Ruston High School February 11, 2010 Box Tops

Transcription

Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Valentine‟s Wishes
Pages 11-12
Box Tops
February 11, 2010
Students Show
Support for
Haiti
 Academia (2-4)
 Editorials/
by Drew Boyd
News Editor
Opinions (5-10)
 Valentines
Wishes (11-12)
 Teacher
Spotlights(13-14)
 Clubs (15-18)
 Senior
Spotlights(19-24)
 Student
Center (25-26)
 Sponsors/
Staff (27)
 Fun Page (28)
 Sports (29-32)
In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, people
around the world have shown
great compassion by donating
money and supplies to various
Haiti relief funds. Ruston High
is no different, with many of our
organizations pitching in and
doing their part to make a difference. One example is the
Key Club‟s annual Bearcat
Beauty Pageant, in which the $5
ticket price will be donated to
UNICEF. In addition, the three
language clubs have banded
Teen Dating
Violence
Awareness Week
by Amber Brown
Reporter/Photographer
Last week, Feb. 1st – 5th, 2010, was
“National Teen Dating Violence
Awareness and Prevention Week”.
Mrs. Margaret Henderson contacted
the Chatterbox in an effort to raise
awareness of the week. Several randomly chosen members of the Chatterbox staff gave their opinions to Mrs.
Henderson, who will use these opinions as well as those of many other
students and adults to increase awareness of this issue. The Domestic
Abuse Resistance Team (DART)
joined in to promote awareness as well
as many churches, radio stations, the
Ruston Daily Leader, and many other
organizations. With this year‟s main
goal being to promote awareness everywhere, everyone hopes to expand the
together to organize an “itemcollection.” They have been
encouraging the clubs at RHS to
collect and turn in various necessities such as bottled water
and t-shirts to help the Haitians
get back on their feet.
Ms. Miles, a student teacher
working with FBLA, organized
a relief project as well. During
the weeks of January 18-22 and
January 25-29, FBLA held a
s ch ool -w i de c o mp et i t i on
dubbed the “Penny Wars.” Students were encouraged to donate their loose change to aid
the Haiti victims. The total donation amount was $530, all of
which was sent to the Salvation
Army and Doctors Without
Borders. This is proof that when
Bearcats get together they can
awareness program in the future, but
any start, big or small, will help for
now.
Almost everyone has heard of and
can truly relate to the famous incident
in which Chris Brown hit Rihanna and
left noticeable marks and bruises. People were shocked to hear about the
attack and the reasons Chris Brown
and so many others use to justify their
actions. The main reasons people give
for their actions are that they are provoked by the other party and that they
have been raised around violence all
their lives, so they are conditioned to
be that way. They feel that their actions are expected and warranted.
However, those reasons are just excuses – they do not give anyone the
right to hit others. Being famous, as in
the case of Chris Brown and Rihanna,
does not exempt one from the cruel
truth of this world. People foolishly try
to provoke others, and others foolishly
are provoked and turn to violence. It‟s
time for everyone to go back to simple
Facilities Needed
Page 26
Ask Carlos
Page 26
FFA Winners
Page 16
accomplish great things, and the
entire student body should be
proud of itself.
The class that won the
“Penny Wars” was the sophomores with 4,200 points. In second place were the freshmen
with 306 points, in third place
were the juniors with 214
points, and the seniors sit comfortably in fourth place with a
legit -3, 428 points. This is not
to say the seniors did not participate – quite the opposite.
The seniors did donate; we simply did not abide by the rules
(that is, only pennies counted
towards the total score during
the second week).
Congratulations Sophomores! Your class will receive a
free jeans pass day to be an-
truths we learned as kids – treat others
as you would want to be treated. That
goes for both parties. Sometimes, as
we have often heard, it is better to just
walk away.
I asked a couple of Ruston High
students their opinions on this subject,
and the answers were quite honest. For
example, a junior female declared “If
you are in a relationship and the person you are in a relationship with is
abusive, then you need to get out of
that relationship because that person is
no good for you and is only holding
you back.” Let‟s not confuse playful
touches between friends and people in
relationships with violence – there is a
big difference. However, as another
student stated, “If a relationship at any
point turns to verbal and physical
abuse, that is an obvious sign that you
need to get out of that relationship and
just move on.” Simply put, when it
comes to a person‟s safety, the best
thing to do is just leave.
Although National Teen Dating
nounced in March. Thank you,
as well, to every other student
who donated money to this
cause. Whether your class won
or lost, you can feel good knowing that your money went to
help those in need.
Violence and Prevention Week has
passed, everyone should promote
awareness to teen dating violence all
year long. Many students have been in
relationships that have been affected
by violence at different levels, but no
level of violence should be acceptable
or excused. Though most violence is
arguably placed on females, there are
also males who are subjected to violence as well. Dating violence often
goes unreported and many students
feel ashamed or at fault, but they
should not feel any guilt on their part.
If you or someone you know is involved in a violent relationship, please
seek assistance from your parents,
church, counselor, DART, or any of
the many organizations that can help
as soon as possible. No one should
ever have to go through something as
troubling as dating violence.
Academia
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Whale in the
Auditorium?!
by Natasha Alva
Reporter
Rachel Hill, Natalie Rabb, Mary Taylor
Carwile, Noel Mari, and Mary Michael
McGhee (left to right in the picture) are all
part of Mrs. Guerin‟s Marine Science
class. Recently in this class they have been
studying whales and to do that, they de-
cided to make a model of one. Humphrey
was constructed out of plastic and tape and
is blown up to size with a fan through the
tail. He is a life-size humpback whale and
measures 54 feet in length from head to
tail. He is large enough to stand in, but
Humphrey is still only half the size of the
largest whale on record.
It took a total of six days during their
class period to make the humpback whale.
When asked what the hardest part of making the whale was, there were three different responses: taping the head and trying
February 11, 2010
to make it round, doing the math to make
the conversions, and simply understanding
and following the directions were all challenges the students had to overcome. Despite these challenges, the whale was
made and the girls are very proud of it.
They said it helped them grasp the true
size and vastness of a whale. Humphrey is
now rolled up while the girls go back into
the class room and make his organs. One
thing is for sure: this whale was certainly
one large hands-on learning experience.
Page 2
Peer Leaders Make a Difference
by Natasha Alva
Reporter
On February 13th, Peer Leaders will be going to the Princeton Palace Nursing Home. They plan on bringing its occupants various treats. According to Peer Leaders president
Derrick Williams, they will be spending time with the elderly to boost their spirits.
Peer Leaders would like everyone to become aware that they will be hosting the Bearcat Lead to the Spotlight talent show in the early spring. They will also lead Black History Month‟s “Did-You-Know?” announcements and a soul food banquet. Also, don‟t forget to check the bulletin board for this month‟s new slogan!
4-H Club Report
submitted by Fre’Drecia Payne
4-H Club Reporter
There are many activities going on with the 4-H organization. At the request of the language clubs, 4-H members are asked to please bring toilet paper and any sleeping bags
or tents to the rooms of Mrs. Tinsley or Mrs. Thomason to help the victims who suffered in the earthquake in Haiti.
Achievement Day is coming up sooner than you think! It is time for all 4-H members to make sure they participate in their two parish events to be eligible to attend Achievement Day in May. Below are just a few of the upcoming activities available for you:
 Valentine’s Day Dance: Help chaperone the dance at Glen View Elementary for the 4 th and 6th graders on February 12th from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
 Lincoln Parish Foods Festival: Get cookin‟ on February 15th at Grace United Methodist Church. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.
 4-H Night at the Mudbugs: We will attend a hockey game on March 6th at the Century Tel Arena. Advance sign-up required. The cost for tickets will be $12.
Call the 4-H office, talk to a 4-H officer, Mrs. Thomason, or Mrs. Tinsley for more information about any of the 4-H activities. Also, check out our bulletin board!
Academia
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Don’t Forget to Pay for Prom!
February 11, 2010
Page 3
by Natasha Alva
Reporter
Attention juniors and seniors! As you hopefully already know, prom is coming up on March 20 th. Tickets are on sale now! Give your money to either Mrs.
Patricia Cochran in Room 242 or Mrs. Susan Griffin in Room 205. If you are a junior and you pay in February, you will only need to pay $30. If you choose to
wait until March, you will be paying $35. If you are a senior and purchased a ticket last year as a junior, you do not need to worry about paying for a ticket this
year. But if you are a senior who did not pay your junior year, you will have to pay $35 no matter what month you choose to pay in.
The prom will be held at the Tonk at Louisiana Tech from 9 PM to 12 AM. The theme this year will be “Depths of Forever.” Any junior or senior interested in
helping with prom should feel free to sign up with Mrs. Susan Griffin in Room 220. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Bearcat Band Students Shine
by Sarah Kilpatrick
Business Manager
Five students from the Bearcat Band were selected for the South Central Regional Music Conference. Students were required to record themselves playing a
variety of music, and then had to send this recording in to be judged. Congratulations go out to Christian Amos, Ryan Barker, Polly Michelle Gwan, Megan
Huckaby, and McKenzie Rhodes as they shine in this prestigious event that will occur February 24 th. McKenzie Rhodes, who was selected for a second time,
has this to say about the S.C.R.M.C.: “It's a great way to meet other band geeks that share the same passion as I do, which is playing my instrument to the best of
my ability!” Way to go Cats!
Día del Amor y la Amistad
by Stephany Arias
Reporter
El amor es la esencia de todo lo que nos rodea. No es un simple sentimiento, es la verdad, es la alegría que está en el origen de toda creación. Este día debemos celebrarlo con mucha emoción, debemos pasarla con las personas que más queremos, y debemos recordarles que ellos son una parte importante en nuestra
vida. El Día de San Valentín no es sólo acerca del Amor, también se trata de la Amistad. Mucho de nosotros tenemos amigos que están ahí para ayudarnos
cuando los necesitamos. Así que no se olviden de demostrarles a todas esas personas importantes en sus vidas lo mucho que las quieren.
