Editors

Alex Agee

Aubrey Andrews

Mackenzie Clark

Corena Hasselle

Sarah Hasselle

Katherine Keller

Sydney McNeill

Ravi Patel

Eri Sugiyama

Emily Taylor

Maria Yousuf

Staff

Johni Armstrong

Elizabeth Butler

Mary Byars

Jesse Cochran

Andrew Collier

Lindsey Dunn

Jed Finley

Natalie Hampton

Emily Jackson

Kent Kirby

Hailey McKee

Mary Catherine Newbill

Sydney Robey

Suzanne Schultz

Laurie Williams

Shehla Yousuf

Advisors

Suzanne Edwards

Trojan Torch

Dyersburg High School

125 Hwy. 51 By-Pass

Dyersburg, TN 38024

table of contents

trojan

torch

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Letters to the editor can be on any topic or of any length. They may be editedLetters to the editor can be on any topic or of any length. They may be edited

for length or libelous content. Letters to the editor are accepted in room 220.for length or libelous content. Letters to the editor are accepted in room 220.

Volume 45

Issue 1

15

16

17

18

20

21

22

24

25

26

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Front Renovations

Parking Lot Changes

Choir

Lunch Policies

Library

Downtown

Curiosity Rover

Construction Editorial

Road Rage

Chick-Fil-A Controversy

Freshman Advice

Second Languages

Yoga And Tai Chi

Teacher From Gambia

Football

Athlete Parking

Michael Phelps

Usain Bolt/Gabby Douglas

Higher Power

Taken 2

news

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Jesse Cochran

Reporter

This spring word was out that renovations would be madeto the entrance of the school in order to allow greater ac-cess to the library and less parking lot confusion.

Most students expected the renovations to the library to becomplete by the beginning of the new school year. However, stu-dents learned that the completion date is slated for November.

“I could not wait to use the new library after summer,” juniorCrystal Lawrence said.

“We have had very little rain this summer, and the weatherhas been perfect for construction,” principal Jon Frye said.

“There have been few obstacles in the new renovations, andconstruction should be completed by the first of November,” Fryesaid.

The purpose of the renovations is not only to give the buildinga new look but also to allow easier access to the library. Whenrenovations are complete, the library will be open from 7 a.m.until 5 p.m and will be compliant with requirements made by theAmericans with Disablities Act, being wheelchair accessible, forexample.

A notable architectural feature is the curve at the top of theaddition, reminiscent of the Trojan helmet crest.

“There will be a new elevator and staircase, and there will benew ADA compliant restrooms available for use. There will benew doorways to enter the library. The administration has notyet decided who will work in the library during its new hours,”librarian Patricia Twilla said.

While the library and the front entrance are the biggest reno-vations being made to the school, it is not the only one. A new

front parking lot has been added for faculty and staff, and alongwith the new parking lot came new entering and exiting proce-dures.

All vehicles except for assigned faculty vehicles will enter viathe east drive of the campus. During school hours, all studentsand parents will enter the building through the east office, alsoknown as the student office, which was completed this summer.

“I cannot wait to see the school after the renovations are com-plete,” sophomore Jayvon Treadway said.

Photos by Elizabeth Butler

Renovations add ADA compliant school entrance

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Maria Yousuf

Editor

Over the summer, Dyers-burg High School im-plemented a series of

changes to the campus and fi-nally brought about the long-awaited renovations to theschool, with major changes tothe front of the building andthe parking lot.

Alterations to the parking lotinclude the removal of thesemicircle entrance and exitpreviously at the front of theschool.

The numbers on individualparking spots were also refur-bished. Some spots weretaken from the side of theschool to allow for a widerlane coming in, but studentshave also been allotted morespace in the East parking lot.

As for funding, the schoolsystem is drawing from itsown resources.

“We are able to renovatewithin our regular budgetwithout need of externalsources,” principal Jon Fryesaid.

Faculty seem to be reactingpositively to the adjustments.

“I!like the fact that all theteachers park together,” mathteacher Theresa Maxwell said.

“It’ll be worth it when it’s alldone, and we can park outthere together,” secretaryAthena Kanable said. “It helpsfor the tailgate parties.”

Furthermore, the school’sthree major sports--football,baseball and basketball--haveall been allotted specific park-ing areas, raising inquiries asto the reason.

“The biggest concern waseverybody moving duringschool,” assistant principal JoyNorman said. “We’re trying to prevent any kind of accident

from occurring and make abetter situation out of it.”

Another issue is the con-gestion brought on by currentparking arrangements, whichare to the extent that teachersthemselves have been assist-ing directing traffic.

“Congestion will stop onceparents understand how tonavigate the new flow,” Nor-man said.

One of the changes parentsand students are learning toadapt to is entering throughwhat used to be an exit drivein the front.

“The main reason we madethat an entrance is becausegoing out is a traffic hazard,”Norman said.

A few goals for the renova-tion were clear from the start.“It’s easier to ensure a broad

scope for cameras this way,and during fire drills studentsaren’t too close to teachers’cars. Also, since all the teach-ers enter through one doornow, they have a lot less diffi-culty remembering to checkin,” Norman said.

Students shared varyingopinions.

“It’s annoying. I had tochange my route,” juniorMason Little said. “It justseems more chaotic.”

“I’m glad they repainted thelines and the numbers,” seniorJosh Williams said.

Overall, prospects for thenew parking lot are pleasingofficials.

“I think we’re all figuring itout,” Norman said.

“We are clearing the parkinglot by 3:20 every day,” Fryesaid. “Although it will taketime, everyone is adjusting re-ally well.”

Students, faculty adjust to parking lot changes

Photos by Maria Yousuf

The parking lot is now student-friendly because of the newly painted

parking lot numbers and the extra room.

The staff parking lot in the front of the school was expanded this sum-

mer to allow for more convenient parking.

trojan torch 5

Lindsey DunnReporter

Choir has new plans forthis school year. Team-ing up with Thomas

Tours Inc., director Chris Davishas planned a trip to Chicagofor dedicated junior and seniorchoir students. The planneddate for this excursion isMarch 22 through March 25.

Several museum visits andmusical events have been setup for the students to see,such as the Navy Pier, TheShedd Aquarium, The FieldMuseum of Natural History,The Observation Deck of TheWillis Tower, The Museum ofScience and Industry and aconcert by The Chicago Sym-phony Orchestra. The choirstudents will also have thechance to present one of theirown pieces at The Field Mu-seum of Natural History.

“I hope everybody gets theopportunity (to go), and I amexcited to learn more aboutmusic,” senior AutumnWilliams said.

One of the major burdensthat falls upon this trip is theexpenses. The estimated costper student is $655.00. How-ever, Davis has planned for thechoir to fundraise a large por-tion, if not all, of the costs toeliminate the responsibilityfrom the students. He hopesto accomplish this goalthrough the support of theparents and community.

