What ’s Inside?• CellPhonesInClass

• Forensics

• Tanning

• StudentSpotlight:HeatherFrancis

What ’s Happening at BLHS?PersonalizedAdsComingYourWay!Beingtheextremelydeterminedgroupofgirlsandoneguythatnewspaperandyearbookis,wehavecometotheconclusiontosendpersonaladstoeachstudentthathasnotyetboughtayearbookinhopesofreachingthestudentswhoarealreadyintheyearbookseveraltimes.Overtheyearwehavecometoapointof305buysandhopingtoreachourgoalof485!Thatisabout80percentoftheschoolpopulation,sohelpusoutandbuyayearbookorwewillfindyou!-AliPatterson

CourtwarmingPepAssemblyComingupatBLHSistheCourtwarmingpepassembly.Groupsofstudentsfromeachgradelevelaregettingtogetherandchoreographingdancestoperformduringtheassembly.SomejuniorsthataregoingtoperformareAllyLaney,MorganLeBlanc,EricPurrington,andCoryMcCleary.ThechoreographerforthejuniorclassisMakaylaWeiser.Theassemblyisagoodwaytogetusexcitedforthecourtwarminggameandforthedance.ThepepassemblyisonFeb.1.Iencourageeveryonetocomeandwatchallofthehardworkthathasbeenputintothisassembly.-JuliaStevens

CourtwarmingDanceThisyear,thecourtwarmingdanceisonFebruary2nd.ItwillbeheldatBasehor-LinwoodHighSchoolinthesports’foyer.Eachticketisfivedollarsandit’sformal.It’sfrom7-10pm.Ifyou’rebringinganoutsidedate,goto

thefrontofficeandfilloutanoutsidedateform.TheyaredueonJanuary30th.-AlexisNichols

SocialStudiesWhileMr.JohnsonwasgoneWednesday,January16,hisGold2governmentclassreceivedaspecialvisitor.RichardDrennon,amemberoftheBasehorCityCouncilcametotalktoMr.Johnson’sgovernmentclass.DrennonisalongtimeresidentoftheBasehorareaandiscurrentlyemployedbyourschooldistrictasDirectorofMaintenance.Hecameandtalkedaboutmostofthethingsthatarediscussedattheircitymeetingsthattheyhavetwiceamonth.Theclasshadmanyquestionstoaskhim,mostofwhichwerefortheassignmentthatwasgivenbyMr.Johnson.Hetalkedabouthisjobspecificallyandwhathewassupposedtodo.Heexplainedtotheclasshisdutiesascitycouncilmember,thebestandworstpartsthatcomewithit,andtheimportanceofkeepingBasehoratitsbest.Manyofthestudents’questionshadtodowithspeeding,beingpulledover,andcitylimits.ItwasafuneducationalwaytokickoffthenewsemesterandhopefullyinthefuturewewillhavemoreBasehorcouncilmemberscometalktotheU.S.Governmentclasses.DavidBreuer,themayorofBasehorvisitedtheirclassesonFriday,January25.AsMr.Drennondid,Breuerexplainedthedutiesofbeingmayorandansweredquestionsabouthisjob.“Ilovethefactthatactualpoliticianscomeandtalktoourclass.Itconnectswhatwe’relearningwithreallife.Itgivesmeabetteridea

ofwhatlocalgovernmentisreallyabout,”juniorChellcyMillersaid.Itisverylikelythattherewillbemoreguestspeakerstocomethroughouttherestoftheyear!-SusetteGarcia,AllisonCrist,andToriPowell

ArtClassesMr.LohaferandhisArtIIIclassaredoingafewinterestingthingsthatnotverymanypeopleknowaboutbutwouldbeinterestedtohearabout.Currentlytheyaremakingamuralfortheweightroomanditsnameisgoingtobe“BobcatPower.”Theywillbeputtingoneofourbobcatlogosonit;thelogowithabobcatholdingabarbell.Aroundthemuraltheywillbeputtinginspirationalandmotivationalsayings.Inaddition,inthefutureMr.Lohaferhopesthattheywillalsobeabletocreateastrengthandconditioningcrestaswell.-RachaelBell