DRIVER’S EDUCATION
Rotary Winners 2009-2010
• 6 – Hour Pre-Licensing Class
• Course is State Approved
• Must be 17 or older
• Cost: Only $30
September
Collin Smith
Matt Robertson
October
Lea Anna Cardwell
Mary Taylor Carwile
For information, call: 251-1234
November
Carlos Wilson II
Caroline Weir
December
Ryan Pate
Stephanie Dickerson
January
Ryan Barker
Linda Cross
February
Lauren Fuller
Mary Arthur Thompson
Academia
Ruston High School
Recently, one of our best military
Captain Luther aviators,
Captain Luther Smith, passed
away -a true American hero. At 9:05
Smith: An
A.M., on Jan.15, 2010, members of the
Wing performed a missing
American Hero 1manFighter
formation flyover for Captain
st
submitted by Cadet Buggs
AFJROTC Cadet Lt Col
Smith‟s funeral ceremony at Arlington
National Cemetery. This formation, the
highest honor the Air Force can pay to
a fallen comrade, is very dramatic as
the #2 aircraft pulls up and away from
the formation and climb ups to the
heavens above. Captain Smith‟s son
commented that “the fly over was both
moving and spectacular.”
Captain Smith‟s desire to become a
military aviator started at age seven
when he learned in school of Charles
Lindbergh‟s transatlantic flight. He
pursued his goal to learn to fly and
became one of the first AfricanAmerican licensed pilots. In May of
NHS
Supports Heifer
International
submitted by Josh Critselous
NHS Publicity Team
Back in November, the National
Honor Society (NHS) began a fundraiser
for Heifer International. Heifer International is an organization that raises
money to purchase farm animals for villages in third world countries. NHS
sponsored a bake sale and a change drive
that raised $1,000.
The amount raised was enough to purchase two water buffalo, a flock of geese,
a “Flock of Hope” (chicks, ducklings,
and goslings), a llama, bees, and two
goats. NHS thanks the students and faculty of RHS who participated in this
fundraiser.
The National Honor Society is a service organization that seeks to better the
community around us. If anyone has any
suggestions for service projects, bring
the details of the project to Mrs. Stephenson or Mrs. Barlett‟s room.
Chatterbox
February 11, 2010
1943, he received his flight wings.
Captain Smith flew 133 combat missions as a fighter pilot with the 332nd
Fighter Group. He spent 8 months as a
prisoner of war and two years in 21
different hospitals recovering from
injuries suffered on his final mission in
October 1944. Due to injuries he sustained, he was medically retired in
1947, thus ending his career as a military aviator. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal
with six Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple
Heart and Prisoner of War Medal.
Captain Smith went on to have a
successful 38 year career as an aerospace engineer with General Electric.
In 1995, he was chosen by President
William Clinton to represent the US
Air Force during the 50th anniversary
VE Day Celebration in Europe. In July
of 2008, the Daughters of the Ameri
US Achievement Academy
Award Winners
by Logan Taylor
Senior Editor
Katherine Hill and Amanda Pipes are being recognized by the
United States Achievement Academy for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010
school years. Katherine Hill is being awarded for History and Government
(2008-2009). Amanda Pipes received multiple recognitions in History and
Government (2008-2009), English (2008-2009), All-American (20082009), and Leadership and Service (2009-2010). The students were nominated by Mrs. Heather Reeder and Mrs. Katherine Keil. The United States
Achievement Academy was founded in 1978 to recognize America's outstanding students. Nominations were received from more than 30,000 junior
and senior high schools in America. Students spend many hours contributing to their schools and communities. The purpose of the USAA Award is
to pay tribute to outstanding students for their contributions to academic
excellence. Deserving students selected in schools across America as
USAA Award recipients will be listed in the nationally published Official
USAA Yearbook. For more information go to http://www.usaaacademy.com/index.asp
Page 4
can Revolution named him their Man
of the Year at a ceremony during their
National Convention in Washington
D.C. Smith‟s love of aviation and
dedication to his country were an integral part of his life.
Captain Luther Smith was a true
American hero and an example for all
to follow. He never gave up on his
dreams. He worked hard to become a
pilot and an aeronautical engineer and
demonstrated that you can do anything
you want if you set yourself to it and if
you do your very best. The world
could use more people like Captain
Smith.
February Sharp
Cats
submitted by Mrs. Alisia Thomason
Freshman Academy
The Ruston High School Freshman
Academy is proud to recognize some
of our outstanding students each month
by naming them Ruston High Sharp
Cats. The academy faculty feels that
honoring exceptional students is an
important part of supporting and encouraging our freshmen. It is with
great pride that we present to you these
students...for they are truly Sharp Cats!
We are so proud of our freshmen,
and we hope that you will join us in
our appreciation of these extraordinary
students: Jekembri Brantley, AJ
Brown, Veontez Crowe, Jacob Duke,
Megan Franks, Brittany Jenkins,
Sheniqua Moss, Taylor Pipes, Layton
Richard, Zach Smith, Elena Till, and
Charles Williams.
Editorials/Opinions
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2009
Mardi Gras is Here!
Chatterbox Flashback – Page 5
by Anna Garland
Reporter
Valentine’s Day Facts
Get ready to mix some purple, yellow, and green into all that black
and gold we‟ve been seeing around our home state. That‟s right, it‟s
Mardi Gras season again! It‟s time to get your masks and beads and stuff
your face with delicious, delicious king cake. This year Mardi Gras is on
February
16th.
Besides all the
Bourbon Street
associations with
this
holiday,
Mardi Gras is the
one holiday that
you just can‟t be
sad on. Living in
Louisiana, pretty
much everyone
catches that exciting
spirit.
What‟s not to
like? Basically
this holiday was
created to eat all
you can before
the Catholic season of Lent begins. Along with
all the eating,
many
places
have grand society balls to celebrate.
People
dress in feathercovered masks
and wear “loud,”
decorative costumes. Mardi Gras also brings with it some of the best parades you can
attend. This is one holiday Louisianans don‟t take lightly. So get ready to
celebrate, Ruston High, and Happy Mardi Gras!
by Katie Whittington
The following was published in the February 1997 edition of the Chatterbox. The statistics offered here have likely changed in the thirteen
years since then (and we cannot verify their authenticity), but it puts
into perspective just how popular the holiday is with us all…as well as
its effects on our wallets and stomachs!
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Black History Month
by Logan Taylor
Senior Editor
I know a lot of people may be surprised that I (a white guy) am writing
the article on Black History Month. Well, that‟s because Christian was busy
and didn‟t have time to write it, so I felt obligated to inform the masses on
the background of the observance.
The purpose of Black History Month is to honor and remember the contributions of African-American people from the past. The month started off as
“Negro History Week” by the historian Carter G. Woodson. He chose the
second week of February because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas
both had their birthdays during that time, and they both had a large impact on
the lives of African Americans.
Black History is something that was overlooked in schools for too long,
and there are many great African-Americans that deserve this kind of remembrance. When asked what he thought of the month, Carlos Wilson
stated “It‟s legit!” A response that no one saw coming. So remember, the
next time you eat peanut butter or avoid crashing into an oncoming minivan
because of a stoplight, thank the great people that helped to make America
what it is today.
Valentine‟s Day is the second-largest holiday for cards in the
United States (right after Christmas). Approximately 925 million
valentines are exchanged each year, 650 million in the classroom.
The No. 1 recipient? Teachers!
In the United States, 84 million roses are delivered every Valentine‟s Day. That‟s almost four times as many flowers used in the
entire Tournament of Roses Parade.
Wanna seal your Valentine‟s deal with a kiss? Need just the right
shade? Revlon offers 48 different shades of red lipstick!
$328,995,328 is spent every year on Valentine‟s Day candy.
If you ate an entire 1 ¾ pound box of Russell Stover chocolates, the
diet damage would be 3,800 calories and 160 grams of fat.
Thinking about being an organ donor? Go for it! There are over
3,386 patients on the national waiting list of those in need of a heart
transplant. Sign up today!
Editorials/Opinions
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
The War of the Word Processors
by Seth Bentley
Reporter
Dear readers, I am torn. One part of me wants this article to chronicle the
eternal shadow war between the noble and just Chatterbox and our sworn foe,
Resumé (a.k.a. Yearbook). Another part of me wants to actually write about
the contrast between RHS‟s two publishing groups. And the third part of me
wants to just fall asleep forever. We‟re going to shove that last part deep, deep
down and pretend it doesn‟t exist and instead focus on the first two.
In between our skirmishes in the twilit corners of the world, we both create
a publication for the student body. We also both allow student submissions
for various purposes. The Chatterbox, which is of course the epitome of journalism, is distributed monthly free of charge to all students and our affiliates.
The infernal Resumé focuses over the length of the year on a single book that
they publish just before the next year begins, and at an exorbitant rate! You
can‟t put a price on memories. That‟s what I always say.
In the interest of truth, justice, and the American Way, I stoically ventured
into the belly of the beast, that heart of everlasting doom: Mrs. DeMattos‟s
room. After a fierce struggle, I and the forces of good triumphed over the
darkness and captured a few of their dark soldiers for interrogation. One of
their fell lieutenants, Marlon Lewis, revealed this knowledge: “Yearbook has
a lot more time to work in, so we‟re not big on deadlines.” The Chatterbox
has very strict deadlines which we always meet perfectly (by “always,” I actually mean never). Another prisoner, Morgan Hammons, revealed this: “We
divide into groups to stay organized.” We too employ divisive tactics to make
the most of our time.
In addition to this, I uncovered documents revealing arcane secrets best
left forgotten…and also there were some spreadsheets of financial data. It appears that their forces of chaos wage their crusade against order to fund the
production of the yearbook. It normally costs about $30,000 to create and
publish, $16,000 of which must be raised by the Resumé personally. They
take all of the pictures they feature and often work after school and on weekends. Such is their inhuman zeal to destroy humanity.
We at the Chatterbox would never stoop to such depths. We spend our
days toiling diligently to uncover the most interesting and relevant events at
our fair school, while spending our nights reading to blind orphans and volunteering at soup kitchens for terminally ill homeless people. In fact, we usually
skip eating and sleeping so we can spend more time helping others. During
the moments between the flows of time, we are engaged in a constant struggle
for the very life of the world against Resumé. That‟s right. We have more
than twenty-four hours to work with. Being publishers gives both of our factions the power to transcend the normal chronology. So remember, readers:
when you sleep at night, you need have no fear. The Chatterbox is always
watching.
College Tips:
Getting Ready
Page 6
by Anna Garland
Reporter
The countdown to our last day has begun. Seniors barely have
three months left of high school! Can you believe it?! And then a
few months after that we‟ll be starting college! Are you ready? Orientation dates are already filling up and I hope you‟ve signed up for
a good date before they all fill up. Along with orientation, housing
for next year needs to get taken care of and fast! Those dorms sure
don‟t sound appealing but if you hurry and take care of all those
pesky forms, you might be able to get into the newer or nicer living
quarters at your choice college. Senioritis is starting to kick in now
that we have so little time left, but don‟t let it affect those last details for college. Get those forms finished and sign up for those
dates before it‟s too late!