Why Chicago? “It provides a deeper expe-

rience,” Davis said. Chicago was chosen be-

cause of the international feelof the city. It provides abroader perspective for thestudents through the differentstyle and time periods pre-

sented throughout the city. “I look for individual musical

growth of each member, tech-nically and artistically. Forthem to become better andmore intelligent musicians andbe more knowledgable of howto use their voices well over

the course of their lifetime,”Davis said.

Davis hopes to make travel-ing a biannual tradition for the choir. The trip will give all choirstudents the chance at somepoint in their high school ca-reer to travel to a different

area without losing their ap-preciation of visiting new sites.

“The class continues to letme do what I love doing, andthese individuals let me con-tinue to push them in everypossible area,” Davis said.

Choir: Exploring new ranges

Photos by Lindsey Dunn

While testing a new singing arrangement, choir director Chris Davis pauses to explain the origin of a

work to the advanced choir, mostly comprised of juniors and seniors.

Davis engages advanced choir members in the mastering of the more complicated rhythms for their up-

coming All West Honor Choir auditions in October.

M.C. Newbill

Reporter

The new school year has started, and fewer items are onthe lunch tray than in previous years. As a result ofMichelle Obama’s campaign for childrens’ health, the

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act has been established in schoolcafeterias across the country.

Some requirements of the policy may be very noticeable, suchas the essential fruit or vegetable on a tray, but many specifi-cations are not. The calorie intake of a person is based ongrade; for example, grades 9-12 must have a minimum of 750calories and a maximum of 850 calories per plate.

Also, fat must be less than ten percent of the serving, andsodium can be no more than 740 mg. Many changes are simply

healthier alternatives to less nutritious foods. Meat portions areconsidered 2-3 oz per serving. Milk must be 1% or skim, andover half of the grains offered must be whole grain.

Fruits and vegetables are thought of as a substitute to formerfrench fries and potato chips. Although french fries and breadedfoods are still offered, the food is baked instead of fried.

Another noticeable difference in the cafeteria is the price.Lunches have jumped up approximately $0.25. Although thepurchase of fresh produce is expensive and mandatory with thenew policy, its price is not a contributing factor to the price leap.

“Gas prices are up,” cafeteria assistant-manager Marie Walkersaid. “Food prices are up in general.”

The cafeteria staff is ahead of the curve when it comes to nu-tritious lunches. The sodium and fat reductions were appliedlast school year. The ladies also worked to ensure students re-ceived enough whole grains. As for baking instead of frying,they have been doing that for years.

The students have mixed views when it comes to the Healthy,Hunger-Free Kids Act.

“I didn’t know anything about the new food policy,” juniorPaul House said. “It really didn’t bother me.”

Even though the guidelines to the new act do not affect moststudents, the athletes are some of the few that feel the change.

“It’s hard for me to get through soccer practice,” sophomoreAmanda Sanchez said. “I usually run home and get a quicksnack before practice starts.”

“The policy does not give us enough food in our bodies toget through practice with the best of our abilities. We end upgetting an extra entree or snack to help,” junior Wilson Arm-strong said.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act appears to be here to stay.

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Students adjust to Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act

Photos by M.C. Newbill

Students partake in the healthier selections the cafeteria offers this

year because of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.Junior Bethany Brashier helps herself to fresh fruit from the cafeteria

line as a healthy alternative to sugary and highly refined treats.

Shehla Yousuf

Reporter

McIver’s Grant Public Library is offi-cially moving locations. Presentlysituated on 204 North Mill Av-

enue, as of the end of this year the li-brary will be located at 416 W. Court, or,as Dyersburgians, who have beenaround a while, may know the site of theold Cable One store and Piggly Wiggly.

The rebuilding will be complete beforethe end of the year, and the library willhave everything moved in by New Year’s.

Supporters of the new building havemanaged to raise $2 million of their $3million goal.

This success is partly due to the li-brary’s Board of Directors going out toindividuals and asking for donations andlibrary patrons pitching in to help.

“We appreciate all of it,” children’s li-brarian Lara Freidhof said.

The new library will have a vast num-ber of added features. There will be achildren’s section, a story time room anda community meeting room for smallgroups.

“There may even be a coffee bar,”director Sharon Simpson said. “It’s goingto be interesting.”

The list goes on. There are plans for a

garden along the outside wall and a teensection. Simpson added that they willhave three times as many computers,which she believes will draw new libraryusers.There are a number of reasons for the

move. The library is landlocked and un-able to experience any real growth. Thebuilding is not large enough to house thegrowing inventory of books, movies andaudio tapes.

The main reason for the transfer, how-ever, is that it is not ADA compliant.There are currently no proper wheelchairramps, which poses a problem for dis-abled patrons.

There are high hopes for the new li-brary, but there is history that will be leftbehind in the old building.

“It’s been the library building since1966 and before that it was the Post Of-fice,” Simpson said. “It was built in 1912so the building is 100 years old. It’s seena lot of people come and go,” Simpsonsaid.

“It’s really cool,” freshman ChanelleStokley said.

trojan torch 7

Public library makes major changes

Photos by Shehla Yousuf

McIver!s Grant Public Library is being relocated from North Mill Avenue to West Court Street downtown across from City Hall. The new li-

brary is still in progress, but is shaping up on schedule as construction contiues.

Downtown historic district gains ‘1920s feel’ with recent renovationsCorena Hasselle

Business Manager

If citizens of Dyersburg were to take a walk or make a

drive through downtown, they would notice improve-

ments to the area as a whole, as well as patterned side-

walks and new street lamps modeled after a 1920s or 1930s

look.The Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce,

through its Main Street program, designed the new street

lamps and sidewalk plans before the added help of Askew,

Hargraves & Harcourt architectural firm.

The new lighting models the light standards of the 1920s

and also has a permanent mount for the new Christmas ban-

ners to debut this year. The new banners also fit the 1920s

feel and were paid for by private donations in exchange for

advertising.“We wanted one-of-a-kind lighting, and we definitely got

one-of-a-kind lighting; probably nowhere in the United States

does any town have this,” director of Downtown Develop-

ment Steve Guttery said.“The new lights have Metal Halide (MH) lamps. Unlike the

ugly red glow of High Pressure Sodium (HPS), they are a full

spectrum light that saves energy and reveals true color at

night. There’s always a tradeoff when you go for aesthetics.

HPS doesn’t attract insects. MH does,” Guttery said.

The lamps are about ten thousand dollars apiece and are

taller than average street lamps to meet modern lighting

codes.“The Chamber originally wanted dogwood symbols also to

be engraved into the light poles because it is the trademark

tree of Dyersburg. The company hired for the production of

the street lamps left that detail out,” Guttery said.

The sidewalks were replaced with ADA!compliant, brick

banded concrete, featuring a three-diamond design that

matches the three-diamond accents on each side of the

courthouse. While the sidewalks were being renovated, contractors took

the opportunity to repair the water mains, underground

sewage and plumbing that have not been touched in about

100 years. In fact a hidden water valve was found when workers were

digging.“When they lifted the dirt from it, it ruptured. Water was

running down to the end of the street, and the city officials

had to rush to find the cut off valve. Had this not been dis-

covered, it would have eventually broken under ground and

could have created a large cavern. It was fixed, but you won-

der what would have happened if it wasn’t discovered,” Gut-

tery said.“Most of the utilities in the buildings on the square come

from the back of the buildings, so we were lucky,” Guttery

said.

