.
Chelsey has been on a campus tour to meet her
new coaches and some of her teammates. She
tells us, “I’m excited because it is something new.
It is going to be a lot different than high school
basketball, but I’m ready for a new challenge.”
Shumpert, who is a senior this year, has been a key
player on the varsity team since the seventh grade.
As a freshman, Chelsey joined Tilghman’s elite
group of basketball players in the 1,000 point club.
She has been named to the All-District Team and the All-Region Team four times. Shumpert has been named
MVP of the Tilghman team three times and has led the team in three pointers and assists for two years. Chelsey
has also been named Player of the Month four times, and she received the All-Purchase Award three times.
Last season, she averaged 25 points per game and had a total of 458 points by its end. Shumpert is also having an impressive showing this year with 20 points in the team’s season-opener game against Calloway and
33 points against Mayfield. In the same game, she hit four three-pointers and scored the game winning shot.
Shumpert’s future looks bright at Tennessee, whose women’s team went 26-10 last season. It is the most successful team in the history of the Southern Conference with 15 regular season titles since 1983 and 14 overall conference championships. The Bell wishes Chelsey luck
in the rest of her basketball career, both here at Tilghman and at the University of Tennessee.
Morris sisters are headed to Bethel
by McKenzi Belt
Maddie and Meredith Morris signed for volleyball
with Bethel University located in Mckenzie, Tennessee this past month. The sisters have started on Varsity
since their 8th grade year and have dominated ever
since. This summer, Maddie and Meredith represented Kentucky in a national volleyball tournament
held in Hawaii. Team Kentucky competed well and
ended up with a commendable second place rank.
The Morris sisters’ experience and consistency on
the court have landed them two athletic scholarships.
When asked about their decision to attend Bethel,
Meredith commented on how similar the environment
of Bethel is to Tilghman, and that is one of the main
reasons she chose it. The sisters had other offers, but
in the end, they chose to pursue a higher education
and their passion for volleyball together. Maddie said,
“I was looking for a small, Christian school and have
always wanted to play volleyball at the next level.
I’m looking forward to playing against better competition and developing my skills as an individual.”
The current volleyball team at Bethel University
has players from many countries other than the U.S.,
including Germany, Canada, Jamaica, and Brazil.
This diversity is another aspect that attracted the sisters to Bethel. The college is also fairly small, with
approximately 3,500 students on campus. The Mor-
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ris’ signing ceremony will be held in the spring.
The Tilghman Bell wishes Maddie and Meredith
the best of luck in their future volleyball endeavors.
Pictured (from left to right): Maddie Morris (12), Meredith Morris (12). Photo by Savanna Whelan.
11
Fans fill gym
to witness
Hoopfest
by McKenzi Belt
Marshall County Hoopfest, once again, did not disappoint. Kentucky fans lined the stands cheering on Andrew and Aaron Harrison who have signed to play for the
Kentucky Wildcats in the fall of 2013. Andrew Wiggins,
who is ranked number one in the clas of 2013 according
to rivals.com, is uncommitted, and the Big Blue Nation
has hopes that the superstar will choose Kentucky. Quentin Snider, a Louisville commit, also showed out on the
court with the cheers of Louisville fans supporting him.
Other top players in the nation competed this weekend. Oak Hill was present with D1 recruits such as RJ
Currington and Troy Williams. Huntington Prep has
four signed seniors along with Wiggins. 6'10" forward
Dominic Woodson is headed to Baylor, Travon Landry
will play for the University of Tennessee, Moses Kingsley has signed with the University of Arkansas, and
Xavier Rathan-Mayes will follow in his father's footsteps to Florida State. Derek Willis, another UK signee,
was scheduled to play with his team, Bullit East, but he
had to sit the bench due to his actions in the last game.
This year’s Hoopfest showcased 13 top-100 basketball players of the class of 2013. Two top-100 players of the class of 2014 were also present: Quenten
Snider of Louisville Ballard and Cliff Alexander of
Curie High. The tournament also incorporated local
top teams into the line ups including Massac County,
Marshall County, Graves County, and Hopkinsville.
A few famous faces could also be seen in the sea of
basketball fans such as former UK coach Joe B. Hall,
who happened to celebrate his birthday at the Hoopfest.
For years, the Marshall County Hoopfest has showcased some of the best high school basketball players
in the nation. This tournament brings lots of publicity
to western Kentucky and provides an economic boost
during a time of low tourism for the lake area. The
Hoopfest is a great thing and will hopefully be here for
years to come. In order to insure its future success, it
needs a high attendence, so go next year and watch talented kids play their hearts out. Be a fan and support
the Hoopfest!