Resume Reminder for Seniors
Senior outdoor pictures are due to the Resume (room 230) by March 12, 2010,
as well as ads.
Prices are as follows:
Full page: $140, 1/2 page: $90, 1/4 page: $75, 1/8 page: $50
Editorials/Opinions
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Bearcat
Box Office
by Logan Taylor
Senior Editor
Book of Eli
These days, the movie market is
flooded with movies about life in a
post-apocalyptic world. This genre
has become so saturated that very
few movies can break away from
mediocrity and catch the attention
of a “seen it already” audience.
Book of Eli stands out in some
ways with a very interesting story,
but gets pulled back into the crowd
with poor execution and overzealous stylization. In a world where
everyone has chosen to survive
over choosing to act human, only
Denzel Washington can show them
the light.
OK, here‟s the story: Denzel
Washington walks down a bunch of
desert highways in slow motion as
the camera gets as many close-ups
as possible. In all seriousness
though, the main character is an
enigmatic nomad named Eli
(Denzel Washington) that has the
last remaining Bible in the world
after a nuclear apocalypse. He is
lead by a mysterious force to take
the Bible to “the west.” Along the
way, he encounters the usual cavalcade of lawless bandits, cannibals,
and towns under a Wild West style
of tyrannical control. The town is
of particular note because that is
where he meets the movie‟s villain,
Carnegie (Gary Oldman), who is
actively searching for any remaining copies of the Bible so he can
use its influential powers on the
weak-minded and desperate. This
confrontation with evil of course
leads to the action sequences one
would expect from a movie like
this. The fight scenes can be very
hit and miss – at their best they are
pretty cool to watch as Eli uses his
giant machete-sword to take out
bad guys, and at its worst it is
overly stylized to the point of looking cartoonish. One aspect worth
noting is Eli‟s speed; the way he
fights seems unnaturally quick. He
pulls off moves faster than any human could possibly hope to react,
but while this style of fighting
works in some movies, it just looks
silly in this one.
This movie has a great story that
makes it stand out from your typical post-apocalyptic affair centered
around the survival of the main
characters, defeat of the force that
caused the apocalypse in the first
place, or to restore the planet to its
former glory. However, Mila Kunis and Denzel Washington are not
enough to help what the director
actually did with the story. The
movie isn‟t bad per se, but it could
Page 7
have done a lot of things better. It
has enough fun moments and a surprise ending that will keep you interested throughout, but you‟ll
leave wanting more, even if you‟re
not sure what it is you want.
A Second Opinion
by Drew Boyd
News Editor
A film that is little more than a complete waste of time, the Book of Eli fails to impress. With an utterly bizarre story and an uncomfortable relationship amongst the main characters, there is very little worth salvaging in this post-apocalyptic clutter.
The main point the film tries to make appears to concern religion as a whole. However, exactly what this point is remains unclear, as two contradictory messages are presented. On one hand, it appears to criticize religion by highlighting how people can misuse it by controlling the masses and
thus, achieving power through fear. However, this clashes strongly with how Eli himself is portrayed. He is a good man and viewers look up to him,
and it is primarily his strong religious convictions that shape his character and his actions. This would lead the viewer to believe that religion is
meant to be looked on positively in the context of the story, if it were not for the gross misuse of it that is taking place at the exact same time. The
film cannot seem to make up its mind, and thus, nor can the viewer.
The characters themselves are strikingly awkward. Eli and Solara meet under unfortunate circumstances during which they essentially get off on
the wrong foot. The problem is that they never truly bond and become good friends as most characters would. They travel throughout the movie as
mere acquaintances. They are paired up due to sheer necessity, and make little indication that they actually like each other. As a result, the movie
crawls along, depressing and vapid.
The positive traits of the film are few and far between, but they are worth mentioning. Despite characterization flaws, the acting offered by
Washington, Oldman, and Kunis is commendable. In addition, a surprise ending is thrown at the audience that forces you to re-think all that you
have seen, only to realize that the answer was right in front of you the whole time. This is slightly annoying, but still clever. These few points of interest, sadly, do nothing to save the movie. It remains confusing, awkward, and soulless. Avoid.
Editorials/Opinions
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Plans for the June (Senior) Edition of Chatterbox
Page 8
by Lloyd R. Bruner
Chatterbox Adviser
Attention seniors - the Chatterbox is already working on a special senior edition that will be published and distributed after graduation on June
17, 2010. The senior edition will include complete coverage of graduation, including a list of all graduates, honors, scholarships, and awards presented to all seniors, along with many other special features to close out the 2009-2010 school year.
One feature that will be included in the special edition of the Chatterbox will be Ruston High School students who excelled in academic pursuits.
This will include the winners that are featured in our end-of-year Academic Awards presentation, from various organizations with top performers to
the State Literary Rally. Also featured will be our senior sports section and recognition of sports teams/individuals that earned district/state awards.
We are looking to include any student, organization, group, or team that excelled at the State level and above this year, so ensure that your sponsor
or coach sends us the information in event to make sure that we catch it all.
To make this truly special, senior ads will be available for purchase as 1/8 page and 1/4 page ads. As we will need to make space available for
anyone who wishes to purchase an ad, and have time to format these, all ads must be turned in by May 1st – the sooner the better! See a member of
the Chatterbox staff or Mr. Bruner to get the application. We will be mailing the applications to all seniors through guidance as well.
Distribution of the Chatterbox will obviously be different for this edition as all students and staff will be out of school for the summer. The exact
manner of distribution will be detailed later as we want to ensure that every student at RHS receives a copy.
For current Ruston High School students interested in joining the Chatterbox next year, assisting with the special edition will be a prerequisite to
join us next year. This is required as our senior staff will be graduating. Though our seniors will be helping train the new members, our junior staff
will be taking over as editors and are looking for dedicated students to join them next year. See Mr. Bruner if you are interested.
Lincoln Parish GOT Team
It’s the Wood & Plastic Baby
by Jessica Herren
Senior Reporter & GOT Member
submitted by Nina Breeland
Speech and Debate Reporter
The North Central Alliance Get Out There Team, better known as
NCA GOT, is a youth leadership team that is working in Lincoln Parish
to reduce underage drinking in our community. While the team consists
of students from schools all over Lincoln Parish such as Dubach and
Cedar Creek, the majority of the team is made up of Ruston High students. We have been busy working on several projects, our latest being
the “Why 21?” presentation we held for the community. At this event,
which was held January 21st, we spoke out against common opinions in
favor of lowering the legal drinking age. You may find it ridiculous
that the legal drinking age is 21, but did you know that your brain is not
fully developed until about age 25? Drinking before this age is extremely dangerous, and while it may seem as if there are no consequences for underage drinking (if you don‟t get caught) you are damaging your brain. The part of your brain that stores your long term memory actually shrinks when you drink! I don‟t know about you, but I
don‟t want any part of my brain shrinking, especially the part that
stores wonderful memories. These facts, as well as others, were discussed at our community meeting and we would like to thank everyone
who came out and supported us. If you are interested in being a part of
next year‟s team, contact (318) 257 – 5467.
Speech and Debate recently attended their first competition of 2010.
They went to Lafayette, which seems to be the debate capitol of the
state, and competed at St. Thomas Moore High School on January 1416. It was a very successful tournament for the team and prepared them
for the ever-nearing state competition on April 8-10. Those who placed
and their respective competitions are as follows: 1st in Student Congress: Raine Blunk, 2nd in Sr. Duo: Layton Garlington/ Nina Breeland,
3rd in Sr. DI: Layton Garlington, 2nd in ACX: Emma Norton/ Josh Phillips, 3rd in ACX: Tiffany Lewis/ Stephen Zhong, 3rd in ALD: Walker
Holmes, 3rd in NLD: Gursimran Bola.
As for the many “tourneys” coming up, the RHS chapter of the intense sport of Speech and Debate is about to have some bonecrushingly awesome competitions! Numerous competitions
will be held throughout February at Lafayette, Kaplan, Cecilia, NSU, Captain Shreve,
and Acadiana High Schools.
Two qualifying competitions
will be held in March, and
State will be held at Alexandria
Senior High School on April
8th-10th. Go Cats!
Editorials/Opinions
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Here Comes the Groom?
Page 9
by Sarah Kilpatrick
Business Manager
After I entered the world of controversy last month when we discussed the act of abortion, I realized that it is time for us as high school students to care about the important issues. And no, the latest gossip is not an important issue. Before long, you will be out in the real world. You will
be able to vote. And it will be up to you to help make crucial decisions for our nation. So step up, and pay attention to your world.
Picture with me for a moment the happiest day in a young person‟s life… can you guess what this day is? Yes, your graduation day will rock,
but that‟s not what I am talking about. No, it‟s not the last day of school either. What is this special day? It is your wedding day. I realize how far
in the future this may seem, but one day, maybe even soon, it will come. And guys, your beautiful bride will walk down the isle to meet you. Ladies, the love of your life will be waiting for you to grace the crowd with your appearance. Traditionally this picture of love and of marriage
would suffice. But with recent movements, a new picture may be in order- one where the crowd will turn to look at the groom or where a bride
will wait at the end of an aisle for her bride. What is the controversial issue we will discuss? You guessed it, same-sex or gay marriage. In most
states marriage can only be between a man and a woman. However, there are some states that allow gay marriage. Same-sex marriages are currently legal in five states: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Vermont. However, there is debate over this controversial issue in all states. What do you believe? Should gay marriage be allowed across our nation?
I am against gay marriage because the Bible is against homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22 has this to say about the subject: “Do not practice homosexuality….. It is a detestable sin.” The Bible is clear on this issue, but the story does not end there. There is hope and redemption for all sin. 1
Corinthians 6: 9-10 lists several sins, one of which is homosexuality. Though the Bible is condemning these sins, it offers hope and redemption
later in the passage for those who trust in Christ. “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ […]” (1 Corinthians 6:11). I disagree with gay marriage because homosexuality is a sin, but I also know that in Christ, there is hope for
new life and forgiveness. Here is what two of your fellow classmates have to say on the matter:
Yes, it should be legal because marriage is
a civil right. It is discrimination not to let
two people who love each other get married, regardless of their anatomy. Lastly, it
is not hurting anyone in particular or society itself. Therefore, any two people, regardless of their sex, should be allowed to
unite in marriage. – Ryan Pate
Now it’s up to you.
Is it right or wrong?
You decide!
