Bulldog

The BARKER 200 Pine Sikeston, MO Vol 80 Issue 8 March 10, 2017 What’s Inside:

Student Kenny Rodgers Telethon Luke N. Blanton Taxes Co-Editor Pgs. 2-3 The 37th annual Kenny Rodg- College ers Children Center Telethon is back and going to be held once again in the Field Decisions House on March 17 and 18. The telethon Pg. 4 is an annual event that raises funds the center will need over the next year. They do this by holding a multitude of events. STEAM Club & On Saturday there is a Pancake Breakfast, Optimist Club 5k-Run/1 Mile walk, KRCC Fun Zone, Blood Drive, and a Dog Show. There are Pg. 5 also some new additions as well. There is a Baby Crawl Race, Dunking Booth, Photo Courtesy of Acclaim Press Spring Chili Taste Off, Cornhole Tournament, The Logo of Kenny Rodgers Children Center and a Lipsync Battle. On Sunday there entrance fee, there are other ways to therapy, and speech therapy. The staff on Fever will be Easter Photos, A Fish Fry-River help show your financial support. You sight works with kids daily to make sure Pgs. 6-7 Bend Cookers, Silent Auction, a new ad- are able to call the center at 573-472- their needs are meet and they have a bet- dition of a Live Auction, and a Grand Fi- 0397 and pledge money. You also are ter quality of life. Kenny Rodgers helps nale. able to pledge or give money to a child make the lives of those with problems Barker Events on Saturday start at 8 who utilizes the center to give back to much better and really brightens their o’clock in the morning and will last all it. The telethon will be broadcasted on lives. Bites day; ending at 9 P. M. The next day will television as well if you would like to The center has been in the Pg. 8 begin at 11 O’clock in the morning and watch the events from home. Sikeston Area and serving children since the Grand Finale will start at 4 O’clock in The Kenney Rodgers Chil- 1973. It was started by the mother of a Girls & Boys the afternoon. dren’s Center is very important to our child with Cerebral Palsey. She want- There are many ways to get in- area because of all the support it pro- ed her child to be able to receive much Basketball volved with the telethon and show our vides to children who have special needed therapy in many areas. At the time Pg. 9 support. There are links to register for the needs. there were not many options, so she start- 5k Run/1 mile walk, Chili cooking con- The kids who attend Kenny ed one of her own. test, and cornhole bracket on the Kenney Rodgers’ have ranges of needs. These Today KRCC helps so many Spring Sports Rodgers Children’s Center Website. All include Speech impediments, Kabuki’s kids, just as that mother wanted her child Preview other activities ask that you just show up Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Autism to be helped. Anyone can attend the tele- Pgs. 10-11 in order to participate. and so much more. The center pro- thon and have fun. Any financial dona- Among attending and paying the vides occupational therapy, physical tions to the center would be appreciated. 2 Editorial March 10, 2017 Tax Season and Spending The Bulldog a mini Christmas or birthday present for all the Colton S. Gaddis hard work you had done that year. Sports Co-Editor I do not know how much money I Barker made working last year, or how many hours I It is that time of the year where tax worked because like any sane American I had Staff season is in full swing. For a lot of hard work- someone else do my taxes for me. I actually ing people that means it is time for a tax re- could not fully tell you what I got taxed on, or Jennifer L. Hodgkiss Steve Bays turn. how much money was taken out of my pay- Advisor Principal Tax returns are a little different for check. I do know however that I got around teenagers. Filing taxes is one of the first steps one hundred dollars back and that is a lot for a Editorial Board to adult hood. A step that a lot of us are not teenager. My tax return money allowed my to ready to face. Like most teenagers I have no buy tickets to see Chance the Rapper in con- Luke N. Blanton Annie M. Lancaster idea how taxes work. That is a step that I am cert. Co-Editor Co-Editor sure I will learn with age. The only thing im- The months that I did spend working portant about taxes as a teenager is the money as a cashier at Buffalo Wild Wings helped me Maxwell C. Ault Colton S. Gaddis you could get back. earn extra spending money. That is why most Sports Co-Editor Sports Co-Editor While a lot of teenagers do not make teenagers get a job. Like mine, most of their enough to get a return, the ones who do feel jobs are minimum wage. I like to think of my Alison S. Enax Jackson R. Clay a sense of achievement. If you happened to return as an accomplishment of all the work I Student Life Editor Distribution Manager make enough money for a return then that did. I know that taxes are necessary to run the means you will be getting some money back. country. Joshua B. Stinnett Since the only bills teenagers usually have So students who did make tax return to pay are the payments on their vehicles or money, enjoy the simplicity while you are Reporter their vehicle’s insurance, they have a choice young. Splurge your money on unnecessary on what to spend their tax money on. It is like things that will not matter in ten years. Reporters Riley G. Cantrell Amber L. Dukes Reporter Reporter

Will T. Garner Brylie E. Noe Reporter Reporter Kylie D. Noe Abby R. Vaught Reporter Reporter

The policy of the Sikeston Senior High Bulldog Barker, a school-sponsored publication, is to cover issues that concern its students and the world around them and to promote a learning environ- ment that encourages an exchange of ideas. In this way the Bulldog Barker strives to involve Sikeston High School’s rich resources of students, faculty, and administrators. photo courtesy of Google images March 10, 2017 Student Opinion 3 What are you going to spend your tax returns on? “Probably clothes “Several pounds of and shoes.” star fruit and a gar- den trowel.”