PowerliftingUpdateThewomen’spowerliftingteam,whohavewonthelastfivestatetitles,recentlytraveledtoMcLouthforitsfirstmeetoftheseasonwheretheytook1st.Themen’spowerlifters,winnerofthelastthreestatetitles,tooksecondatthemeet.TheirnextmeetisatRoyalValleyonthe26th.CoachRossSchwisowsaidthebestthingabouttheprogramishowmanynewfreshmancomeouteachyear,andhowthenumberscontinuetogrow.-MitchellMikinski

Ninety-sevenpercentofthestudentbodyhasone,85percentcarrytheirsfromclasstoclass,sologictellsyouthatit’sacceptedtohaveyourphoneoutduringclass.IfyouaskanystudentatBLHS,they’lltellyouthatitdependsontheteacherwhetherornotitistrulyacceptedtohaveyourphoneoutintheclassroom.

“Ihaveanotolerancepolicyforcellphonesinmyclassroom,it’snotthatIdon’tlikethem,Ijustdon’tlikethefactthatyoudon’tknowwhatthestudentsareusingthemfor,theymightbetexting,ortweeting,ortheycouldbetakingembracingpicturesofoneanother,itturnsintobullying,andsinceIcan’tcontrolwhattheydoorsayontheirphones,Idon’twanttotake

achance,”saidMaryMyer.MaryMyer,aswellasMrs.Shields,areknownforhavingastrict,noelectronicspolicy.“Idon’tallowthestudentstohavetheirphonesturnedoninmyclass.Sometimestheyforgettoturnthevolumeoff,andtheyturnintoadistrac-tionwhenitcomestolearning.”

Ontheotherhand,therearemultipleteachersthatdoallowcellphonesintheclassroom,andopenlyallowyoutousethem.SocialstudiesteacherTimJohnsonisoneofthem.“Idoallowphonestobeusedinmyclassroom,infact,Iencourageit.Thestudentsarenotallowedtomakephonecalls,text,updatetheirstatus,takepictures,

etc.I’mwillingtotrustmystudentsandgivethemthatfreedom,butiftheyarecaughtdoinganyunapprovedthings,I’mnotafraidtotake,andkeeptheirphonesuntiltheendoftheday,”Johnsonsaid.

BLHSgivesteachersthefreedomtohavetheirownclassroomruleswhenitcomestocellphones,whichcanbebothgoodorbad.Themajorityofteachersallowphonesforacademicuseonly,whichmakessenseconsideringthattheyarethemostadvancedtechnologyoutthere.“Everything’srightatourfingertips,soIdon’tseewhyweshouldn’tuseittoouradvantage,”Johnsonsaid.

Chatty Cathys: Phones in the ClassroomBy:ElissaFreemire

BASK

ETBA

LL

Jan 29 4:00 Away Bishop WardFeb. 01 4:00 Home Piper (Courtwarming)Feb 04-11 TBA Away Mill Valley (FB)Feb. 05 4:00 Home TonganoxieFeb. 08 4:00 Away Bonner SpringsFeb. 12 4:00 Home LansingFeb. 15 4:00 Home Turner (Sr. Night)Feb. 19 4:00 Away PiperFeb. 22 4:00 Away Mill Valley

Jan. 31 5:30 Home Ottawa/Mill ValleyFeb. 06 5:30 Away DeSotoFeb. 09 9AM Away KVLFeb. 15-16 2:00 TBA RegionalsFeb. 22-23 TBA Salina State