I just want to begin by saying that the opinions I express
are not geared toward hurting any of the wonderful people whose beliefs are contrary to my own. Like mostly
everyone, I have an opinion that I feel entitled to share
without a fear of being called a closed-minded bigot in
front of my face or behind my back. I feel that like gravity, there are laws of physics and nature that must be followed. I believe that same sex marriages are wrong.
Aside from my “Bible-Belt inspired” thoughts, marriage
throughout history has always been a religious and symbolic joining of man
and woman. As a religious institution, it is up to a church to define who can
marry, not the government. Certainly gay people, especially in the United
States, should have the freedom to choose and believe what they want. But
the most the government can provide for them is a civil union. There will be
some churches that will allow gay marriages, but that is going to be up to
the church. Of course, it is inevitable that the majority will decide. But no
matter what the majority chooses, the “law of gravity” will stand. – Nina
Breeland
The Chatterbox reminds all students that we all have a right to an opinion on issues. If you have an opinion
and wish to write an article, the Chatterbox reminds you that all submissions are subject to staff, editor, and
administrative review to ensure that the article provides information or promotes school pride, and does so
without materially disrupting work, does not cause substantial disorder, or does not invade the rights of these.
Editorials/Opinions
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Love (verb) – an action
Page 10
by Jessica Herren
Senior Reporter
This time of year with Valentine‟s Day approaching, there is a lot said about love. Stores advertise it, couples proclaim it, and TV shows glamorize it, but what exactly is love? Is it a box of chocolates and red roses? Is it a feeling? What is all this hype about love for anyway?
Different people define love differently, but the best definition I‟ve heard given for love is that it is a verb. Love is an action. And no, I don‟t
mean the action of „making love‟, I mean that love is not just a word you say or something you can buy. Love is way more than that. It is the everyday actions you show to the people around you. 1 John 3:18 puts it this way: “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in
truth.”
So what does this verb (love) look like? It looks like us as classmates and friends not just going through the motions of friendship and exchanging friendly words, but going beyond that and showing we love each other through our actions. Now, I am not saying that kind words aren‟t
important (they are), but I do want to emphasize how much more important our actions are. Actions speak so much louder than words and if you
say one thing but do another, people are most likely to believe your actions rather than your words. These actions don‟t have to be anything big or
monumental, something as simple as writing them a note on a bad day or sharing part of your roll at lunch with them when you really want to eat
it all yourself is an action that shows love. Small, everyday acts of kindness say a lot and may even turn somebody‟s day around, so don‟t be
stingy with your acts of love.
I encourage you to go out of your way to show love to the people you come into contact with. Love, as an action verb, applies to people we
don‟t know and don‟t like as well as to the people we do. We can show these people love by stopping to help pick up papers dropped in the hallway or by lending a pencil for math class when we know we won‟t get it back. Whatever the case, whoever it may be, they deserve love as an action just as much as your closest friend. So instead of being all talk, follow through with your words and really love those around you. With your
actions.
The Day Characterized by the
Designation “Valentine”
by Seth Bentley
Reporter
There is a day in February. A day which our society celebrates with
the giving of gifts to loved ones. You may have heard of it. It is somewhat well known. You may also have noticed the surge in teddy bears
and candy juxtaposed with the image of stylized hearts. Now, there‟s
nothing wrong with sweets and stuffed ursine, but I must admit, I‟ve
never understood why. So I decided to study the history of Valentine‟s
Day. There were a number of early Christian saints named Valentine
whom the day is named for. It originally rose to prominence in the High
Middle Ages and has remained popular ever since. So it is today. I must
say though, a single day in which you celebrate love is oxymoronic. If
you genuinely love someone, it isn‟t something you save for February the
14th. You show it every day or else you do yourself and the one you love
a disservice. So, following this logic, the only explanation for the holiday‟s popularity is warlocks. Evil warlocks who also dabble in entrepreneurship (i.e. greeting card companies). Why else would it be so impossible to avoid this holiday? Women get charmed into guilting men into
buying them overpriced gifts, and men are befuddled into going along
with it, despite the obvious flaws (if you didn‟t know, the Greeting Card
Association estimates that men spend twice as much on Valentine‟s Day
as women do). So, in conclusion, Valentine‟s Day is a wicked lie perpetrated by a secret society of warlocks. Happy V-Day!
It’ll Getcha!
submitted by Amy Gibson
Student
Have you ever looked at someone and just lost your breath? Ever
feel like you‟ve known someone your whole life, when in reality
you‟ve only known them for a few years, months, weeks, or even days?
Ever had a day when everything you saw, heard, or did reminded you
of that one particular person? Have you considered that if you answered yes to any or all of these questions you might possibly be in
LOVE? I have…just thinking about him sets my heart on fire. I miss
him every time I don‟t see him and when I am with him you couldn‟t
find a happier girl. His hugs…his kisses…his comforting words…his
wisdom…his personality…I‟m definitely in love, but…does he love
me back? How do I know?
Love is a painful emotion, also very dangerous. I don‟t understand
love, but I‟m ok with that, „cause that‟s what‟s so great about love. It‟s
a mystery, and it always takes you by surprise.
P.S. I still <3 you (obviously).
Valentine Wishes
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
To: Bearcat Belles
Happy Valentines Day! So proud to be your sponsor. Keep up the
excellent grades!
From: Mrs. Garrison
To: Mary-Kyle McDonald
We love you so much! Thanks for always being there for us!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
From: Your Freshman Babies
To: Brittiany Dubose
Kissing is the proof that two heads are better than one.
From: Petros Araia
To: Marlon Harris
Happy Valentines Day Sweets!
From: Your #1 Valentine
To: Mary Cox
Be my valentine? IWALY!
From: Don Price
To: Deandrea Roberson
Happy V-Day!
From: Melissa Morgan
To: Anna Garland
Roses are red, violets are blue! And so are you!
To: Kyle Manning (My cupcake)
I love you so much, Happy Valentines Day!
From: Raylyn Rist
To: Bradley Caraway
In the end, its always me & you!
From: Chelsea Swain
February 11, 2010
Page 11
To: Hannah Hearne
Happy Valentine’s Day!
From: Spencer Berry
To: Coach Aultman
Hey daddy, you’re the best! Have a great Valentines Day! You &
My mommy? He He!
From: Jessicah Aultman
To: Maddie Price
I think you’re great!
To: Stephanie Dickerson
Eye wub yew schnookums!!
From: Collin Smith
To: Karley Newsom
I’m still mad at you!
From: Ashlyn Thompson
To: Amber Brown
To my conscience for always telling me what to do.
From: Matthew Sanders
To: RHS Juniors
Happy Valentines Day! I love you!
From: Diana Humphries, 11th grade counselor
To: Lizbeth Meoina
Just the thought of us being together tomorrow, gets me
through the day!
From: Jesse Jenkins
To: Haden and Josh
Happy v-day! Yall are the best! I will always be here for yall, when
you need me!
From: Devin
To: Melissa Murphy
Yay, Valentines day buddies! Haha!
From: Collin Smith
To: Dough Boy
Thanks for the recipes.
From: Little Debbie
To: Karin Jimenez
Que pases el major de los valentines T.Q.M ti amiguis!
From: Stephany Arias
To: Mr. New Money
Since your new money, I want a $40 teddy bear for Valentines
day!
From: Mrs. New Money
To: FBLA Members
FBLA Rules! Happy Valentines Day and enjoy being here instead
of at district for this one! Great job at district! Take state!
From: Mr. Bruner
To: RHS
This school rocks so do you.
From: Tyler Vendenberg
To: Abbie Hammons
You’re my friend and bestest pal! I hate you! JK, I love you!
From: Megan Hobson
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY RHS!
Valentine Wishes
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
To: Bro
True love, our love together as one. July 7, 2010 will be our day
when we’re joined together as husband and wife. Oh! How
happy we’ll be for life! Happy Valentines Day!
From: Miss Caroline
To: Amber Brown
Happy v-day friend!
From: Dee Brazil
To: Brittany White
Happy Valentines Day! Hope it goes great for
you! You’re the best! I love you!
From: Ryan Abel
To: Sidney White
You are H-O-T hot. I like you a lot! You’re the best. “To be or
not to be?”
To: Mr. Sexi
Hatta have a great Valentine even tho I’m not your Valentine!
From: Mrs. Sexi
To: Cutie
Hope your Valentine is full of love from me! lol
From: Pretty Lady
To: Stevie weevy tinkerball
Stay sweet & short lol I love ya!
From: You know who
To: Micah Blackmore
I love you a lot baby, and that will never change for anything!
From: Latoria Whitehead
To: My best Franzz
Hey, I just wanted to thank ya’ll for always being there for me!
I love ya’ll, and Happy v-day!
From: Amber Brown
February 11, 2010
To: Mrs. Hammons & Mrs. White:
Happy Valentines Day! You’re the best!
From: Fabian Gipson
To: Latoria Whitehead
I love you with all my heart and I’m glad I met you!
From: Micah Blackmore
To: Vanade Baker
It’s great to have a sissy to be my valentine. Luv you girl!
From: Shaemma
To: Kristen Dennett
I love you baby, I always have and always will forever and always. I’m here
for you, you are my one and only!
From: Erich Shrell
To: Dee Brazil
Bunny! Happy Valentines Day!
To: Thomas Simoneaux
I love you!
From: Colby Johnson
To: Collin Smith
Happy V-day!
To: Logan Crume
I love your charm, and your hairy arm.
From: Your True Fire
To: Curls
Happy V-Day, love you!
From: Dreads
To: Kitty
Happy v-day hun!
From: Bunny
To: Mr. Bruner
I wish you and your wife a nice valentines day “Great Teacher”
From: Stephany Arias
To: Aaron Beersha
The sun is yellow, the grass is green and the sky is blue, just like
you! From: Anna
To: Mr. Elliott
Thanks for being bald.
From: Gauge Means
To: Stephany Arias
Que pases un bonito dia del amor y de la Amistad te quiero
mucho amiga!
From: Karlin Jimenez
To: Christy
Happy Valentines Day, love ya!
From: Lloyd
To: Ryan Abel
I love you so much! You mean everything to me! I’m ready for
Berj Al Arab!
From: Cookie Monster
To: Katie Hopkins
I’ve always got your back even when you least expect it!
From: Your big bro
Page 12
To: Chatterbox
Gotta love the Chatterbox! Ya’ll are doing great, so keep it up!
From: Mr. Bruner
To: Maddie Price
I think you’re great!
To: Carlos
I will be your valentine and I love you as a friend!