“The renovations could really help out businesses.

People will want to wander downtown to look at the new im-

provements and then see the Recycling Bin. Therefore,

maybe the business will get more foot traffic,” Recycling Bin

employee William Troy said. The federal program that helped provide the money to

start Dyersburg’s downtown project is the Transportation En-

hancement Program (TEP). According to its online descrip-

tion, the project sponsor or applicant has to pay for the

project and request reimbursement upon completion of work.

The program also requires the sponsor to share in the cost

of each project by providing a minimum matching share

of at least 20% of the total project cost.

The TEP money comes in a series of phases and is meant

to be specifically used for pedestrian advancement; there-

fore, sidewalks, street lights and street lamps were basically

the only options for TEP money use.“Not money for roads, but money for advancement of citi-

zens getting around better on foot or wheelchairs; the goal is

to make downtown more accessible for everyone,” Guttery

said.Main Street Dyersburg coordinated Phase I (Courthouse

Square) with the Dyer County government providing the

matching funds. Main Street then coordinated Phase II and

III with the City of Dyersburg providing the match. A pro-

posed phase IV is on hold for one year because of a lack of

match funding in the city budget.Main Street was going to replace the traffic signals at two

intersections on the square, but had four-way stops built in

for the meantime.

Downtown Dyersburg has experienced several new additions to

its architecture, including new sidewalks and lamp posts.

Photo Courtesy of Dennis McCaig

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trojan torch 9

Ravi Patel

Website Manager

Rockets, cranes and aliens all have one thing in common:NASA's new Curiosity rover. The rover, a part of the MarsScience Laboratory mission, successfully touched down

on the surface of Mars on August 6.The physical rover is the most advanced technology that NASA

has sent into space. The 2.5 billion dollar machine weighs in atnearly 2,000 pounds and is powered by a radioisotope powersystem that is fueled by plutonium. The brain of the rover con-tains 256MB of RAM and 2GB of memory. While it may seemthat these specifications are slightly outdated, every componenton the Curiosity rover is designed to withstand brutal treatmentfrom the Martian atmosphere.

The Mars Science Laboratory mission, established on Novem-ber 26, 2011, was started to analyze the red planet’s soil andclimate to detect if Mars, at any point in its lifetime, was/is ableto support life.

Curiosity, named by a sixth grader, has a variety of instru-ments on board, including various sensors, a microscope and alaser. Yes, Curiosity has an onboard laser capable of vaporizinga small rock.

The landing of Curiosity was particularly odd because no prior-used landing technique would be compatible with the small-carsized rover. NASA’s team decided to use an unprecedented land-ing sequence involving a rocket-powered skycrane. After pierc-ing the Martian atmosphere at nearly 8,000 mph, the Curiositymodule deployed a parachute system to bring the rover andskycrane near the Martian surface. Once in range, the skycranegently lowered the rover onto the Martian surface.

After landing, Curiosity was destined to spend the next coupleof days performing check ups of its onboard instruments. Afterthe green light from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Curiositywill spend the next 23 months traveling along the Gale Crateranalyzing Mars for signs of life.

If Curiosity is able to bring back signs of life, the evidence

would cause biologists to re-evaluate the characteristics of whatis considered “life.”

“I hope this will open up more funding for NASA,” senior SamWebb said.

Even President Obama decided to chime in by personally con-gratulating the team behind Curiosity.

“I support NASA 100 percent,” senior Darian Harris said.“The findings are exciting and have the potential to change

the very definition and description of life,” biology teacher Deb-

orah Gatlin said.

NASA searches for life on Mars

jpl.nasa.gov

Innovative skycrane lowers National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-

tration!s Curiosity rover onto Martian surface on August 6, 2012.

“During a year-long delay we got so many compliments onthe ‘friendliness’ of the four-way stops that we decided just tokeep them,” Guttery said.

“I think the renovations really improve the look of down-town. The four-way stops lead to a friendlier, small town feel.The cross walks are improved and the sidewalks have a greatbrick design,” City Drug pharmacist Christi Jacobi said.“Mayor John Holden asked the Tennessee Department ofTransportation if four-way stops would be okay for downtown,and they strongly advised against it, but they told us it waslegal,” Guttery said, “We already have wires installed if weever go back to streetlights.”

“The renovations greatly add to the downtown area, and Ihope that downtown traffic picks up and plenty of new busi-nesses open,” Specialty Cakes owner Michelle Byars said.

Although the Chamber had been talking about renovations

for a while, the original start to the downtown project cameafter Dyersburg Electric reported that the light pole baseswere starting to become unsafe after being there for so long.The Chamber also wanted to renovate in hopes that morebusinesses would move into the historic district and morepeople would enjoy walking around.

“The improvements increase accessibility to the courthouseand to the store. They also make it easier to walk around thesquare,” Jacobi said.

“The renovations add character to the downtown area. Itgives the place a more modern look. This could help withbringing in new businesses to the downtown area,” Troy said.

“As downtown improves with new sidewalks and roads,people will be drawn to the area more. Hopefully, more busi-nesses will consider moving downtown,” Jacobi said.

10 trojan torch

editorialsFront of school undergoes lengthy renovationsStaff Editorial

In the past few years, the student body has had one surething to look forward to at the start of each year: change.Continuing with this ongoing tradition, the administrators

have introduced not only new policies from the dress code’s ad-dition of the color gray to federal legislation concerning newlunch regulations, but also a new office location, new ISS loca-tion and new parking lot procedures.

The most recent changes are linked to the renovation of thefront of the building. This facelift to the front of the school is

clearly costly.

To allow students after-hours access to the library, which was

remodeled two years ago, administrators decided further reno-vations needed to be made; however, is education not more im-portant than the appearance and cost of renovating the frontof the school building?

Another pressing question regards actual use of the libraryby students. Since the year started, the library has quickly mor-phed into a morning hangout, because anything is better thanthe gym. How many students use the library for early-morningstudying, and how many simply grab a laptop and type an s toreach their favorite blocked site? How many go to check out abook, and how many go to lounge in the comfy chairs? The li-brary should be used as a serious place of literary entertainmentor study. More often than not, the library is no longer a quietsanctuary for the studious. Despite the best efforts of staff,some students are still taking ad-vantage of this privilege.

The money for thisconstruction is com-ing directly out ofthe school’sb u d g e t .T h e r es h o u l dbe noi n -

creased taxes as long as contributions from the state do not de-cline, according to principal Jon Frye.

Although this expense is not hurting anyone’s paycheck, the

money could have been used in better ways. For example, in-

stead of renovating the front of the building for aesthetic pur-poses, the administrators could have chosen small renovationsthroughout the whole school, such as bringing older classroomsup-to-date, improving science labs, renovating bathrooms to re-place missing doors or replacing old lockers on the second floor.

Large renovations such as this, even when construction startsin the summer, take longer than smaller renovations.