Feb. 02 Clay CenterFeb. 09 BLHSFeb. 23 Belton

DATE TIME LOCATION OPPONENT

WRE

STLI

NG

POW

ERLI

FTIN

GCATCH THE CATS IN ACTION

Thisyear’sfreshmanboys’basketballteamstartedofftheyearwithsomethingthateveryfreshmanteaminthecountryhas:jitters.Luckilyfortheteamthingshavechangedwiththeteamofftoa7-1startwhichhasteammembersandfansbothexcited.Thejittersfromthefirstgamehavesubsidedandnowtheteamisfiringonallcylinderswiththeteamwinningitslastfivegamesincludinga70-6winoverPatton.Center/powerforwardCalebMetskerattributesthesuccesstotheteamasawhole,saying,“It’sbeenateameffort,everyone[ontheteam]hascontributedinsomewaytooursuccess.”ShootingguardNickFisheralsosaidthattheteamwaskeyadding“Theteamisdeepsoevenifoneguyisn’tplayingwellwecanstillcomeoutwiththevictorythankstoourbench.”TheplayersalsosaidthattherecentwinoverMillValleywasabigconfidencebooster.Fishersaid,“WehadneverbeatenMillValleybeforeandtobeatthembythatmuchwashuge.”RevengeisobviouslyabigtakeawayfromthatwinbutMetskerthinks

thattheevenbiggertakeawayistheall-aroundgreatperfor-manceofthedefense.“Thatreallygaveusconfidencegoingforward.”Howevernoteverygamehasbeengreat.Theplayersallseemtohavethesamefeeling,howevernooneseemedtosumtheweaknessesupbetterthanMetsker;Talking,Defense,Focus.

Frosh BallBy:MitchellMikinski

DesignedbyAbiBatesel

Spontaneous

Ch

et Sarlls, 9

Boring & PointlessM

egan

Sixta, 10

ExhilaratingAustin Rowland, 11

Fun & ExcitingMadi VanGosen, 9

Everything has changed.

Lindsey Schubert, 10

GOOD TIME

Makenzi Phippen, 10

ups & downs, overall great!Raeney Seaton, 10

A year I will always remember

Dustin Denham, 12

Beyond EpicAli Patterson, 11

Aw

esom

eB

rad Sto

ut, 11

Memorable,exciting,

& extravagantAmber Garver, 11

It was allpoppycock

Bri Kennedy, 10

A big learning experience

Chance Ryder, 12

A sweetmemory

Ben Johnson, 12

One that won’t be forgotten

Zac Hevel, 12

WorthwhileKylie Denham, 9

My 2012 was so bad

Logan Anderson, 10Sad & crazy

Words of 2012

9th 10th 11th 12th

Haylee

Neid

hold

t, 9

ManynewthingshavehappenedinBasehorthisyear,andoneveryimportantthingisthenewlightsonStateAvenue.Itmaynotseemlikeabigdealtomostpeople,buttoBasehor-LinwoodHighSchoolstudentsandtheirparents,it’saverybigdeal.

Inthepast,withoutalight,therehavebeenmanycaraccidentswhichleadtodeathorseriousinjury.MostofthosewereBLHSstudents.Itisverytragicwhensomethinglikethathappens.Itisevenmoretragicwhenittakesthatmanyaccidents,injuries,

anddeathsforourcitytoputinalight.Manystudentswerescaredtocrossatthatintersectionbecausetheydidn’twanttoriskgoingoutonthehighwayandgettinghit.FormostLinwoodstudents,thatwasafasterwaytogethome.Highschoolstudentsusesthehighwaynot

onlyforgettingtoandfromschool,buttoandfromCareCats.WhentheschoolsendsthosestudentstoCareCats,theywanttoknowthattheyareabletogetthereandbacksafelyandnothavetoworryaboutthestudentsgoingacrossStateAvenueandgettinghit.Itistheschool’s

prioritythateveryoneishavingfuninschoolbutalsothattheyaresafewhilehavingfun.Sonowthatwedohavealightdownthere,thestudentsareabletogetthroughthatintersection,andtheAdministrationdoesn’thavetoworryaboutthestudentsusingthatintersection.

