The Ladypaws work hard on perfecting their dances and extra work was put into this particular dance. Every year the girls put together at least one hip-hop routine. The song chosen this year was “Halftime” by the Ying-Yang twins. The Ladypaws danced to this song a few weeks earlier at the Hogan Prep game and it has been done in former years also. When the 09-10 drill team performed the first time it appeared there were no conflicts between the girls and the community, but apparently there was some miscommunication.

As of Tuesday evening, they were scheduled to dance to “Halftime” but as they were preparing to go out on the field, hair ready and dressed, there was a problem. Principle John Earnst and Mitch Beims, Athletic Director, came in and announced the drill team would not be allowed to dance to the chosen song. Drill Team sponser, Karen Beightel, said that she was aware they didn’t love the song, but not as far as not dancing to it. It was very unexpected.

“We had no idea that this was going to be a problem. No one ever came and talked to any of the captains or Karen about their concerns. If we were to know about it, we would have been able to dance at our last home game.” Said Co-captain, Susan Iverson, “We’ve never had complaints about this song before. The dance was completely appropriate. It was just a poor way to go about things in the end, because more people were upset by the lack of miscommunication.”

You would think it would be over with by now, right? Well, the dancers were not the only ones upset or hurt by that emotional night. Grandparents, friends, parents, aunts, and uncles come from all over to the games to support their girls. Huge fan, Garison Morris, junior, was a bit disappointed, too. “I was really looking forward to watching them dance. That dance was my favorite and I was shocked when I was told they wouldn’t get to perform at all. Not to mention how awkward it was having crying girls around.”

A large amount of people believe that there would have been many more complaints about us not dancing then if we would have danced, but it appears we won’t get the chance to find out. November 3^rd was the very last home football game that seniors, Lauren Hower, drill team captain, and Leigha Sweet, would ever get to the chance to dance at. Many believe that this problem could have been resolved by simply better communication. For future reference to everyone, please do research, trust the students, discuss, and don’t react out of emotion.

Note that the high school administrators declined the opportunity to be quoted in this article. The Ladypaws do appreciate the apologies though.

Lets start with our very own Aleesa Suarez and Ryan Matzke, married on the black top in second grade. Many friends watched near by. They had Sydney Strader as the brides made/ minister and Shelby Dallman as a witness to their love that was to last for eternity.

“I got Aleesa a ring out of Mrs. Slimmer’s little prize box.” Ryan Matzke, senior, said. Prepared and on time, a good way to start off their life together. But as soon as the ceremony had started it was just as soon to be broken up…. By (dun dun dun) Mrs. Babcock!

“Only because Leigha went and told on us. I was devastated!” Matzke said. So their love didn’t really reach past second grade. The senior class is well aware of the love Matzke and Suarez shared. They all hope to find a similar love of their own someday.

Next, lets jump to our wonderful Elizabeth Dunn and HHS ’08 graduate, Kevin Middlemist. Their love was meant to be. Living approximately 198 child steps away from each other sparked a true flame that may never be burnt out. It was a true love that began before Kindergarten and was sure to last a lifetime.

“I thought we were going to get married on the high dive of the swimming pool.” “I pictured him wearing a top hat and a suit like a penguin.” Elizabeth Dunn, senior, said. A love that was meant to be never seemed to piece together as she had dreamed. “It probably didn’t work out because I pushed him off his trike and made him cry. My brother had to pick him up and take him home, he’s been upset with me ever since” Dunn said.

Lauren Louise Bagby also had a love, which happened to be with the one and only Kellen Brandt. Although they hate to admit it now, it was love at first sight.

“I sketched him a lot. I drew pictures of him sitting at his desk and one with us together. I was an artist and everyone really liked my art.” Lauren Bagby, sophomore, said.  A love that was so true and meant to be from the first hello.

“I liked him from kindergarten till third grade, and he like me too.” Bagby said.  But as it turned out that little love didn’t happen either. What a shame.

But as life rolled on, loves come and go. The memories of those sweet times forever stuck in our cortex. There to look back on and cherish as our days go on ready to make new memories and soon look back on what our past behold.

“Today, kids have many stresses and overwhelming stuff put on them,” states Ms. Swisher, a teacher of Holton High school, “FCA is a great place where you can find help and release the stress.”