Consequently, construction is occuring during school hours.From eight o’clock to three o’clock in the afternoon, while stu-dents try to focus on their work, some classes near the front ofthe school are contaminated with noise pollution. This pastweek tar fumes wafted through halls and classrooms. Whilenot all classes are disturbed by the construction, for many it isan unnecessary distraction.

One reason for renovations, other than refreshing the lookof the school and making it ADA compliant, is to allow easieraccess to the library after hours.

With a new public library and a new library at the college,

how many people will benefit from after-hours access? Willenough students utilize the library to make it worth the money?

Tutoring in the library before and after school would be helpfulif students actually take advantage of the opportunity and if thelibrary does not turn into an after-school hangout. We hope theadministration will address this concern.

With all these inconveniences, we hope the renovation willpay off with increased use of the library’s resources and that byearly November, when the construction is set to be finished, theschool will look up-to-date, operate more efficiently, and mostimportantly, better serve the educational needs of its students.

Photo by Elizabeth Butle�

Laurie WilliamsAssistant Editor

Road rage is often thought of as something everyone doeswhen the motorist in front of her is driving ten milesbelow the speed limit or another car cuts her off. In ac-

tuality, road rage is a much more serious offense that causesinjuries and even deaths every year.

According to howstuffworks.com, most people believe thatroad rage is caused by feeling rushed, speeding and gettingstuck in traffic. Behaviors resulting from aggressive driving caninclude honking the horn, quickly changing lanes without usingturn signals, running red lights or stop signs, preventing driversfrom passing and making obscene gestures at other drivers.

A national survey administered by Response Insurance foundthat men are slightly more likely than women to experience roadrage and that men between the ages of 18 and 24 are moresusceptible to it than older drivers. People with children in thecar and cell phone users are also more likely to act aggressivelytowards other motorists.

Between 2003 and 2007, 119,475 people were killed in caraccidents in which the driver or passengers behaved in a seem-ingly hostile way towards the person or people in another vehi-cle. That is nearly 120,000 lives that could have been spared if

drivers could have controlled the temptations brought on byroad rage.

One way to avoid losing self-control is getting enough sleep.Being tired while driving can increase irritability, which can leadto road rage.

Also, allowing plenty of time to reach a destination can de-crease the likeliness of aggressive driving, since some driversbecome hostile if they feel that they are being rushed or aregoing to be late to something important.

Finally, venting frustrations over unruly behavior of other driv-ers is not considered the best course of action. Even though let-ting anger out might seem like it would help the situation,releasing displeasure about other drivers can actually increasea driver’s sense of urgency and dissatisfaction. It is better tojust presume that the other driver did not mean anything an-tagonistic by his or her actions and to move on from the inci-dent.

While it is easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment,it is important to remember that a car is a weapon that can doserious damage and cause fatalities. No matter how irritatingor out of line other drivers become, keeping a level head whiledriving and not letting the situation escalate are essential tosaving lives on the road, maybe even your own.

trojan torch 11

Road rage proves to be deadly habit

Corena Hasselle and Natalie HamptonBusiness Manager and Reporter

Chick-fil-A’s “Cow Appreciation Day” on August 1 became aday of extreme controversy after Chick-fil-A president DanCathy mentioned during his interview with Baptist Press

that when it comes to his anti-gay stance, he is “guilty ascharged,” according to MSNBC.

Gay rights advocates and anti-gay supporters responded bysuch means as rude messages on Facebook, public affection,protests outside of Chick-fil-A and acts of vandalism or oppres-sion to those of opposing views.

Yes, Cathy had the right to exercise his freedom of speech. Itis obvious that he may oppose gay rights because he is of aconservative Christian faith, and his restaurant chain is directedto be closed specifically on Sundays.

Not only is his restaurant chain good enough proof of his anti-gay beliefs, but Cathy’s charity arm also donated 2 million dol-lars to anti-gay political groups in 2010.

“I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation whenwe shake our fist at Him and say, ‘We know better than you asto what constitutes a marriage,’” Cathy said, according toMSNBC.

The leading source of the conflict was not the statement Cathymade but the reaction it caused. Because of the differing opin-ions of Americans on the subject of gay marriage, many peoplewere disturbed by the comments posted on Facebook or otheronline accounts.

Those of strong anti-gay beliefs committed themselves to join-ing the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on Facebook, and someposted quotes from the Bible, explaining the believed sin ofequal marriage for all.

While anti-gay advocates enjoyed their sandwiches, mostequal marriage advocates protested openly about the fact thatChick-fil-A’s Appreciation Day seemed to turn into a day of hatetowards their beliefs.

Some, but not all, advocates for equal marriage respondedwith a “Chick-fil-A kiss in,” using public affection outside of theirlocal Chick-fil-A restaurants as a simple means of protest.

Starbucks, along with a few other companies who supportgay marriage, countered Chick-fil-A’s views, offering support forsame-sex couples by creating a “Starbucks Appreciation Day.”However, the day was renamed “National Equality Day” when,according to Equality Wed, a magazine dedicated to gay wed-dings, Starbucks pushed organizers to include other companies.

12 trojan torch

Chick-fil-A’s ‘Appreciation Day’

Photos courtesy of Mark Weber

The manager of a Chick-fil-A shows his enthusiasm for the abundance of customers at the restaurant on August 1. Although no numbers

have been reported, the restaurant!s executive vice-president of marketing, Steve Robinson, confirms that it was a record-breaking day.

trojan torch 13

causes gay rights controversyAlso, the Jim Hansen Muppet company, the provider for Chick-

fil-A’s kid meal toys, announced that the company would nolonger provide for Chick-fil-A and that it would donate the moneyreceived from Chick-fil-A to GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian AllianceAgainst Defamation), a gay rights advocacy group.However, both viewpoints went a little too far, shown by a fewturning to vandalism toward Chick-fil-A along with some violenceand rude comments.

If anti-gay marriage groups depend on Christianity as theirdefense against it, then they are missing the point of the UnitedStates’ separation of church and state: the belief that govern-ment decisions should not be affected by a certain religion orreligions. This usually proves to be better for the country be-cause it gives every person the ability to practice her beliefs inthe way that she wants to.

With that being said, it should not matter to the country as awhole what the Bible says about marriage. The Bible can be ofutmost importance to the people who believe in Christ, but acountry that is as diverse in religion as the United States cannotsolely recognize the Bible without discriminating against otherreligions.

However, if anti-gay rights advocates believe the liberal ideaof such a thing as same-sex marriage is repulsive from their ownstandpoint, that is another issue.

The supporters of gay marriage will likely continue to try topersuade government until a law is passed, but of course it maybe one hundred and fifty years until the government decides totouch the topic again.

The truth is gay marriage has a strong chance eventually tobe legal in all of the United States.

However, if President Obama is re-elected, equal marriage ad-vocates have yet another chance to succeed.

Obama recently stated in a campaign speech that he approvesgay marriage and wishes to legalize gay marriage in the last fouryears of his term if he is re-elected.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, however, does

not believe in the rights of gay couples and takes a more Biblicalapproach to the subject.

