THEOur Vision: “Successful-LAKER Now and Beyond” REVIEWOur Mission: “Learners for Life” Volume 40 Calloway County High School Issue 1 2108 College Farm Road, Murray, Ky. 42071 September 20, 2019 2019 Homecoming Queen Seniors consider military test important Rainey Gaddie military.” required like it was in the past.” Staff Writer Crouse added that 12 students Some people think it’s pointless signed up to take the test. to take the test if they aren’t going For the first time in many years, Seniors who took the test last into the military, but it’s also about juniors were not required to take year caution against not taking it. what skills they have and what the Armed Services Vocational Senior Jessica Wicker said, “I they excel in. Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a test thought taking the ASVAB was Senior Jack Daughaday had used to determine qualification for really helpful to a lot of students, some input on the topic. enlistment in the United States myself included. I think it should “I think that the ASVAB is an- Armed Forces. be a requirement because there other standardized test that could Principal Chris King said, “It are a lot of kids it would benefit. help students prepare for the ACT used to be that it had to be one of Also, if someone decides he wants or SAT. Personally, after taking the things that the state used to to pursue a career in the military the ASVAB, my ACT score went determine if you were transition and he hasn’t taken the ASVAB at up by two points, which can mean ready or not; that’s no longer the school, he only has one opportuni- everything to some students. Al- case, so now we’re just going to of- ty to get the entry score he needs, though many standardized tests fer it to juniors who want to take and I don’t think that’s fair.” seem pointless, they can help stu- it, and who want to have a career Senior Zoe Stom said, “Al- dents prepare for their futures. I in the military. Instead of it be- though I didn’t particularly enjoy know many students that wouldn’t ing a mandated type thing, it’s just taking the ASVAB at the time, I have gone into the armed forces going to be one of those things we enjoyed getting my scores back to if it hadn’t been for the ASVAB use to help kids that want to be in see what particular areas I excelled test.” that profession.” in and what subjects I didn’t know Junior Julia McClard said, “Ev- Faith Conway Guidance Counselor Laura as much about. I honestly found eryone has said how glad he was to Senior John Foster, right, escorts senior Caroline Adams as she was announced Crouse said, “It gives you some re- taking the test helpful, and it would get the chance to take it, so I’m not homecoming queen last weekend. Her court included seniors Charlee Settle, El- ally good information, even if you be helpful to anyone who takes it. sure if I’m missing out or not.” lie Jackson, Ciara Ericson, Abby Boike, Cassidy McCuiston and Zoe Stom. aren’t interested in going into the I personally think it should still be Area hopes business will arrive, hire workers New schedule requires adjustments Dalton Nesbitt early 2000s, when the Mattel plant closed, and Caden Emerson classes throughout the day, so you learn Advertising Manager within months, Pella moved into that same Staff Writer more.” building and took in most of Mattel’s work- Senior Oscar Vasquez said, “It’s janky The recent announcement of the shutdown force. Many officials are hoping this will be the Of all the changes CCHS has gone for those that are used to the old schedule, of the Murray facility of Briggs & Stratton has, case, and that near-immediate comeback will through over the years, perhaps the most but for new kids, it will definitely help with understandably, not been well received. While happen once again. contentious recently was the decision to math, which I support. Change has to start the shutdown will happen in stages starting According to WPSD Local 6, this includes switch from a block schedule to a mixed somewhere, or else nothing gets done.” next month through next summer, it has al- Gov. Matt Bevin, who stated, “We fully respect schedule (blocks and periods). It seemed Senior Chaney Cox said that the out- ready brought reality crashing down upon the this decision and are grateful for the many like no matter whom you asked, everyone going seniors are not immune to this workers who have worked there for upwards years that this world-class company partnered had his own opinion. Some supported the change. of three decades and planned to work the job with the Murray community. We will do ev- change; some didn’t. “It’s my senior year, so my classes are until retirement. erything we can to assist the impacted families Fast-forward to today, and the schedule easier, but with the shorter classes, it makes According to the press release from Briggs in West Kentucky, as we work with local lead- has gone into effect. it harder for the teachers to finish, so I still & Stratton, “The market for small vertical- ers to help displaced employees overcome this Junior Ainsley Smith said that com- have homework. I like the blocks better. shaft engines has been relatively stable over the challenge and transition to other opportunities pared to previous years, her workload had I’m fine with giving it a try, but person- last several years but has not grown for various in the area.” increased. She attributed this to the lack of ally, I think the workload is rough on some reasons, including a difficult housing market According to the Murray Ledger and Times, time the teachers had for their classes and, students.” driven by the lack of affordable single-family Murray Calloway Economic Development to finish, students receive a lot more home- Teacher Kimberly Barrett said the homes in the United States, unlike other areas Corporation President Mark Manning said work than normal. However, her overall schedule felt very tiring, that the new of Briggs & Stratton’s business such as com- this about the comeback, “The building itself opinion was much more positive. schedule was harder on her and her stu- mercial engines and products which have seen may be a little old; it’s rough around the edges, “It’s difficult to adjust for sure, but dents. double-digit growth, the residential walk-be- but it’s a good building. That was the Tappan hopefully, by the second semester, it will be “I mean, I’ll teach no matter what. hind mower market, where the vast majority building and, when Tappan left, the commu- easier.” Blocks, periods, whatever; I don’t care. But of these engines are used, has not rebounded to nity was able to get control of that building Junior Elle Carson said, “My schedule I think it is harder on all of us with this historical levels. Accordingly, the Company is and attract Briggs & Stratton. It was Briggs & is basically three blocks and two periods, new schedule.” taking action to right-size its footprint.” Stratton’s first plant outside of Milwaukee.” so my workload is about the same. I per- It’s no surprise that a change as big as The company decided to cut the Murray lo- Despite the numerous adverse effects the sonally don’t like the periods because I feel the new schedule is sure to have varying cation and expand the facility in Poplar Bluff, closing of Briggs & Stratton will have on the they are too short to get anything done, opinions on the advantages and disadvan- Mo. Although this will create 120 to 160 jobs community, many city leaders are confident and I don’t have enough time to get my tages. At the moment, it is still a little early that the workers who were laid off will be able that the economy and general populace will homework done.” to have a clear knowledge of the impact to apply for, more than 600 full-time employ- not be afflicted as severely as once thought, Some students like the new schedule. this change will have, so it seems that only ees are at the Murray facility. and the process of overcoming the struggles Sophomore Jayden Morris said that his time will tell on how this change shapes The silver lining in all of this, however, is brought through the closure will begin and end workload was generally the same. CCHS. that an almost identical event happened in the more swiftly than expected. “I like it [new schedule].It means more The Laker Review 2 News September 20, 2019 Academic Team readies for season ATC offers electrical program Alyssa Wicker rated team members to come over CCHS hires Sports Writer from the middle school, and she Luke Schwepker that is useful for everyone, whether has high hopes for her first year on Sports Writer someone wants to work on his own three teachers The CCHS Academic Team has the high school team. Calhoon will house or wants to do electrical work been recognized as highly success- compete on the Science, Composi- Electrical classes are now of- for a living. The pay is good, and the ful for several years, and this year tion, and Future Problem Solving Ki Franklin fered at the Murray Area Technol- work is enjoyable.” Sports Writer is sure to be no different.