This year FCA is doing things a bit differently in order to involve more people, by making it easier for students to come to the meetings and get to the events. A lot of the students were too busy last year to make it to meetings, so there wasn’t has many activities held. The sponsors decided to divide the FCA members into four teams, there are approximately 9 members in each group. Each group has two months out of the year to hold different activities and prayer circles.

“This year I really want to make FCA the place to be. I want the students to think of it as ‘Yes, I’m excited for FCA this Saturday!’ and not ‘Oh, well lets just get this over with.’ So the activities that we hold won’t ever be boring and we try to do things we haven’t done in the past.” Pronounces Mr. Will, one of the FCA sponsors.

Some of the activities that are trying to be planned for October and November, are bowling, a hayrack ride if the weather is good, leaf raking for the community, and the passion play is coming up soon this October. The hayrack ride was cancelled last Saturday due to the cold weather and sicknesses going around, but they are trying to schedule another date for it again soon.

FCA is open to all students. If any students would be interested in signing up, because FCA would love to have you come and get involved, sign up sheets are in the office and it’s only a $3 membership to join. The meetings are on Wednesdays at 7:30 in the mornings. Hope to see you there!

The Meaning of Night is set in London, England during the 1800’s and is told from the mind of the main character.

The book opens up with our main character Edward. He is walking along down a dark alleyway discretely behind a man with red hair. He eventually gets right behind the man and stabs him to death.

He throws a knife down the grating to sewers and leaves the scene, thinking that he got away clean.

Later as he goes to a pub called Quinn’s, he is confronted his female friend who gives him a card that tells her to stay away from Edward, and that he is dangerous.

Edward then goes back to his room for the night and has outrageous nightmares about the person he killed just earlier that day. Edward awakes during the middle of the night to find a card slipped under his door telling him that someone knows he killed the man.

If you like a crime thriller full of excitement, suspense… and murder, then this book would be from you. This book is highly recommended.

Some bags already have a built it case for a laptop. Go to any store that sells school book bags, and you will find that quite a few bags have this feature. So if you were a student that spent an extra five or ten bucks to get the bag that had the built in laptop case, wouldn’t you be a little frustrated if you now had to carry your laptops separate? I know I would be. Some students even asked if they could buy their own laptop case, and the answer was still no.

It’s also a hassle. Along with a purse, book bag, sports bag, and sometimes even breakfast or lunch, a computer bag is of inconvenience. I have dropped my computer bag more times than I would like to say, but that’s what happens when we have too many things to carry. We are Homo sapiens limited to two arms, so carrying around four or five different bags really doesn’t seem to balance well.

I feel that we are responsible, and should be able to carry our laptops in our book bags in their cases. And as I said earlier, if the staff can enforce us to carry our laptops in their cases, why can’t they enforce us to carry them in our book bags with their cases?

After that, the group had some for site seeing to do. Many of the students went to China Town, Little Italy, Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center Memorial, Empire State Building and Grand Central Station.

Saturday was the same routine. On Sunday the big day started out by being bussed in the morning to Carnegie Hall. They had dress rehearsals and then had one hour to go eat and then perform. The Notables joined about 220 other people and sang John Rutter’s Requim. Mr. Rutter directed all of the rehearsals and the performance. Bond said, “This was FAR beyond what I could have expected.” After the concert the company they went with had a cruise around New York Harbor. They saw the Brooklyn Bridge and Cruised around the Statue of Liberty. On the ship was all you can eat buffet and dancing.  Bond said, “The musical experience was something that many people will never experience. But beyond the musical experiences (Working with a world class conductor, singing in one of, if not the best venues in the world, performing world class music) the cultural exposure was remarkable. Visitng Little Italy, China town is like visiting another country.

As a music teacher and educator the education my students received on this trip was far more than I could ever give them in my classroom.” Something that he would like to accomplish this year is that the past few years the group has qualified for the State Musical Festival, and last year they did not. And it was very disappointing. They try and shoot for the same goal every year. They want to be the Best vocal group that the can be, and one of the best choirs in North East Kansas. That is not just including 4A. The have always competed at their highest levels and Bond is anticipating that they will return to that level this year.