Green Light for the stop light!By:ToriPowell

DesignedbyAlexisNicholsandSarahFord

Althoughitsoundslikeit,forensicsisnotaboutdeadbodiesanddoesn’tinvolvescience.Forensicsisaco-curricularactivitythatemphasizesthedevelopmentofcommunicationskills.Theseskillslearnedcanbeveryessentialinthisdayandage!Studentsinforensicstraveltodifferenttournamentstocompeteinavarietyoforalinterpretationandpublicspeakingevents.Theoptionsstudentscanchoosetoperformincludethefollowing:IDA(ImpromptuDuetAct),seriousorhumoroussolo,seriousorhumorousduetacting,

prose,poetry,oration,informativespeech,extemporaneousspeaking,andimpromptuspeaking.IDAconsistsoftwopeopledrawingacharacter,situation,andlocation.Thetwowillhave30minutestoprepareascenewhichisnoshorterthanfourminutesandnolongerthanseven.ChellcyMiller,asecondyearforensicator,said,“IDAisalotharderthanitsounds.Youhavetothinkonthespotandworktogetherwithapartnertomakeagoodperformance.Eventhoughit’sdifficult,Iloveit.”Inextemptspeaking,

studentswillagaindrawtopicsandhave30minutestowriteaspeech.Judgestakeintoconsiderationhowthespeechisstructuredandoverallpresentation.Onlyonenotecardisallowed.Thespeechshouldbeatleastfourminutesbutnolongerthanseven.Impromtuspeakingissimilar,butabitmorecomplicated.Astudentdrawsatopicbutonlyhasfiveminutestowriteaspeechreflectingtheirselectedtopic.Onceagain,onlyonenotecardispermitted.Studentswhochooseprosemustperformastoryorcollection

ofrelatedstorieswhicharenolongerthansevenminutesinlength.Whilesolosandduetsarememorized,proseisnot.Withthis,forensicatorsmustalsorelymainlyonfacialexpressions,handgestures,bodylanguage,andvoicetotelltheirstoriesduetothefactthattheirmovementislimited.Poetryisrelatedtoprosebecauseinthisevent,studentsaresimplyperforminganunmemorizedpoemorcollectionofrelatedpoemswiththesametimelimitasinprose.Movementsarelimitedinpoetry,aswell.Orationandinformativespeechrequirestudentstowritespeechesbeforehandontheirown.Withoration,thepresentationmustbepersuasive.Aninformativespeechisexactlywhatitsoundslike.

MitchellMikinski,oneofthemanynewtoforensicsthisyear,isexcitedtogetthisseasongoing.Heparticipatedindebatelastsemester,alsotaughtbyMs.Knowles.“Ithinkdebatewillhelpmewithforensics.”Mitchellsaid,“Itgavemesomeexperiencewithspeakinginfrontofpeople.”Hewillbedoingahumorousduetandaninformativespeech.Mitchelladded,“Idon’tknowifI’lllikeforensicsmorethandebate.ItdependsonwhichIendupwinninginthemost.”Itwillbeexcitingtoseewhattheforensicators,newandold,candothisyear!Let’shopeforasuccessful,winningseason.Foranyonewhoisinterestedinjoining,attheendoftheyearseniorsgetthechancetoperformforanaudiencehereatBLHS.Students,families,andfacultyareinvitedtowatchforensicmembersperformtheirpieces.

Forensics: Not Just For Dead PeopleBy:AllisonCrist

ForensicsstudentspracticeIDAperformances.Left:SophomoreZachFisherandJuniorLukeMcGowan.Top:JuniorsChellcyMillerandAllisonCristwithsophomoreJordanEriksen.Bottom:JuniorClaytonKaminskiandfreshmanDavidWhaley.Right:JuniorsZachCroussandTannerTavis.

what you don’t know.....