The United States Congress is currently made up of mostlyRepublicans, but power in the House and Senate could shift inthe next year when 33 seats in the Senate will be up for re-elec-tion.

The acceptance of varying kinds of marriage will evolve overtime to match the views of the current society. If equal marriageis not fully accepted within society now, it will become so later.

A supporter of Cathy!s view on same-sex marriage displays her

opinion with a sign outside of a Chick-fil-A restaurant.Eager customers wait in a crowded Chick-fil-A on “Appreciation Day.”

Some restaurants ran out of chicken because of the extra business.

14 trojan torch

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Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. for high schoolers

Igniting a passion for God and His Word

trojan torch 15

Hailey McKee

Reporter

Coming into high school is truly a living and learning expe-rience. Freshmen come to a new school with a clean slateand are faced with multiple opportunities to both keep it

clean and to mess it up. Navigating through the stress, decisionsand obstacles of high school are not the easiest things to do,but a little advice from those who have experienced it them-selves could be helpful to this year’s freshmen.

Upon stepping into Dyersburg High School for the first timeas a student, it is not unusual to be nervous. The transition frommiddle school to high school is a drastic change and exposureto new things will be common.

“In middle school the only people you saw were your teachersand people in your grade, but in high school my classes aremerged with upperclassmen,” freshman Alyssa Roberts said.

“It was definitely a big change, but it's okay. You have a lotmore responsibility and freedom,” freshman Natalie King said.

With this newfound freedom comes responsibility. “Now that you’re in high school, they treat you like an adult,”

sophomore Kendra Lyte said. Freshmen should always keep inmind that administrators expect more out of them in high schoolthan in middle school.

High school is a new world buzzing with opportunities to getinvolved and discover who you really are. While getting involvedin sports and clubs might not be a personal preference, steppingout of comfort zones can benefit in more ways than one.

“Don’t be antisocial. Get involved as early as you can, so youcan meet new friends who can help you get through highschool,” sophomore Duncan Ing said.

Also, remember to use time in high school wisely by takingadvantage of the harder classes that are available. Procrastinat-ing is a hindrance, so do not put anything off. Challenge your-self. Study hard and focus in class because it will all pay off, notto mention that a major perk of high school is possible exemp-tion from exams.

“Pace yourself and your workload. Be on time, be rested andbe prepared. Support your school and classmates by getting in-volved,” Director of Federal Programs Julie Norville said.

There is something for everyone, whether it is a sport or aclub, so do not miss out on trying new things and having fun.

However, the high school experience also provides an abun-dance of distractions and things to watch out for. What is donein high school eventually determines what colleges are availableto get into, so do not think that time in school can be blown offor not taken seriously. While progressing in school, things andpeople begin to change in ways not expected.

“Don’t follow the crowd,” senior Sellers Hickman said.“Be aware of the people you hang out with, because as the

old saying goes, ‘If you lie down with dogs, you will eventuallyget fleas,’” Ing said.

While everyone agrees that choosing the right friends and notwasting time is important, others have a different take on whatto be aware of in high school.

“Watch out on Turkey Day,” senior Yvette Leon said. “We tend

to always run to lunch to get there first, so don’t get trampled.”

The first year of high school goes by faster than the blink ofan eye. From anxiety about starting school, to seeing class-mates on the football field, to getting all dolled up for Miss DHS,to successfully putting on a play and eventually to the examsof the last trimester, school goes by faster than it seems.

Freshmen should take advantage of every opportunity by get-ting involved, studying even when it seems pointless and learn-ing from hardships, because this is the year to look back on tenyears from now and think, “This is where it all began.”

Veterans offer freshmen advice

Freshmen Alyssa Roberts and Chanelle Stokley work diligently on

their math classwork in Mrs. Maxwell!s class.

Freshmen Natalie King, Cortney West, Peyton Holland and Mark

Betonio pay attention in Jeff Golson!s World Studies class.

Photos by Ha�ley McKee

16 trojan torch

E�� Sug�yama

Editor

Learning another language is verydifficult. However, as the world be-comes more globalized, there are

more opportunities to hear a variety oflanguages. Nowadays, there are manypeople speaking many languages. Whilethere are millions of people speakingEnglish as their first language, much ofthe world is bilingual, meaning they canspeak two languages.

Most people worldwide speak morethan two languages these days, en-abling them to communicate with manypeople living in other countries.

How can one learn a second lan-guage? Are there any easy ways tolearn them?

The most difficult thing about learninga second language is mastering the ac-cent. According to Spanish teacher LoriFinley, the simplest way to master theaccent is to go to a country that speaksthe language you want to learn.

For example, I study abroad in the

United States. Living in the US does notallow me to use Japanese often becauseI do not need to. This situation helpsme to learn more and more words inEnglish. I look up the words that I havenever heard in my dictionary. This is thebest way to know how to use a word.

“We can find the meanings from thedictionary, but we don’t know how touse those words...talking with people.So talking with a native speaker helpsme know when to use the right word forthe right situation,” Chinese teacherMeisie said. Learning a language thisway is called immersion.

Another way of learning words is tolisten and to write. There might be com-mon words between the language onespeaks and the language one is learn-ing.

English has words in common withFrench, German and other languagesbecause of its history. I have to studyhard every day because it takes a verylong time to learn to speak English flu-ently.

Although I have been speaking Englishfor 16 years, I still can’t speak it as flu-ently as I can speak Japanese.

Many learn a second language be-cause they had to take classes inschool. I learned English because I wasraised in England, so I learned Englishvery naturally.

Whatever the reason you start learn-ing a second language, the importantthing is how well you communicate withnative speakers by using it.

To me, learning English in America islike a little adventure. It is very interest-ing to learn English. I am excited tocommunicate with people whom I havenever met before and share experienceswith them.

I recommend that others learn a sec-ond language. It can be any languagethat you are interested in.

Want to learn more about a lan-guage? Visit www.livemocha.com, awebsite that uses the premise of immer-sion.

second language

Photo by Eri �ug�yama

頑張って!

Photo by Er� �ug�yama

NA�A

features

trojan torch 17

Mackenzie Clark

Editor

Relaxation, tranquility and inner peace are all central con-cepts of yoga and tai chi. Both have been practiced inAsia for thousands of years, and now they are making

their way to America.Yoga originated in ancient India, but it was not long until

the peaceful practice of meditation made it to the States. Thelargest mass practicing of American yoga began in the 1960s,when Richard Hittleman began airing yoga classes on televi-sion.

In more recent years, yoga has been touted as a practiceof easy breathing and self-reflection. It is practiced by all agesas a form of physical exercise in a country where the level ofobesity is skyrocketing.

Yoga is a good choice for those who love being active butwould rather do the downward facing dog than a lap on thetrack. Yoga relieves stress, improves flexibility and easesbreathing.

“We take our mind away from everything that’s stressing usout in the day,” YMCA yoga teacher Amy Carroll said.