From: Tabitha Waters
Business and Family
Consumer Science Spotlights
Ruston High School
Name: Lloyd R. Bruner
Family: Christy (wife) and Justin,
Josh, Jordan, and Jadon (4 sons)
Pets: Gizmo (Pekingese)
Position: Accounting Dual, Telecommunications, Chatterbox, Principals of Business, and IBCA teacher
Clubs advised: FBLA and
Chatterbox Adviser
High School/class year:
Doyline High „81
College/Major: LA Tech– BS in
Accounting; LA Tech– Master of
Arts in Teaching (Business)
Teaching experience: 5th year at
RHS, an NCO, and father.
Most embarrassing moment: RHS
results at District and State
Conferences my first year here.
Favorite childhood memory:
Working the fields with my Papaw.
Favorite quote: “Nothing is
impossible for the one that doesn‟t
have to do it.” - SFC Ernie Bruce
If you had one wish, it would be…
that when I leave– students, FBLA,
and Chatterbox will be better than
when I got here.
Favorite thing about RHS: Tradition, pride, rigor, and relationships!
Pet peeves: Anyone who does not
participate in any RHS sport or
organization– just being here does
not count!
Any last words: I never get in the
last word, but I have many more
words to throw out there until I‟m
gone!
Chatterbox
February 11, 2010
Page 13
Name: Gayle Lewis
Family: Terry (husband), Timothy, Gavin, and Tracy (children)
Favorite subject:
Anything dealing with computers!
Position: Business course
teacher and technology coordinator.
High School: Ruston High
College/Major: LA Tech– Math
Ed. And Comp. Info Systems
Teaching experience:
22 years at RHS
Most embarrassing moment:
Wearing mismatched shoes to
school one day.
Favorite restaurant:
Outback Steakhouse
Swimming with my siblings.
Favorite team:
RHS Bearcats!
Favorite quote:
“Take care of yourself 1st, then
everything else around you!”
If you had one wish, it would
be… to retire in Miami, FL
Favorite thing about RHS:
School spirit
Pet peeves: A person that appears to be genuine but is not.
Message to students:
“Pursue peace with everyone,
and holiness -without it, no one
will see the Lord.” - Hebrews
12:14
Name: Kay Peters
Family: Delwyn (dad), Kim
and Kelly (sisters), Justin, Zac,
Jake, Brody, T.R., Brady
(nephews), Kassidi (niece)
Pets: Larry (Boston Terrior)
Favorite subject: History
Position: IBCA, Education for
Careers, Freshman Success
teacher
High School: JonesboroHodge „85
College/Major: LA Tech–
Business Ed.; Working on
Masters in Technology.
3 years RHS
Trying out for cheerleading in
8th grade.
Favorite restaurant: Chili‟s
My momma‟s hugs!
Favorite team/sport: Football
and baseball, Bearcats do both!
Favorite quote: “Making a
difference in the world lasts
way longer than you do.” Dave Robinson
If you had one wish, it would
be: to be able to play the piano.
Students and faculty.
Pet peeves: Hearing the words
“I can‟t,” especially when they
haven‟t tried!
Message to students: Mrs.
Tinsley and I are NOT related!
Name: Harryette Tinsley
Family: Sutton (husband),
Hannah and Lauren
(daughters)
Pets: Lilley (chocolate lab)
Position: Computer Application teacher; COE
Clubs advised: COE and 4-H
Natchitoches Central „79
College/Major: NLUMarketing and Business
Haughton High, Dubach, RHS
Most embarrassing
moment: Wrecking the Drivers Ed. Car in High school.
Family trips.
Favorite sport: Baseball
Favorite quote: All actions
have consequences
(sometimes later).
If you had one wish, it
would be… world peace.
Students and Administration.
Pet peeves: Bad attitudes.
Message to students: I wish
the would all reach their
potential!
Any last words: Have fun
and do the correct thing. And,
if I didn‟t do it, Mrs. Peters
did!
Business and Family
Consumer Science Spotlights
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Page 14
Name: Janet Maxwell
Family: Gary (husband), Ashley,
Haley, Melanie, and Seth (children)
Pets: Spot and Ella
Position: Food and Nutrition,
Pro-Start, PYPM teacher
Clubs advised: BUMS sponsor and
FCCLA sponsor
Cedar Creek „84
College/Major: LA Tech– Food and
Consumer Sciences
3 years at Spearsville High;
16 at RHS
HAHA!
Long summer vacations.
Favorite Restaurant: Japanese
Steak House, Johnny's, Chik-Filet
Favorite team/sport: RHS, of
course; football, baseball, and track
If you had one wish, it would be…
to have a concrete driveway!
Students
Pet peeves:
Students who will not even try!
Message to students:
I ran on the 1st cross country
women's team at LA Teach.
Any last words:
Philippians 1:6
Name: Crystal Ehrhard
Family: Steven (husband) and
Carter (son)
Pets: Mocephus and Lucy (dogs)
Favorite subject:
Personal and Family Finance
Position: Family and Consumer
Science and Child Development
teacher
Forest High „03
College/Major: LA Tech– Merchandising and Consumer Studies; LA Tech– Education (Master)
Too many to name.
Favorite restaurant:
Anything Italian– Olive Garden.
Favorite team:
New Orleans Saints and
LA Tech Football
Favorite quote:
“Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.” - Hebrews 11:1
School spirit!
Pet peeves:
When people dwell on past mistakes instead of making the best
of the present.
Name: Melanie Garrison
Family: Tommy (husband),
Brian (son), Crystal (daughter)
and Blakeley (granddaughter)
Pets: Biscuits (basset hound)
and Hope (border collie mix)
Favorite subject: Business
Computer Applications
Position: Teacher and Bearcat
Belle Sponsor
High School: Ruston High,
1978
Teaching experience: Bienville, 6 years; Ruston High
School, 12 years
Favorite restaurant: Outback
Going to mawmaw and pawpaw‟s house every weekend.
Favorite quote: “While we are
free to choose our actions, we
are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.”
Pet peeves: Laziness, disrespect
Name: Helene Shaw
Family: Samuel (grandson),
Jim and Erin, Ben and
Marianna, Tim and Heather
Position: Teacher
High School: Ruston High
College: LA Tech
and University of Arkansas
Southwest High School H.W.
High School, West Monroe
High School, and
H. Worth Academy
Favorite childhood
memory:
Easter sunrise service at
Ruston High Stadium
Favorite Team: Saints
Favorite quote:
“The Truth will set you free.”
John 8:32
People
Pet peeves: Lazy people
Clubs
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Page 15
FCCLA Takes Regionals
by Anna Garland
Reporter
On January 22nd, Ruston High‟s FCCLA Chapter competed at the regional level of STAR Events. Lea Anna
Cardwell, Karley Newsom, and Caroline Weir showed off what the club has been doing this year in the Chapter
Showcase Display event, showing the judges how to “Take a spin and win with FCCLA.” And win they did, taking home the gold medal in their event. Jordan Crume, Shelby Griffith, and Sydni Wilt competed in the Chapter
Showcase Manual event. As characters from The Flintstones, they brought home a rockin‟ bronze medal! Carlos
Wilson won the gold in his event, Illustrated Talk. Carlos described to the judges the ways in which FCCLA helps
prevent drinking and driving through programs like Protecting You/ Protecting Me (PY/PM). Amber Sanders also
won the gold medal in the Job Interview. She wowed the judges in a setting similar to what someone would face
in an actual job interview. Congrats to all the FCCLA Bearcats who competed at Regionals! Good luck at State!
Keywanettes Help Kick Cancer
Help for the Hub!
by Jessica Herren
Senior Reporter and Keywanette
by Sarah Kilpatrick
L.Y.F.E. President
During January the Keywanettes collected money for St. Jude‟s. Together we raised $394 to be sent to the children‟s hospital. This money will
be used for research, treatment of patients, and facility needs. Many of you
have connections to someone with cancer, maybe a friend or relative, so
you know how important it is for St. Jude‟s to get donations. Thanks to
everyone who supported this cause, your help is very much appreciated!
I want to remind all L.Y.F.E. members that we are still collecting
socks for the Hub. The Hub is a very successful organization that
strives to aid the large number of homeless people in Shreveport. The
socks you donate will be given to people in need. So please bring
your brand-new socks (with no rips, holes, tears, or insignias) to Mrs.
Howell in Room 305. Thanks and have a great day!
Clubs
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
FFA Competes:
Team Ranks 4th
in State;
Members Win 3
Area Titles
by Taylor Rose
FFA Reporter
On January 12th, several Ruston High School FFA members
competed at Louisiana Tech University at the Area 1 FFA Leadership Career Development Events.
The Parliamentary Procedure team
placed 1st at Area and qualified for
the State contest the following
week. Members of the Parliamentary Procedure team are Antonio
Wilson, Will Edmiston, Seth Wells,
Jarod Mardis, Brandon Myers,
February 11, 2010
Adam Bryant, Seth Nichols, and hard work these past few weeks and
Chris Calhoun.
good luck to all those competing at
In individual events at Area com- State competition in June!
petition, Savannah Best placed 2nd
in Prepared Public Speaking, John
David Moore placed 1st in FFA
Creed Speaking, and Lauren Hollway placed 1st in the Geaux Teach
event. All three of these FFA members will compete at the Louisiana
State Convention on June 2nd in
Alexandria in each of their respective events.
On January 19th, the Parliamentary Procedure team attended the
Louisiana State Parliamentary Procedure Career Development Event
near Bunkie, Louisiana, at the Louisiana School for Agriculture Sciences. At the end of the day, this
first- year team ranked 4th in the
State. Congratulations on all their
Page 16
Clubs
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
FBLA Guest
Speaker
Provides
Insight
Page 17
by Drew Boyd
FBLA President
On January 14th ,the Ruston
FBLA officers were treated to a
speech by Mr. Chris Barr, an accountant with Barr & Woodard,
CPA. Mr. Barr discussed his job
as an accountant and all that it
entails, ranging from keeping records to auditing business. He
discussed his education and how
he worked hard to get where he is
today. The FBLA officers felt
privileged and inspired to hear
about successful business practices straight from someone who
has made a living out of being a
professional businessman. After a
short question and answer session, Mr. Barr was presented with
several copies of the Chatterbox
by the FBLA officers to show
their appreciation. Thanks are in
order for Mr. Barr for taking the
time out of his day to speak with
us, and for Carlos Wilson for arranging the meeting.
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Choir Competitions and Festivities
by Jessica Herren
Senior Reporter
The Ruston High Choir Department is staying busy with competitions and performances.