Andrew Harrison, a UK signee, warms up for the game. Photo courtesy of Kentucky Kernel.
Girls’ basketball team starts off their season undefeated
by Cason Walden
Congratulations to the PT girls’ basketball team
for starting out the season with a perfect 5-0 record. In the season opener against Calloway County, Karlee Humphrey and Chelsey Shumpert each
scored 20 points to win the game 71-64. Humphrey
also grabbed 15 rebounds and was named Biokinetics player of the Week for her performance.
The Tilghman girls had a nail-biter against Mayfield for their second game. With the game coming
to a close with the score tied 51-51, Chelsey Shumpert hit a clutch jumper in the last few seconds to fin-
ish the game and win 53-51. Shumpert also hit 4
three pointers to rack up 33 points against Mayfield.
In their third game, the girls walked away with a big win
against Christian Country. Chelsey Shumpert once again
dominated the game with 26 points to add to the 79-65
win. Karlee Humphrey, Alex Kohler, and Meko Buchannan contributed with 10, 11, and 12 points, respectively.
Continuing their perfect season, the Tilghman girls had a
blow-out win against Hickman country, winning 80-27.
In their fifth consecutive win, Tilghman demolished regional contender, Murray, beating them
67-45. Tilghman was knocked out of the regional
tournament last year by Murray, but quickly established regional dominace with this sweet victory.
Chelsey Shumpert led with 26 points, while Alex
Kohler, who had 16 points, and Karlee Humphrey,
who had 14 points, added solid supporting roles.
The Lady Tornado’s starting lineup takes the court. Photo by Will
Smith.
Senior Chelsey Shumpert drives to the basket in the win against
Christian County. Photo by Will Smith.
Sophomore Alex Kohler brings the ball down the court.
Photo by Will Smith.
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Sports
12
Understanding college football standings
by Miles Butler
Northern Illinois University’s football team has
an astounding record this year of 12 wins and only
1 loss. Oregon State’s team has 9 wins and 3 losses.
However, Oregon State is ranked higher than N. Illinois in all of the major polls. How could a team with
3 losses possibly be ranked higher than a team with
only 1 loss?! It’s all in the ranking system used. The
teams are ranked by combining the rankings from
the Harris Interactive Poll, the USA Today Coaches’
Poll, and the computer polls to get the BCS ranking.
The ranking system isn’t solely based on the number
of wins and losses; it also accounts for schedule strength.
That way, a team can’t play a cupcake schedule and win
all of its games then be ranked higher than someone that
may have lost a game but is playing much tougher competition. Here’s how the somewhat complex computer
poll system works. The computer polls system uses six
different computer rankings, each of which accounts for
the team’s record and schedule strength. Each team can
receive a maximum of 100 points per computer ranking. The highest and lowest score for each is dropped.
Then, the remaining four scores are averaged. The
average is divided by 100 for the team’s percentage.
Next is the Harris Interactive Poll. The Harris system isn’t as complex. Former players, coaches, administrators, and others previously involved with college football are on a committee. Each member of the
committee votes for the top 25 teams each week from
September through the end of the regular season. The
votes are tallied and the top 25 teams are simply the 25
teams with the most votes, such that the first ranked
team is the one who received the most votes. Then to
get the percentages, you divide the number of points
that each team got by a maximum of 2,850 points.
Last is the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. It is similar
to the Harris Interactive Poll, except the committee is
made solely of 59 coaches. They vote for which teams
they think should be the top 25, in the order that they
think the teams should be ranked. A team can receive
a maximum of 1,575 points from this poll. Divide the
number of points they received by 1,575 in order to
get the team’s percentage. Now, combine all three of
these polls in order to get the BCS ranking. Average the
percent totals the team got from each poll. The top percentage is ranked number one, 2nd top ranked number
two, and so on. By combining the polls and performing a little math through averaging the percentages, one
can finally grasp how the BCS ranking system works.
Bowling starts year Humphrey honored by Biokinetics
with a close loss
by Cason Walden
by Jacob Blankenship
Congratulations to sophomore Karlee Humphrey for being named the BioKinetics Athlete of the Week for her performance in a 71-64 win over Calloway County. Biokinetics decides on an athlete of the week, one male and one female, after
someone has nominated an athlete because of an impressive performance. The
person with the most outstanding performance is then named Biokinetics Athlete
of the Week. Karlee was recognized on WPSD for her outstanding performance.