Over 800 million unique users visit YouTube each month

Over 4 billion hours of video are watched each month on YouTube

72 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute70% of YouTube tra�c comes from outside the US

localized in 43 countries and across 60 languages

In 2011, YouTube had more than 1 trillion views or around 140 views for every person on Earth

Today’ssocietyisverydifferentthanwhatitusedtobe.Forinstance,technologicalandculturaladvanceshaveaffectedthewaywelive.However,someofthesedifferentthingscanreallyaffectyouandyourbody,suchastanning.Mostkidsages10to19aretanningtoday,andalotofthemdon’tknowtheeffectsofit.FirstaretherayscalledUVrays,whichareverydangerousforyourskin.Whentheyhityourskin,enzymesreacttoprotectyourbody,butnotallofthemdo;someof

themmutateandtheyenhancetheriskofskincancer.SeniorMaddyMikinskisaid,“Iamnotabigtannerbecause,mostdays,Idon’tthinkI’dbeabletositstillthatlong;IalsofeellikeI’mviolatingmyNorthernEuropeanroots.”Onetypeofskincanceriscalledmelanoma,whichisthemostcommonskincancer.Anothertypeofskincanceriscalledcellcarcinoma.Melanomacanbeeasilyremovedifcaughtintimebutinalotofcasesitisn’tanditspreads.Onceitspreads,itismuch

hardertoremove;mostofthetimeit’simpossible.TheSkinCancerFoundationsaysthatfivesunburnsasachilddoublesthechancesofdevelopingmelanoma.Usingatanningbedbeforetheageof35increasestheriskofmelanomaby75percent.Agingisanothersideeffect.Notliterallygettingold,butlookingold.Yourskinwillstarttoturnleatheryandgetmoresaggy.Doyoureallywantyourskintofeellikeyourboyfriend’sjacket?Whenyouwalkintoatanningsalon,they

willstrivetosavetheirbusiness,ofcourse,becausetheyhavetomakealiving.TheysaythattanninggivesyoumoreVitaminDbutreallyitdoesn’t;itkillsyourskin’sfertility.SophomoreElissaFreemiresaid,“Idon’treallycarewhatpeopledo.It’stheiropinion;theyknowthesideeffects.”Tanningbedsdon’tjustaffecttheskin,theyalsoaffecttheeyes.Someeyeproblemsthatcanbecausedarephotokeratitisandphotoconjunctives,whichisinflationofthecornea.California

evenputanagelimitforpeopletotanfrom18oryoungerwithoutaparentsconsent.Gettingatancanbeverydangerous.Therearemanyotherthingsthatyoucandotogetatanwithouthurtingyourbody,forinstanceaspraytanorjustkeepingtheskinthatGodgaveyou.Isitreallyworthkillingyourbodytolookgoodduringafewmonths?Getaspraytan,stayhealthy,andlivelonger.

A Take on Tanning By:LizMorris

DesignedbyAliPatterson

Thisyear,youmayhaveseenHeatherFranciswan-deringthehalls.YoumayalsohaveseenheronthefootballfieldlastSeptemberacceptingthecrownforBLHS’2013homecomingqueen.Maybeyou’veheardhersupersoniclaughter.And,yes,she’stheredhead.Allherlife,Francishasbeenidentified–andjokedabout–asaredhead.Herredcurlyhairisprettynoticeableanddrawsattentionbutsomethingthatmostpass-ersby–andjokesters–don’trealizeisthatherhairusedtobestraight.That’sright.Francis’simpossiblycurlyhairwasstraightatonetime.Bythetimeshereachedkindergarten,though,ithadturnedintothecurlyhairweknowandlovetoday.Thoughtheredhairisanattentiongrabber,onceyoustarttalkingtoFrancisaboutpianoorherfamilyorwhatevertheatreproductionshe’scurrentlyin,youseeawholenewsidetoredheads.Youlearnthat,yes,redheadsdohaveasoul.Youalsolearnthatthisparticularredheadhasagiftformusic.Sincethirdgrade,FrancishasbeentakingfrompianolessonsfrommusicteacherLauraBeeves.She’salsobeenapartofthestatepianofestivaleveryyearsinceshewasafreshman.Duringhercareer,Francishasplayedeverythingfromsolfeggiettostosonantinastosongsaboutfreighttrains.Hersophomoreyear,whensheearnedaoneratingatsubstateandcontinuedontothestatepianocompetition,herpiecewastitledAllegroBurlesco(Kuhlau).Francismakesplayingthepianolooksimple.SheeasilyputsthoseprodigytoddlersonYouTubetoshame.