Nineteen soloists and six ensembles will be traveling to Jonesboro Hodge for the LMEA Solo
and Ensemble festival Friday, February 19th. After attending this event they will be qualified
to compete in the State Rally on April 17th, which will be held at LSU.
The District Large Ensemble Choir Festival will be held on March 4th. This year‟s festival
is planned to be held at ULM. Our Advanced Choir will be doing triple duty this year as well
as an SATB Ensemble of forty-seven members from our Advanced Choir: a mens‟ chorus
(from our Advanced Men) of sixteen and a ladies‟ chorus (from our Advanced Ladies) of
thirty-one. This festival is a prerequisite to the State Choral Festival to be held in Lake
Charles in late May.
Aside from all their competitions, the choir is very busy preparing for the beloved Bearcats
on Broadway production. Bearcats on Broadway is scheduled for Thursday, March 25 th and
Friday, March 26th at none other than the local Dixie Theater! Auditions have already been
held and rehearsals are now in full swing with many soloists, duets, small groups, and large
ensemble numbers. Selections for this year include pieces from: The King and I, The Music
Man, The Little Mermaid, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Grease, Once Upon a Mattress, Moulin
Rouge, Dreamgirls, Mulan, and much more. You will not want to miss this fabulous show
featuring the talented members of the Advanced Choir. Tickets will go on sale March 1st and
should be bought soon (they sold out last year!). See Mrs. Givens or the office for tickets or
for more information.
February 11, 2010
Page 18
Senior Spotlights
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Page 19
Troishonda Smith
Sarah Jones
John Haughton
Lauren Stewart
Age: 18
Age: 17
Age: 17
Age: 17
Family: Sharonda (Mom), Troy Family: Mom, Dad, Seth, Caleb,
and Aaron (Brothers), Betsy,
(Dad), Laniya, Rafeal, Mario
(Brother) Breeshae & Marissa Heather, and Ainslea (Sisters)
(Friends)
Hobbies: Running, eating a ton
Family: Kim (Mom), John
(Dad), two brothers
Family: Paula (Mom),
Jadell (Dad), Lane (Brother)
Hobbies: Playing drums
Pet: Charlie (cat)
Favorite subject:
American History
Favorite movie: School of Rock
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite animal: Dragon
Favorite movie: The Hangover
Favorite animal: Goat
Favorite color: Red, black
Favorite animal: Otter
Favorite color: Green
Favorite color: Purple
Rapping in front of the student body
at a pep rally freshman year.
What do you like best at RHS:
Being a senior and getting out
early
Clubs: BUMS
What do you like best about RHS:
Being with my awesome crosscountry girls and best coach ever,
Anderson!
College/Major: Tech
Advice:
Don‟t slack off any year in high
school, it will make your senior year
so much easier.
Favorite subject: Piano!
Favorite movie: That Thing You Do
Favorite movie:
Brown Sugar… basically any
chick flick
Favorite color: Pink
Way too cool for one of these!
Favorite Newspaper:
Chatterbox… duh
Hero: My auntie (Delshondra)
College/ major: LTC or LPN
Quote: Death before dishonor.
High school clubs and affiliations:
National Honor Society, LYFE,
track, cross-country
Hero: Everyone in my amazing
family
Advice: Don‟t argue with a
chap, because you‟ll be arguing
all day.
Advice: Please, just be yourself!
Hero: All of my teachers
Quote: If you don‟t live for
something, you will die for nothing.
Advice: Make the most of your
high school experience. Don‟t
wait till the end to start working
hard.
Hero: Mom
Senior Spotlights
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Page 20
Mary Arthur
Thompson
Michelle Standifer
Brittany Buggs
Morgan Wilfong
Age: 18
Age: 17
Age: 18
Age: 18
Family: Helen (Mom), Tina (Sister) Family: Sandra (Mother), Kayla
(Sister), CJ (Brother)
Hobbies:
Family: Russ (Dad), Ann
(Mom), Henry (Brother)
Pets: Ruby (dog)
Dancing + hanging with friends
Favorite movie:
Love and Basketball
Favorite subject:
Psychology and Biology
Favorite movie:
It’s Complicated
Falling at the Ouachita and Ruston
football game.
Hobbies: Smiling, playing basketball/softball, iPhone
Quote: Sometimes the truth
hurts, but that doesn't change
the fact that it‟s the truth.
Hobbies: Policy debate and
spazzing out about college
Favorite movie:
Madea Goes to Jail
Favorite subject: Gender Studies
Favorite movie: Freaks!
Wearing my basketball shorts
Favorite animal: Hamsters
What do you like best about RHS: backwards for a whole game
School spirit
Favorite color: Aqua
High school clubs and affiliations:
May 6th, 2010 and
High school clubs and affilia- FBLA, Varsity Cheerleader
May 24th, 2010
tions: FCCLA, FCA Ambassador, PYPM, Keywanetts, NHS Favorite book:
College/Major: Grambling State
Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer University to major in nursing
Hero: My dad and grandfather
College/ major:
LA Tech– Biology (major)
Psychology (minor)
Family: Rusty (Father), Patti
(Mother), Kyle (Brother), RHS
Speech and Debate
Favorite color: Blue(s)
That the tolerance the Bible Belt
exudes is distilled and presented
here.
College/ major: Not Ruston/
Anthropology major
Hero: My sister, Tina
Hero: My mother
Quote: “Our statements must be
backed with logic before they earn
acceptance.” -Aristotle
Clubs:
RHS Speech and Debate, German
Club, LYFE, GSA
Quote: “Buggs don‟t shoot!” Ricky Durrett
Hero: Margaret Cho
Advice: Do not be a victim of peer
pressure.
Advice: Your success is not defined by how many people you
pass by on the way to the top,
but how many people you help
along the way.
Advice:
Get out while you still can.
Senior Spotlights
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Page 21
Cecilia Acosta
Ashleigh Anderson
Linda Cross
Noel Mari
Age: 17
Age: 18
Age: 17
Age: 17
Family: Mark (Dad), Hong
(Mom), Richard, Rebecca,
Kenny (Siblings)
Family: Dawn (Mom), Zuneer
(Dad)
Family: Patricia (Mom), Fredie Family: Mom and Dad
(Dad), Nali and Fredie
Hobbies: Happy Aquarium
(Siblings)
Pets: Pearl (Dog), Geezer
(Hamster)
Favorite subject:
Mrs. Stephenson's English
Favorite movie:
Pride and Prejudice
Favorite animal: Carloses
Favorite color: Blue
High school clubs and affiliations: Soccer, FCA, LYFE
College/ major:
Play soccer for Tech
Favorite subject: Library Aid
Favorite animal: Dog
The Homecoming rec dance
last year
The rules
College: Louisiana Tech
Quote:
“Not everybody at once.”
- Mr. Elliot
Advice:
Always call Matt Gordon by his
Quote: Life is what happens
when you‟re busy making other middle name, “Vernon”. He loves it!
plans.
Advice: No regrets; but that
means don‟t do anything you'll
regret later.
Pet: Topaz (cat)
Hobbies: Overachieving, playing piano, being intelligent
Hobbies: Playing softball, talking
on the phone, going shopping
Favorite subject: Marine Biology
Favorite movie: Avatar
Favorite movie:
Howl’s Moving Castle
Favorite color: Aqua
Favorite animal: Penguin
Getting to leave at 1:20!
Favorite color: Teal
I laugh at myself too much to get
embarrassed.
Having people like Gursimran
Bola put me as their favorite
thing about RHS
College/Major: LSU, UT Austin, or Rice– biochemistry major
Quote: “He who has a why to
live can bear almost any how.” Nietzsche
College/ major: Nicholls Sate/ Interior design and marine biology
Clubs: BUMS, PCI
Hero: My Aunt Mildred
Quote:
Every day do something that will
inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
Advice:
Don‟t worry about what other people
say, stay confident in yourself.
Senior Spotlights
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Keiland Harris
Brienna Gilbert
February 11 , 2009
Page 22
Cequette McClain
Tieranee’ Caesar
Age: 18
Nickname: Teezy
Age: 17
Age: 18
Age: 19
Family: Pattience (Mom), Jasmine (Sister), and Lontravious
(Brother)
Family: Brian (Dad), Beth (Mom),
Brian (Step dad), Katrina (Step
mom), Brianna and Eva (Sisters),
and Luke, Forrest, Robert, BJ,
Brandon (Brothers)
Family: Renee (Mom), Donald
(Father), and Donyatta, Gymesha,
Candis (Sisters)
Hobbies: Eating, sleeping,
and texting
Pets: Princess (Dog)
Hobbies: Reading, listening to mu- Hobbies: Walking, talking on the
phone, and MySpace
sic, and hanging with friends
Favorite movie:
Love and Basketball
Favorite subject: English
Favorite animal: Baby monkey Favorite movie: Interview with a
Vampire
Favorite color:
Purple and turquoise
Most Embarrassing Moment:
In 9th grade when I fell through
the bleachers.
What do you like best about
RHS: Pride
Family: Roslyn (Mom), Tommy
(Dad), and Jeremy (Brother)
Hobbies: Chilling with the besties,
spending time with my family,
reading, listening to music, watching TV and texting
Favorite movie: Friday
Favorite color: Red
Favorite animal: Dolphins
When Gerald pushed me into the
bushes.
RHS? Leaving early and the
games
Favorite movie: Precious
RHS: Leaving at 1:20.
Clubs: FFA
Games and Pep rallies
Sophomore year when the snow
melted and I fell in the mud walking up the hill from Spanish
College/ Major: LA Tech or
Grambling/ RN
College/Major:
LA Tech/English
Hero: God
Hero: My family
Hero: God and my mother
Hero: My grandpa
College/Major: ULM/ Sociology
Quote: “Let the choices you
make today be choices you can
live with tomorrow.”
Quote: “Carpe Diem”
Quote: “Life is about trusting our
feelings and taking chances, losing
and finding happiness, appreciating
the memories and learning from the
past.”
Advice: Don‟t sweat the little
things and enjoy high school while
Advice: You‟ll get far if you mind
Advice: Underclassmen do your you can because it flies by.
your own business and stay to yourwork, it will pay off in the end.
self.