Tai chi began in early China as a form of self defense, but it

evolved into an art of continuous movement.A key element of tai chi is the motion it involves. The prac-

ticer remains completely fluid, moving from one stance directlyinto another. The resulting exercise is likened to flowing water.

“It’s very relaxing. Anybody would enjoy it,” science teacherJohn Hart says.

A teen looking to increase flexibility and balance would preferyoga. Another who wants to practice breathing and gentlemovement should try tai chi.

Yoga and tai chi are wonderful gateway activities into theworld of physical exercise-- that is, the side that is not sweaty.These are good choices for those who want to become activebut are not fans of running or lifting weights.

“For people who are on the creative side, they would loveyoga. It’s an art form. The way your body moves is a dance,”Carrol said.

Yoga is also a good choice for those who practice physicalfitness. The YMCA in Dyersburg offers student rates for younglearners. The rate is 16 dollars a month or 144 dollars a year,including a one-time membership fee of 50 dollars. Yogaclasses are held at the YMCA on Tuesday and Thursday from9:10 to 9:40 in the morning.

“I’ve found that streching and flexibility, have kept me fromhaving to work so hard in the gym. I get the same results inless time,” Carroll said.

Another benefit is yoga and tai chi can be practiced almostanywhere at anytime, leaving room for not only a flexible body,but also a flexible schedule.

Yoga-nna try it? International exercise reaches Dyersburg

Wikipedia

In this tree pose, these women have their chins parallel to the Earth

and their spines pulled up toward the sky. It is recommended that

this pose be held for thirty seconds to one minute.

In China, tai chi, or $"#! translates as !supreme ultimate fist"and is practiced for good health and self-defense.

18 trojan torch

trojan torch 19

Manneh’s ticket to the US was playing soccer as a young boy.In America, the measure of one’s success is playing on a schoolteam, whereas in Gambia it is measured by one’s playing on aregional or club team. Manneh worked his way up in a regionalsoccer league to become the captain of the largest team in hiscountry. At age 19, he was selected to play for the national teamof Gambia. He played for that team for three years, earning fiveinternational appearances in all.

In 1999, he married his wife in Gambia.Shortly after, he decided to travel to Europe to pursue his soc-

cer dreams. Although he was unsuccessful in England, a friendfrom the Gambia national team was playing division one collegesoccer in the United States. His friend talked to the soccer coachat Alabama A & M and helped Manneh earn a spot on thesquad. This led to Manneh’s first visit to the United States.

“When!I came in, I had 20 dollars in my pocket and one duf-fel bag,” Manneh said. “The day I was ‘born’ was the day I gotmy social security number.”

Upon coming to America in 2000, Manneh expected a presti-gious country with “streets of gold” and admits that he was dis-appointed upon landing on his first visit.

“Just like people in America watch videos about Africa, andthink everyone is skinny, hungry and sick, we watch musicvideos and think everyone here is rich,” Manneh said.

After playing soccer for four years and graduating from Al-abama A & M, Manneh attended Bethel University where he re-ceived his Master’s degree in education. Shortly after graduatingin 2007, Manneh accepted a job as a math teacher at CrockettCounty High School.

Manneh joined the DHS staff this summer as a math teacherand assistant soccer coach.

teacher from gambia

Manneh is now an assistant coach for the Lady Trojan soccer team

this fall, helping them with their formation and fitness level.

Manneh teaches sophomore McKenzie Ware how to work a difficult

problem one afternoon in his Algebra II class.

Manneh shows students how to utilize the functions on the calculator

to solve a complicated math problem in Algebra II.

Photo by Katherine Keller

Photo by Laurie!Williams

Photo by Katherine Keller

20 trojan torch

sports

Mary Byars

Reporter

It’s football time in Dyersburg! Withbaseball cleats in the closet and bas-ketball jerseys stored away, football

pads are out and are being put to gooduse.

The Trojans started practice earlier thissummer in excessive heat. The footballteam had two-a-day practices and alsoweight-lifting sessions. Now the teampractices every day during fifth hour.

“This year’s team is very inexperienced,and along with this, the team’s gameschedule is tough this year. To overcomethis, we must be focused for each prac-tice and prepare for one specific gameand that is the game that the team willplay each Friday night,” head coach BartStowe said.

Adjusting to the loss of last year’s sen-iors has not been too difficult for the play-ers.

“Some key players have stepped up:Evan Walden, Oshawn Smith, Willie Toles,Kaleb Hinson and Will Bradshaw,” Stowesaid.

“Our younger players are working hardto fill the voids from the lost players,”Stowe said.

“We have had a ton of guys step up onboth sides of the ball that have helpedthis team become stronger,” junior AaronGauldin said.

The team’s goal for this season is to bethe Region Champions and also to getpast the first round of the playoffs. The

Trojans fell in their highly anticipatedgame against the Covinton Chargers bya score of 20-3. Other potentially strongteams in the district are Crockett County,Martin, Westview and Ripley.

“What I am looking forward to mostthis season is success through hard workand determination,” sophomore ChaseBoehms said.

The Trojans’ remaining home gamesare on September 21st vs. Trenton (theDHS Homecoming game), October 5thvs. Westview and October 26th vs. ObionCounty.

“I am looking forward to our season. Iknow it will be tough, but if we improveeach week, we will be looking at a good

season for the team,” Stowe said.

Football team strives for regional title

Photos by Mary!Byars

Clockwise from top: The Trojans get into position to run a play. Players and coaches huddle to discuss tactics. The Trojans run onto the

field at the start of the game. The players stand along the sideline, awaiting their turn to work the field.

trojan torch 21

Kent KirbyReporter

Students who hold parking passes this year will be affectedby the new athletic parking policy. The school parking lothas been divided into sport-specific and general parking.

The purpose of this change is to allow athletes to park bytheir training facility so that they may get their equipment moreeasily and not have to move their car during school.

“I think it’s a good idea for the athletes to park over by thesportsplex,” junior Will Bradshaw said. “It is right there insteadof going over to the main parking lot.”

Having their cars near their training facility will also providemore security against theft and vandalism because the cars areout of vision. The sports programs participating in the plan arefootball, basketball, baseball and softball.

The program will keep the athletes in the same parking spacethroughout the day, and because their practice extends to afterschool hours, they will be able to have their cars in a group.

“I think it’s cool,” sophomore Terran Dysart said.With this year being the first year the program has been in-

stituted, it may not be used in the future, based on the successit has this year.

“We’re willing to work with it,” principal Jon Frye said. “It’snot a set in stone thing.”

At the moment, the athletes are not required to park withtheir sport, and if they play more than one, they get to choosewhich sport to park with.

“I believe that the athletic parking will be beneficial for ourplayers,” head football coach Bart Stowe said.

Specialty parking offered for athletes

Photos by Kent Kirby

Football, basketball, softball and baseball players have the opportunity to park in a designated area this year. The football players park in the

upper sportsplex parking lot, basketball players in the lower sportsplex parking lot and the baseball and softball players by the baseball field.