“I was thankful to receive the award, but that was just one game; I have the rest
of the season to focus on,” Humphrey said. Karlee, a two year varsity starter, had
20 points and 15 rebounds in the Calloway County game. Last season, Karlee
started and played a crucial role averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds a game.
Paducah Tilghman’s bowling team has officially begun
its third season. This is only its second year as a school
sport as it started as a school club in 2010. Starting in October, both the boys’ and girls’ teams practice every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This practice is preparation for their numerous matches that last until February.
The boys’ first match on Thursday, November 29, proved Photo courtesy of Savanna Whelan
to be a tough battle for both Tilghman and Graves County.
A bowling match consists of two regular games and two Baker’s games. Tilghman’s “A” won both of their regular games
against Graves. However, Tilghman’s “B” team lost both of
Paducah Tilghman Boy’s Basketball
theirs. These two wins and two losses cancelled each other out,
DATE
OPPONENT
resulting in a tie game. The result of the remaining two BakDec. 18
Graves Co.
er’s games would decide who would win the match. A Baker’s
Dec. 21-22
PT Christmas Tourney
game is a method of team play in which five players bowl toDec. 27-29
Calloway Co. Tourney
gether to make one game. Each player bowls only two frames.
Jan. 4
Heath
The Baker’s games resulted in one win for Tilghman and one
Jan. 5
Reidland
win for Graves County. It was all tied up. To determine the winJan. 11
Ballard Memorial
ner of the match, a pin count was carried out in which the total
number of pins for the entire match was counted. This count
Paducah Tilghman Girl’s Basketball
concluded that Graves County would take home the victory.
DATE
OPPONENT
Despite the loss, head coach Dale Beck expects his team
Dec. 18
Graves County
to have a strong season and to have a blast at the same time.
Dec. 19-22
Holiday Classic
Junior Jake Humphrey, an experienced bowler who has been a
Dec. 27-29
Gateway Holiday Classic
team member since its start in 2010, states, “There are a lot of
Jan. 4
Heath
new kids this year. I think bowling is becoming the new sport at
Jan. 5
Reidland
Tilghman.” Hopefully, the bowling team can recover from this
Jan. 8
Marshall County
close loss and come back even stronger in matches in the future.
Jan. 11
Ballard
PT Basketball Schedule
PLACE
Away
Home
Away
Away
Home
Home
TIME
7:30
TBA
TBA
7:30
7:30
7:30
PLACE
Away
Louisville
Mt. Sterling
Away
Home
Away
Home
TIME
6:00
TBA
TBA
6:00
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6:00
Tilghman Boys’ Basketball looks to “turn things around”
Tilghman kicked-off the 2012-2013 basketball season on December 1st with an away game against Carlisle County.The
team shook off some early woes and was able to pull it out late with a 73-68 victory over the Comets. With this victory
the team improved to 1-0 on the season and looked to continue their winning ways against the Mayfield Cardinals.
Unfortunately, the Tornado fell short in their matchup with the Cardinals losing 68-65 in a game that went
down to the wire. Heading into the second half with a 10-point deficit, Tilghman came out strong and cut Mayfield’s lead to six at the end of the third quarter. Donald Overstreet and Olajuwon Harmon had strong games for
the Tornado as they combined for 37 points, despite Overstreet playing much of the third and fourth quarters.
Tilghman took the lead late in the fourth quarter, but costly turnovers down the stretch
gave the lead back to Mayfield and would lead them to victory. Mayfield’s Jordan Brown, Jacob Tyler, Taye Love, and Demetrius Overton all scored in double digits for the Cardinals and carried much of their offensive load. This loss brought Tilghman’s record to 1-1 on the season.
The Tornado squared off against Christian County three days after suffering the loss to Mayfield and faced
the same fate against the Colonels. Tilghman hung around through two and half quarters, but a third quarter
Christian County run would push them to an 80-64 victory. Jarvis Irby and Demarius Poindexter combined for
44 total points for the Colonels, but it would be a breakout game for PT’s Mikey Davis as he poured in 22 points.
A third consecutive loss would come the following night in a double overtime thriller to Fleming County. The
Tornado would lose 79-75 to the East Kentucky opponent, but clutch three-pointers by Eric Youngblood would
keep the team in the game for the fourth quarter and the first overtime. Youngblood finished with five three-pointers and 24 points in the game; Donald Overstreet also gave the team 28 points. This lowered the team’s record
to 1-3 on the season, but they’ll look to turn things around against district rival Lone Oak on December 15th.