Quote: “Common sense and good
judgment will take you a long
way”
Advice: Work hard all throughout
high school and enjoy it while
you‟re here because it really does
Senior Spotlights
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Kenneth Smith
Age: 18
Family: Constance (Mom),
Kenneth (Dad), and Charles
and Zach (Brothers)
Erich Shrell
Age: Old enough to know better, too
young to care
Family: Tracy (Mom), Alex
(Brother), and Harry (Dad)
Pets: 3 Dogs and Cats
Pets: My cat
Hobbies: Eating, sleeping,
playing video games, and
watching TV
Hobbies: DYI projects
Favorite subject: Band
Favorite movie:
All Horror movies
Favorite movie: Blazing Saddles,
Monty Python: Holy Grail
Favorite color: Crimson red
Favorite animal: Werewolf
Favorite animal:
Black mamba
Favorite subject: Lunch
Teachers who care
Clubs: Band
RHS: Playing in the band at
football games
College/ Major:
Political Science major at Western
Kentucky University!
February 11, 2009
Page 23
Bradley Caraway
LaBrizzcia Tolbert
Age: 18
Age: 18
Family: Mom, Dad, and Chelsea
(girlfriend that lives with us)
Family: Sandra (Mom), Crystal,
Cosharie, Lawrencia, and Srylena (Sisters) and Trey (Brother)
Pets: Jaxon and Rocky (Dogs)
Pets: Diamond (Pit bull)
Hobbies: Playing PS3, spending time
Hobbies: Talking on the phone,
with Chelsea
texting, and hanging out with
friends
Favorite movie: The Hangover
Favorite Movie:
Freddy vs. Jason
Favorite color: Red
Favorite color: Red
What do you like best about RHS?
School spirit
College/Major: Grambling or
Technical college for Nursing,
Clubs: FBLA and PCI
business and culinary arts
College/Major:
LA Tech/ Engineering
Hero: Grandfather
Hero: My dad
Most embarrassing Moment:
Falling going up the stairs my Quote:
Quote: “What‟s the difference be“Give me liberty, or give me death.” tween fiction and reality? Fiction has
sophomore year
to make sense”
Quote: “The only good music Advice:
-Tom Clancy
is music with a lot of metal.”
Keep your head up; only you can
Advice: Enjoy high school, don't rush
it, I know it doesn't seem like it now,
Advice: Be yourself, don‟t let make yourself succeed.
but it will be gone faster than you
anyone lead you to where you
think.
don't want to go.
RHS? Pep-rallies
Most embarrassing Moment:
Fell going up the stairs
Hero: God and my mom
Advice: Don‟t let anybody bring
you down, keep your head up at
all times.
Senior Spotlights
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Carlissia McMurry
Age: 18
Markedra Wheatley
Age: 17
February 11, 2009
Page 24
Chris Smith
Age: 18
Gerald Bedford
Age: 18
Family: Wilma (Mom), and
Family: Carlos (Dad), Lisa
(Mom), Don-Don (Brother), and Marcus (God brother)
Anderika (Sister)
Hobbies: Texting, and watching
Law and Order: SVU
Pets: Turtle (Brysha), Rabbet
(Kyiana), Rat (Trey Rakeem) and
Favorite movie: Roll Bounce
a Bird (Cyril)
Family: Becky Strickler (Mom),
Tommy Smith (Dad)
Family: Tracie (Mom), Jamildria
(Sister-in-law)
Pets: Anna (Dog)
Hobbies:
School and sitting under trees
Hobbies: Taking care of my pets Favorite color: Red
Favorite subject: Lunch
Favorite Movie: The Orphan
Favorite movie:
Hangover and Varsity Blues
Favorite movie: Finding Nemo
Favorite animal: Pandas
Favorite color: Clear and Icy
purple
Favorite subject: German
Favorite animal:
Squirrels and raccoons
Favorite subject:
Telecommunications
RHS: Hot sauce at the salad bar
College: ULM
RHS: Working in the office
Hobbies: Baseball and getting crunk
with my boys
Favorite animal: Man bear pig
Favorite color: Red
College/Major:
GSU-early childhood education
When the bell rings to go home.
Clubs: Pom squad, 4-H,
L.Y.F.E, German Club
Being seen with Matt Gordon in
public.
Favorite Magazine:
Seventeen Magazine
Clubs: FCA, Baseball, and FFA
Favorite Animal: Horse
RHS? Me being here
When I tried to do a back flip but
landed on my head.
Clubs: FFA
College/Major:
ULM/Sports and medicine
Hero: Superman and Spiderman Hero: Lady GaGa
College/Major:
Louisiana Tech/ Social worker
Quote:
Quote: “I think I can, I know I
“Well it‟s your opinion, isn‟t it?
can.”
-The Little Engine that could And I‟m not about to waste my
time trying to change it.”
Advice: Always… Always wear -Lady GaGa
a uniform shirt please, because
Mr. Cason is always watching!
Quote: “Smitdawg! You ride up here
Quote: “Actions speak louder
in that jeep truck? -Big D
than words.”
Advice: Time flies by, take advantage of it. Take care of your business Advice: Take out the time to
notice real friends and not
and make good grades and high
associates.
school will be a lot more enjoyable
for you.
Hero: God
Student Center
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Vegetarianism – A Healthy Alternative
submitted by Arrian Christian
Student
With obesity, diabetes, and heart disease rates in the U.S. skyrocketing to record
high numbers, health is becoming more important to the average person. Why are
these health problems becoming more common? It‟s a result of all the processed
and unprocessed meat consumed by the American public. According to nutrition.about.com, processed meat can increase your risk of developing kidney, colorectal, and stomach cancer. Even unprocessed meat is detrimental for your health,
specifically red meat. According to a study of red and processed meat in connection to cancer by Amanda Cross, the consumption of red meat over a lifetime can
raise the risk of cancer by 20 to 60 percent as well as the risk of mutations in
DNA.
What can you do about it? For those who want to change the current cycle of
health degeneration, you can become a vegetarian and cut out all animal derived
products from your diet. This may seem like a very arduous task but with dedication, commitment, and planning you can help yourself live a longer life with less
health problems. There are many resources for potential or current vegetarians,
one of which is veggieboard.com - an online community for vegetarians, potential
or current. Other sites include peta.com, vrg.org, vegweb.com, and vegsource.com.
You should consider becoming a vegetarian for your health and longevity and for
the animals you can help save.
A New Chatterbox Member
by Alyssa Moore
Reporter
Hey guys, I‟m Alyssa Moore, I am a junior and the
newest member to Chatterbox and Ruston High
School. I recently moved here from Campbell, Texas.
I‟ve lived in Texas my whole life- only left it for vacations. I‟m really shy and don‟t have too much to say,
but if you start a conversation with me, I could possibly talk your ear off. My hobbies are singing, listening
to music, and hanging out with my friends and family.
I love riding horses and being out doors. Being from
Texas, I always get the same question asked “is there
tons of cowboys riding horses everywhere?” Not so
much. Texas is not just full of boot wearing, horse riding cowboys; there are probably just as many cowboys
in Texas as there are in any other state. Coming from a
small school and being a new student at such a big
school has been very difficult to adjust to. So if you
have seen me wondering the halls looking confused, I
was probably lost, haha. My plan for the future is to
move back to Texas, graduate from high school, then
attend Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas
majoring in Medicine and minor in photography or music.
Page 25
Student Center
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Ask Carlos
Page 26
by Carlos Wilson
Student Council President
What is love?
Love is a Spartan. No, really – I‟m serious. Ok, don‟t believe me? Well think about it:
love starts out like a small Grecian boy – untrained, sporadic, excited, unsure, and full of joy
(as when you first meet your “projected lover” and everything is jolly). Later, the Grecian
boy becomes a teenager and things begin to get a little more serious and his training begins.
Just as when your mate and you begin to establish routines and the “LOL smiley faces”
stop. The “training” itself is an ordeal of its own. Much like the grueling training of a future
Spartan: love is pounded with the rancor of foibles (the resentments of flaws in each others‟
behavior), beaten and battered by accusations and arguments, and constantly fighting to
withstand. Moreover, it is being trained to survive, prepare for the worst, and is being fitted
for its armor…FOR BATTLE!
Then, as love manifests into a full-grown, full-bred Spartan, it is ready. Nothing, no one,
no army can defeat it because it is legit and compact like the Sphinx (the battle formation of
the Spartans). Love survives all things, endures all things, and kills all things…for battle.
Love is a battle – but when trained like a Spartan and surviving the intense syllogisms and preparation, love is impenetrable. So I say –
THIS IS SPARTA…with love. <3
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
by Sarah Kilpatrick
Business Manager
On behalf of the Chatterbox I would like to send a warm thank-you to our advertisers and sponsors. I would like to especially thank the six new
advertisers for this month: Kevin Beasley Photography, Bluewire, King of Hearts, Pizza Inn, Portraits Plus, and Rapid Signs. Thank you very
much for making this paper possible. We appreciate your business!
Ask the Staff
answered by Kori Teague
Guest Staff Writer
Q: Why do we only have jeans days on select Fridays? What about spirit days with the jeans?
A: Well, first off, we all know that Fridays are the most anticipated day of the week. An opportunity to „slack off‟ from the dress code now and
then adds even more excitement on the last day of school before the weekend. Second, the principal decides from time to time to reward students
for following the dress code and acting well. That said – it is a privilege. Therefore, being good and following the rules could result in more jeans
days, whereas not doing so and not abiding by the jeans day rules could result in fewer jeans days. With so much on the school calendar, the principal must look at the whole picture when deciding to give us this much appreciated opportunity. When the calendar allows this – we must have ensured that we have done our part to earn it.
To answer the second question, refer first to the previous answer. Spirit shirt days are fewer and usually will only be approved when the jeans
day privilege is earned and there is a special reason for wearing a spirit shirt, such as a big game. As is the case with jeans days, a sponsor is needed
to organize the day. Talk to your club or organization and have your sponsor contact the principal to get a jeans and/or spirit day approved. Just
make sure your sponsor and organization have been abiding by the school rules too!
All that said, I again remind everyone that any day in which the principal allows us to deviate from the school uniform is a privilege, and we
have to earn it. Let‟s police ourselves and make sure we get those opportunities. Don‟t let students wearing “pants on the ground,” “tails all
around,” and “scenes on their jeans” take away these days that we enjoy.
Even though I was not fortunate enough to get a chance to wear my Saints gear on February 5th as I was dressed for success at the FBLA district
conference, I would like to thank Mr. Milstead on behalf of the students who did for allowing us the privilege of showing our support for our Saints!
Who Dat!