22 trojan torch

Sydney RobeyReporter

Hours, days, even years of hard work is what it took forMichael Phelps to go down as the greatest Olympian inhistory. Unfortunately getting off to a rough start in Lon-

don, Phelps surprised many by taking fourth place in the 400meter Individual Medley at 4:09.28.

“The 400 meter relay really showed that Phelps was like anyother athlete, meaning he has his good days and bad,” swim-mer and sophomore M.C. Newbill said.

This was his first race, since Sydney in 2000, that he had notbeen on the platform to receive a medal. He finished behindteammate Ryan Lochte, Thiago Pereira of Brazil and KosukeHagino of Japan. Phelps’s only comment to NBC was, “It wasjust a crappy race.”

Phelps redeemed himself by coming in second behind Francein the 4x100 meter Freestyle Relay with teammates Ryan

Lochte, Nathan Adrian and Cullen Jones at 3:10.38. It was ahuge shock to everyone when team USA lost to France. Thiswas supposed to be a sure win for the USA, but France wasdetermined to take the gold after the USA took it from them inBeijing.

Phelps’s signature race is his 200 meter Butterfly, which wastaken from him by South African swimmer Chad le Clos by fivehundredths of a second. Phelps unfortunately had to settle forsilver with a time of 1:53.01. This silver gave him his 18thOlympic medal which tied him with Soviet Union gymnast LarisaLatynina for most Olympic medals won.

The 4x200 meter Freestyle Relay was what set Phelps asidefrom any other Olympian in history. After finishing first besideteammates Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer and Ricky Berens,Phelps took home his 19th Olympic medal. This gold meansthat he is now the most decorated Olympian in history. Thiswas a huge accomplishment in his life.

As said by Phelps to NBC, “ I thank those guys for helpingme get to this moment... I just wanted to hold on. I thank themfor allowing me this moment.”

After taking gold in the 200 meter Individual Medley, beatingteammate Ryan Lochte, Phelps became the first male swimmerto win the same event in three consecutive Olympic games.Phelps did this again in the 100 meter Butterfly by beating rivalLe Clos and Russian swimmer Yevgeny Korotyshkin.

Phelps proudly took gold in his final Olympic and professionalswimming race, the 4x100 meter Medley Relay alongside team-mates Matthew Grevers, Brendan Hansen and Nathan Adrian.This was Phelps’s 18th gold medal and 22nd Olympic medal.He is now known as the greatest Olympian in history.

These were his final words to NBC about his swimming ca-reer, “I’ve put my mind on doing something nobody has everdone before, and there is nothing that was going to stand inmy way of being the first Michael Phelps.”

Phelps triumphs in London 2012

baltimoresun.comPhelps receives the silver medal in his signature race, the 200 meter

butterfly, at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.Phelps swims the 200 meter Butterfly to receive his 18th career

medal at the Olympics, more than any previous athlete.

trojan torch 23

Sydney McNe�llEditor

Losing two legs would be devas-tating to most people. For OscarPistorius, losing both of his legs

from the knee down did not stop himfrom pursuing his dreams of being atrack star.

Oscar Pistorius, a South Africanrunner, has made history by becom-ing the first double amputee to com-pete at the Olympics. Born on November 22, 1986, Pisto-

rius’ legs were amputated below theknees only a year later. He was bornwithout a fibula in both of his legs,resulting in his having prosthetic legsfrom age one; however, he did notlet it stop him from playing sports.

Growing up, Pistorius played rugby,water polo and tennis. While playingrugby, he shattered his knee whichsidelined him for three months. As apart of his rehab, he was introducedto running and has continued sincethen.

In 2004, he competed in the Sum-mer Paralympics in Athens. He re-ceived a gold medal in the 200 meterand a bronze in the 100 meter. Fouryears later, he won three gold medalsat the Paralympics in Beijing.

Pistorius wanted to compete in the2008 Summer Olympics, but theIAAF banned him from competitionbecause they believed that he had anadvantage over able-bodied runners.He continued to strive to be able tocompete in the Olympics and wassuccessful in time for the 2012Olympics.

This year, Pistorius and his J-shaped carbon fiber prosthetics thatlook like blades made a historical ap-pearance on the London track. Hecompeted in the 4x400 meter relayand the 400 meter run.

In the 4x400 meter relay, Pistoriusnever received the baton because of

a crash from his second runner. De-spite his disappointment in this race,he did get to run in the individual 400meter run. He reached the semi-fi-nals but finished last in his heat.

“His appearance is a big break-through for him as an individual be-cause he’s a double amputee whocompeted in the Olympics,” seniorWill Clifft said.

“I believe his success is a break-through in both the sports world andfor him as an individual because itshows that physically challengedpeople can be premiere athletes,”freshman Trip Johnson said.

Even though Pistorius did not wina gold medal, his appearance in theLondon 2012 Olympics has inspiredmany.

“His determination inspires me towork harder,” freshman MaricelaLeon said.

“I was inspired by his great attitudetowards life,” Johnson said.

Oscar Pistorius will be rememberedfor his “never quit” attitude. To learnmore about Pistorius, visit his web-site at www.oscarpistorius.com.

“You’re not disabled by the disabil-ities you have, you are able by theabilities you have,” Pistorius said.

Oscar Pistorius:Double amputee makes history at London Olympics

oscarpistorius.com

Above: Oscar Pistorius carries the baton in his stretchof the 4x400 meter relay. Below: Pistorius stretchesbefore continuing his strenuous training.

Wikipedia

24 trojan torch

Andrew CollierReporter

Usain Bolt, a 25-year-oldOlympian from Jamaica, cur-rently holds the title of the

fastest man in the world. He haswon six Olympic gold medals. Whatelse could a man ask for? Why not acareer in professional soccer?

After winning his latest gold medalin the 100 meter sprint, he told re-porters of his dream of playing forManchester United.

One of the most widely supportedsoccer teams in the world, Manches-ter United Football Club is also thewealthiest, paying their players asmuch as 72 million dollars a year.

Bolt has played soccer since hewas a child in Jamaica and viewshimself as a “very accomplishedplayer.”

The players of Manchester Unitedare excited about the idea of Bolt’sjoining the team.

According to Huffington Post, aUnited spokesperson told the press,“As the fastest man on Earth, hewould undoubtedly add speed tothe team.”

Students and faculty are intriguedby the thought of Bolt’s playing soc-cer and have voiced their opinions.

“Why not?” junior Josh Matthewssaid. “He’s fast, and he has beenplaying his whole life.”

Others do not believe it is such agood idea.

“I do not think he should play be-cause he does not have enough ex-perience in professional soccer to tryout for such a good team,” juniorSadie Liljenquist said.

The fate of Bolt’s tryout rests onthe shoulders of Sir Alex Ferguson,the manager of United.

Even if Bolt was not good enoughto start at a professional level, histryout would be great publicity forthe team.

Emily TaylorEditor

In the wake of the 2012 SummerOlympics held in London, England,the United States Women’s Olympic

Gymnastics Team achieved first place inthe gold medal count for their sport.Holding two of these medals is Gabrielle,or Gabby, Douglas.