What’shersecret?Hardmusic.“Ilikethechallengeofnotbeingabletoplaysomethingandworkinghard,”shesaid.Thiscaneasilyberepre-sentedinthisyear’sstatepiece,“MarchoftheDwarfs”(Grieg),whichshehasyettocompletelylearn.“MarchoftheDwarfs”isasongcom-prisingofoctavesandspeedthatleavesFrancis’swristssoreafterplaying,whichsheenjoys.Infactsheaskedforit.Lastsummer,Francis

askedBeevesforthehardestpianopieceshecouldfind.She’sbeenpracticingeversince.Spendingninemonthsonthesamesongcouldproveoneoftwothings:(1)she’sverydedicatedandlovesmusicor(2)she’sagluttonforpunishment.TheExpressoptsforoptiontwo.Whatmakesherpianoplayingevenmoreremark-ableisthefactshehasfivedistractingolderbrothershangingaround.FiveolderbrothersmaydiminishpracticetimebutitalsomeansthatFrancishashadherfairshareofteasing.

Thetwobrothersclosesttoherageweretheworseevengoingsofarastodressherinanawfulshirtwithabearonthefrontwhenshewaslittle.Shedescribesherchild-hoodassittingbackandwatchingherbrothersmakemistakesandgetpunishedforthem.Sometimes,sheevengotthemintroubleherself.Allofthoseloudboyshadaneffectonherschoollifeaswell.“Ithinkthat[loud

brothers]iswhyIwasshyinschool.”IfFrancisneededsome-wheretocomeoutofhershell,shefounditintheBLHStheatreprogram.Onedaywhenshewasasophomore,FranciswaswalkingbydramateacherRebeccaKnowles’roomwhengraduatedseniorsShelbyMcGheeandDan-ielleRidderpulledherinsidetoauditionwiththemfortheplayCurseoftheCobra’sKiss.SheendedupdancingtotheBobbyPickettsong“MonsterMash”forthepre-show.ForthespringplayUndertheInfluence,she

playedthecharacterofKris,agirlwhosemomabuseddrugs.“Afterthatplay,Ilovedplays,”sherecalled.HernextproductionwasalittlebitmorejovialwithWillyWonka.Herjunioryear,shestarredasMrs.BucketoppositeofPatrickMcKechnie,senior.Shehadablast.“Afterthatmusical,IdecidedthatIlikemusicalsmorethanplays.”Thatsameyear,sheactedinLarcenyandOldLace,aparodyofthemysteryplay

ArsenicandOldLace.Thistime,shestarredasthefainting,oddfiancé.“Iwasaweirdo,”sheadmitted.Inthatspring’splay,ThePrincessKing,sheplayedleadDanielleRid-der’sbestfriend/servant.Inthisyear’smu-sical,TheWizardofOz,FrancisappearedasthemayorofMunchk-inville.Itwasodd,shesaid,aseveryothermunchkinwastallerthanher.Forthisyear’s

winterplay,Headin’FortheHills,FrancisstarsasSally,apublishinghouseemployeewhoventuresintotheun-knownsofhillbillyterritorytosavehersinkingpublish-ingcompany.WithFrancisalongsideTannerTavis,junior,thisplayissuretobeagoodone.SonexttimeyouseeHeatherFrancisinthehallway,askheraboutherpianocareer,orwhenher“ISurvivedFiveBrothers”awardisarriving.Orevenjustsay“hi”.Ifyouwanttoseeherinaction,comebackonFebruary7,8,or9toseeheronstage.

F a b u l o u s l y F r a n c i sBy:MaddyMikinski

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Want to CONTRIBUTE PHOTOS to the BLHS yearbook and newspaper? Our publications are more interactive now than ever before! Go to www.replayit.com and register for an account with BLHS. The password is bobcats1. You can upload your photos directly on to this site.

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