Sponsors/Staff
Ruston High School
Chatterbox
February 11, 2010
Page 27
2009-2010 Chatterbox Sponsors
Platinum Level Sponsors: ($200 +) Mark Bartlett, LLC
First National Bank
RHS PTA (Grant)
Alan and Penny Boyd
Gold Level Sponsor: ($100 - $199)
RHS FBLA, Chapter 617
Silver Level Sponsor: ($50 - $99)
RHS Business Department
Bronze Level Sponsor: ($25 - $49)
Lloyd and Christy Bruner
Caleb and Adrian Seney
Sharon Bentley
2009-2010 Chatterbox Advertisers
Business/Organization
Owner/Manager/Contact Agent
Page of Advertisement
Project Achieve
Cathi Cox
2
Blue Wire Electronics
Richard Marie
2
Driver‟s Education
Coach Durrett
3
BESTWAY
Michael Kolb
5
King of Hearts
Pat Murray
15
Pizza Inn
Scott Braswell
16
Pow Wow
Manuel and Nilda Chinchilla
17
Portraits Plus
Tim Garlington
17
Piney Hills Music
Nick Goff
18
Kevin Beasley Photography
Kevin Beasley
18
Ruston‟s Locker Room
Yvonne Craft
29
Nora‟s Flowers
Carren Craft
31
Rapid Signs
Mike Stevens
31
Ruston MMA/ATA
Shaun McKay
32
Please thank and support these businesses, organizations, and individuals for making your Ruston High School Chatterbox possible!
If interested in sponsoring or advertising in the Chatterbox, email us at chatterbox@lincolnschools.org
2009-2010 RHS Chatterbox Staff
Senior Editor
News Editor
Graphics/Design Editor
Senior Reporter
Reporter
Reporter
Business Manager
Sports Editor
Reporter
Reporter
Reporter/Photographer
Reporter
Logan Taylor
Drew Boyd
Devin Easley
Jessica Herren
Seth Bentley
Anna Garland
Sarah Kilpatrick
Christian Amos
Natasha Alva
Stephany Arias
Amber Brown
Alyssa Moore
Adviser/Sponsor: Mr. Lloyd R. Bruner, chatterbox@lincolnschools.org
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
Junior
The Chatterbox is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA).
The purpose of the Chatterbox is to provide information and to promote school pride. We strive to meet the criteria set by the Louisiana Scholastic Press for student
journalism. In addition, if a reasonable basis or the belief that a publication would materially disrupt class work, involve substantial disorder, or invade the rights of
these, it will not be published in keeping with the guidelines of Hazelwood School District vs. Kulkmeier (1998). Signed editorials may be sent to Ruston High School,
900 Bearcat Dr., Ruston, LA 71270.
Access the current edition of the Chatterbox at: http://rustonhigh.lincolnschools.org/whatsnew.html
Access archived editions of the Chatterbox at: http://rustonhigh.lincolnschools.org/chatterbox.html
Fun Page
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2009
Page 28
Guess who?
♥VALENTINE‟S DAY♥
Senior Guy



Sister is a freshman
Played football and track.
Fastest person in the school!
Junior Girl



Varsity Cheerleader
“Drives” like a maniac
5th and final member of family to
be a Bearcat
Sophomore Girl



Varsity tennis
Grandmother taught here
King of Queens
Frosh Guy



Varsity tennis
Senior brother
6 feet tall
Bears
Chocolates
S
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P
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V
B
W
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K
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V
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D
Q
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C
I
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B
Q
L
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V
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O
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O
L
F
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F
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J
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G
K
W
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W
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Cupid
Flowers
Hallmark
Heart
Love
Valentines
Sports
Ruston High School
Encouragement
by Kate Warner
FCA Leader
Imagine this scenario. You trudge up to the school.
You have a HUGE math test that morning, and you are
not excited about it. You open the doors of the school and
walk inside. People begin to stand up. Someone starts a
slow-clap. People begin chanting your name until it‟s the
only thing being said. Everyone is nodding at you, saying
“You CAN do it!” You will ace this math test. You walk
into your classroom feeling as confident as ever…okay,
snap back. How awesome would it be if something like
that actually happened??? That may be a little extreme
for some, but if you had people encouraging one another
to do their best, how amazing would that be? When we
encourage others to do their best, they are more
likely to work harder. Think of it this way. In a
sport, fans cheer and yell to motivate their team to
play their hardest and to succeed. Ephesians 4:29
says “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may
benefit those who listen.” Today, encourage one
person. Motivate them to try their hardest, and
they will succeed.
Chatterbox
February 11, 2010
Page 29
Sports
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
February 11, 2010
Page 30
Soccer Team is Victorious in District Games
by Natasha Alva
Reporter
On January 26th, the Ruston High Bearcats had their last district game. Both the boys‟ and girls‟ teams celebrated victories over West
Ouachita. The girls won 3-0. Cecilia Acosta and Lauren Prescott made two goals in the first half, and another goal was made by Acosta
in the second half. The boys‟ game had a final score of 4-0 with goals made by Baraka Murimi, Daniel Cason, Daniel Hale, and Bevan
Cline. Also, special thanks go out to the Pom Squad and the band for bringing great spirit to the games, and thank you to everyone else
who attended!
BUMS Night Out!
by Jessica Herren
Senior Reporter
What was originally planned as the
annual BUMS Formal turned into
BUMS Night Out on Saturday, January 16th. The dance was canceled because not enough people were able to
attend, but the few who could didn‟t
let their party get rained out! This fun
-loving group dressed up and took
pictures with Tim Garlington before
eating dinner at Chili‟s. They laughed
and had themselves quite a good time
before splitting company. But the
night was still young, and the groups
each had their own fun with mini
golf, bowling, and the movies! The
plans may have changed, but these
Bearcats enjoyed their evening out
just the same.
Bearcat Belles Tryouts
submitted by Marcia McTyer
Bearcat Belles Co-Captain
Hey girls, RHS Bearcat Belle tryouts are rapidly approaching! This year you have seen the Bearcat Belles
perform at pep rallies and at different sporting events. If
you admired what you have seen, then why not try out to
become a part of it? This year‟s tryouts will be held
March 17-20. To be eligible to try out for Belles for next
year, you must have been a Pepette, a Cheerleader, or a
Belle this year. So ladies, remember that date! More information about Bearcat Belles tryouts will be given as
March 17th gets closer.
Sports
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Lady Cats Finish Strong
at District
February 11, 2010
Page 31
by Christian Amos
Sports Editor
The Lady Bearcats have been playing very notably in district
play, which leads to high hopes when playoff time comes
around. Junior Byronisha Santiago led the West Ouachita Game
with 19 points, and right behind her was Kyiana Allen with 15
points over the Chiefs. The Lady Cats also defeated the
Wossman Wildcats 66-51, and again, Byronisha Santiago led
with 22. Chelsea Roder and Breanne Currie both scored 12
points individually. Then the Ruston Lady Cats faced rivals
Neville, and they passed the Tigers 49-42. The game was close
near the end, even though Ruston led in points the bulk of the
game. Kyiana Allen scored 20 points and Byronisha Santiago
scored 11 points.
Way to go
Lady Cats!
Boys‟ Basketball Put Up Points
by Christian Amos
Sports Editor
49-41 was the score of the boys‟basketball match against our arch
rivals, Neville High School. Even though the Tigers started the game off
by scoring the first points of the game, the Bearcats bit back with an 8point advantage at the conclusion of the game. The leading scorers that
passed the Neville Tigers were Dee Patton and Shawn Roberson. Patton
tamed the court with a total of 22 points, and Roberson with 11. Two
weeks before the Bearcats faced off against the Neville Tigers, they shut
out the West Ouachita Chiefs, 65-46. Again, Dee Patton demonstrated
his athleticism by scoring 27 points in the game. Shawn Roberson put
11 points on the board and DeMarlo Carter put up 7 points.
Sports
Chatterbox
Ruston High School
Better Facilities
Needed
by Christian Amos
Sports Editor
The athletes at Ruston High, mainly
the football team, dwell in a field house
that is terribly undersized for the team.
The size of the team is basically double
the size for their locker room. Not only
does the space limit affect the members
of the football team; other sports at
Ruston High are affected by this space
limit as well. This article is to inform
the students of RHS of the conditions
our athletes encounter daily.
The athletic department has not completely decided which course to take, but
something is needed fast. Whether it is
the current facilities getting renovated or
a complete remodel (it all depends on
the cost and space available), the athletic
field house needs some improvement.
Coach Laird is not only seeing the improvement as a benefit in favor of the
football team, but for all sports at Ruston
High. “The structure is deteriorating, the
field house is termite-infested, and heating and cooling is inadequate” says
Laird. It‟s not that the players are complaining about the deterioration of the
building; Laird simply believes the athletes of RHS deserve something better
suited for them. Optimistic athlete Carlos Wilson says “It would be awesome
to upgrade the facilities, even though we
have good equipment, but I think the
upgrade should be divided between all
sports, not just football.” This is an example of how the student athletes of
Ruston High don‟t see the current facilities as a negative; rather, they take pride
in the traditions built here at RHS. Wilson goes on to say “Upgrading will be
legit!”
February 11, 2010
The athletic facilities at Ruston High
have been here for 40 years, and they are
out-grown. Such as the varsity dressing
room: what is designed to comfortably
hold 50 athletes instead must accommodate a football team of about 100 players. Coach Laird has even had to cut
some players from the team to accommodate the size of the dressing room.
This is obviously an action not wanting
to be taken by Laird because athletes
with good potential may be cut. An upgrade in the facilities would also help the
coaches by way of time consumption. It
takes the coaches 1 ½ days to wash all
the uniforms after a game. There is a
lack of space for equipment and team
meetings in the field house.
The last thing Laird showed us was
the coach‟s office. The reason for this
was clear: Laird wants the office to be
the last thing improved. The improvement is to first benefit the athletes.
The first steps taken to resolve this
problem are already in action. “People are
aware of the problem and are addressing
it. The school board has been addressed
with this situation, but we understand that
they have other priorities” says Laird.
The school board, which has to budget
funds between 20 other schools in the
parish, may not be able to support funding of remodeling or rebuilding a better
athletic facility. Laird says that maybe we
will have to raise money through private
funds. However it is accomplished, some
changes should definitely be made because of the increasing size of athletics at
RHS (representing both existing teams as
well as new ones, such as swimming).
GO CATS
Page 32
Left: A wall in the
training
room
that needs repair.
Left: The athletic department
owns only this washer to
wash 100 uniforms.
Below: This locker room
should only hold 30 athletes.
Rule the Cage and the Streets
Ruston ATA MMA
205 North Service Road
East
Ruston , LA 71270
318– 513-9853

Ruston High School February 11, 2010 Box Tops

Transcription

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