Douglas, 16, collected medals for theWomen’s Team and Women’s IndividualAll-Around, becoming the first AfricanAmerican female to win a gold medal ingymnastics and the first American womanto win in both team and individual all-around.

Douglas, from Virginia Beach, Virginia,left home to train in Des Moines, Iowa,under Liang Chow, coach of formerOlympian Shawn Johnson. She began towin awards and competitions, whicheventually led her to win at the Olympics.

Douglas’ favorite event is the balance

beam. However, she achieved a nicknamefor her performance on the uneven bars.She is often referred to as the “FlyingSquirrel” because of the height she getsin her releases.

“My favorite event to watch her in is theuneven bars because she was high in theair, and it fits with her nickname,” sopho-more Kendra Lyte said.

While Douglas racked up on medals thefirst week, her second week of competi-tion consisted of lower scores. During herperformance on the uneven bars, Dou-glas finished in 8th place. In her routineon the balance beam, Douglas fell offafter attempting a leap.

“I’m human; we make mistakes,” Dou-glas said during an interview. She re-ceived seventh place in that event.

“I think she just got nervous becauseof the pressure,” senior Ellen Staggs said.

Although she did not achieve similarscores to the first week, she left an im-pression on the world.

“I like how she did not give up when

times got rough,” Lyte said.

Gabby Douglas scores gold

Bolt to try out for professional soccer

baltimoresun.com

Usian Bolt, who is titled as the fastest man in the world,

prepares for a race before the 2012 London Olympics.

entertainment

trojan torch 25

Dark comedy Higher Powercomes to Trojan theaterJohni Armstrong Reporter

Higher Power, a dark comedy, is coming to!Trojan Dramain late September. Many students have seen produc-tions performed by Trojan Drama. Drama director Chris

Solmon has personally directed 36 of these, and Higher Powerwill be her 37th.

Higher Power, from Heuer Publishing, relates the story of aBaltimore diner saved from an asteroid that would have de-stroyed the whole world. Ten years later, a group of people withsuperhuman abilities meet, and the truth of what happenedwhen the asteroid disappeared begins to unravel.

“The play is very, very awesome. You should attend,” juniorNevin Bishop said.

Solmon estimates attendance at 500-600 for the run-of-the-show.

There are four opportunities for viewers to see this produc-tion. They are Thursday, September 27th; Friday, September28th; and Saturday, September 29th at 7:00 PM; and Sunday,September 30th at 2:00 PM.

An admission ticket is $5 for students and $6 for adults. Also,in the lobby, Congrats-a-Grams are sold for $1. They are cardsthat patrons can purchase and personalize to send to a cast orcrew member. “More work is put into the production than is possibly measur-

able,”!Solmon said. Solmon suggests a few good jobs for students who are inter-

ested in Trojan Drama but do not know how to begin to partic-ipate.

“Being an usher is always fun. It lets you see the workings ofthe show without a major time commitment. Also, there’s hair,makeup and costumes,” Solmon said.

If a student is more interested in the acting aspect of theplay, there is also a process for that. Students sign up to audi-tion with up to five other students. Prior to auditioning, onemust find a comedic and a dramatic monologue. It is not nec-essary to memorize the monologues, but it certainly helps tobe familiar with the content.

After auditions, it can take anywhere from three days to twoweeks for the cast list to come out. Solmon picks the play andbrings it to her casting team, a group of people in the commu-nity with theater experience. Once the cast is selected, theygather for a reading of the script. The next rehearsals are forpracticing on-stage movement; then the rest are for practicingboth lines and movement.

“I am really excited to be involved,” said senior Justice Mance,who happens to be one of the superhuman characters in

Photos by Johni Armstrong

Actors in the production Higher Power practice their lines. They will

begin dress rehearsals and performances at the end of September.

Actors run through a few scenes in the little theater while waiting for

approval from director Chris Solmon.

Higher Power.Lead roles belong to Bishop, junior Madison Evans, and senior

Mckenzie Reed.“It feels like nothing else in this world. The stage is my home,

and I love it,” Reed said.

26 trojan torch

Suzanne Schultz

Reporter

No one knew what wouldhappen next whenBryan Mills’ daughter

was kidnapped on vacation. Liam Neeson returns as

Bryan Mills in another non-stopaction adventure. He stoppedat nothing to save his daughterfrom vicious kidnappers inFrance. Mills, a retired CIAagent, had a set of skills onlyone could imagine and usedthem to rescue his daughter,Kim.

Taken impressed audiencesaround the world, leaving themspeechless. The success of themovie raised the bar for the

action and adventure genre.Taken 2 is the story about

the father of one of the deadkidnappers who has sworn re-venge on Mills. Mills and hisex-wife are taken hostage bythe assassin, and it is up toKim to come to their rescue.

Kim Mills uses the skills herfather taught her to save herparents. With her plan, shetakes out the kidnappers oneby one over the course oftime.

The sequel to this box officehit causes excitement for Nee-son, his co-stars and peoplearound the world.

Catch Taken 2 in theatersOctober 5, 2012!

Taken 2 reverses rolesfrom original Taken

imdb.com

trojan torch 27

427 Troy Ave.Dyersburg, TN

286-1583

Randall P. Prince,DDS, FAGD

$>HHI7GFF E+8/'I&B>@I5.I7>:@I(@)>CGE"=G1,I#3885A-*44BBB@G:DDFHE<G=D<?FH@DF;

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We have all-occasion cakes,pies, cookies, bar cookies,

cupcakes, and more.

202 East Court St.

Dyersburg, TN

288-0330Michelle & Barry Byars

Specialty Cakes

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832 Main Ave.

Dyersburg, TN 285-1111

2225 I ndustrial Rd.

Dyersburg, TN 285-9121

620 Mall Blvd.

Suite # B1

Dyersburg, TN

Phone: 285-5552

Fax: 285-5350

Spine Therapy Athletic Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy

The Recycling BinVintage & Quality

Home Furnishings & Decor

200 E. Court St.Dyersburg, TN

Amy BaileyOwner

amy@recbin.com285-1197

Steely Foot Clinic, P.L.L.C.

Dr. Bill Steely

575 Mall Blvd.

Suite L-2

Dyersburg,TN

285-3338

Dyersburg PalletP.O. Box 1964

Dyersburg, TN285!0503

8,249'/679389*6!79(7)6#5 $.5"19%&9

-2+08834

470 Mall Blvd.

Dyersburg, TN 285-2628

770 Hwy. 51 By-Pass Dyersburg, TN

286-2446

Fall sports start year with success

Freshman Chase Petty competes in a cross country meet on a hotafternoon at Crockett County High School.

Assistant Coach Musa Manneh motivates the Lady Trojans soccer

team before running a drill during practice.

Junior Laura Pickens spikes a ball against two blockers at theFreed-Hardeman Tournament on August 18th.

Photo by Laurie Williams

Photo courtesy of Andrea McKee Photo courtesy of Angie Pickens

Junior Zach McNeill prepares to tee off on hole eleven at the FarmsGolf Course during a tournament this season.

Photo courtesy of Sandy McNeill