-Elizabeth Backfish ‘17 - Beau Bryant ‘17

“Payments on my “Gasoline and truck latest phone.” parts.”

- Luke Boner ‘17 - Edward McClain ‘17

“I’ll probably get my “Some dope new nails done and go shoes.” shopping.”

- Raven Evans ‘17 - Lane Curtis ‘17 4 Student Life March 10, 2017 Deadlines, Decisons, and Dreams Annie M. Lancaster cepted,” Bles said. Co-Editor In the fall, Bles will be attending Truman State University to pursue a degree in Biology. The second semester of one’s senior Some of our very own Sikeston High year of high school is one of the most exciting School seniors have been preparing for college for and stressful times in a person’s life. Their high the past several months. The class of 2017 will be school career is coming to a close, and soon the traveling far and wide in order to pursue their edu- lives of all seniors will soon turn upside down. cation and prepare for a lifetime career. Many seniors plan on going to a place Destiny Cochran ‘17 is planning on at- of higher education, like a technical school or tending Southeast Missouri State University and university. With these goals come quite a bit of is looking forward to her future there immensely. planning-ahead and paperwork. Scholarships, “I am looking forward to meeting new loans, and grants can also be thrown on top of the friends while still connecting with my old ones! I pile of things to do in figure out before one’s life am excited to be learning more about my major of after high school. forensic psychology while having the best time of Cana Bles ‘17 has been keeping up to my life,” Cochran said. date with her college preparation plans for quite Deadlines are always on the minds of se- some time. niors who are preparing to go to a college or tech- “My college finding experience has nical school after 12th grade. Admission details Photo courtesy of Annie Lancaster been pretty easy this year. I had a good idea of need to be figured out soon, scholarship applica- Seniors Darby Self and Danielle Newman snap a photo where I wanted to go since sophomore year, and tions need to be completed, and dorm accessories during their college visit to Arkansas State University dur- this year was just about applying and getting ac- need to be bought before it is too late. One has to ing the summer before their senior year.

be very organized in order to keep track of the many due dates and deadlines of college. “I would say the most difficult part of my college preparation was filling out all of the applica- tions. I’d say my most time-consuming applications were those to Princeton and Yale; after submitting all required answers and essays, I believe the writing amounted to about 7-9 pages each,” Malik Barnett ‘17 said. Barnett has not yet chosen a school to at- tend, although his top choice is the esteemed Yale University. His other choices include other fantastic Ivy League universities. The spring semester of senior year is one of the best and most stressful times of a young person’s life. Some have had their college plans figured out for quite some time, while others are still trying to make some important decisions. Seniors will be pursuing degrees in a wide variety of different subjects. They Photo courtesy of Malik Barnett will be teachers, doctors, and psychologists in our fu- ture lives. Although the preparation for college can Malik Barnett ‘17 and friends pose for a picture while visiting Williams College in Williamstown, MA. be tough, we know it will all be worth it in the end. March 10, 2017 Student Life 5 Steaming it up Will T. Garner ings for STEAM so far. Reporter Senior Brandon Moore has not missed a meeting and says he will try to make every The Science Technology Enginer- meeting. ing Art and Math club or “STEAM” has been “It’s a great club. It’s not like any other meeting in the journalism room on every other club at Sikeston High. We work with comput- Thursday after school. The STEAM club has ers all day. The advisors of the club are very been working on a device called a raspberry pi’s kind and are good at what they do. Currently I which is a little programmer that you can turn am making a game console on the raspberry pi. into basically anything. The STEAM club is Moore said. open for anyone who has any interest in working Junior Joe Williams is another member with electronics. of steam and enjoys going to the meetings. Mrs. Gilmer is one of the Sponsors of “I like the club and it’s always fun to the club and is over the technology department see what were going to do next and what were at the high school. Gilmer is excited about the going to make its a good way to learn how to use club’s first year at SHS. top the top technology the school has to offer. I “I am excited for this new club because am really excited to use the 3-D printer and what we don’t offer a computer science class and this all we can do with it,” Williams said. Photo courtesy of Google Images gives students a chance to learn about it,” Gilmer The STEAM club is open for all stu- said. dents that are interested in using and learning to Steam stands for; Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics There has been about 8 members com- use technology. Gilmer hopes to see even more ing to the meetings and there has been 3 meet- new people come to the meetings. Optimist Club Throughout the year they are involved Abby E. Vaught in other service projects as well as getting to par- Reporter ticipate in different fundraisers throughout our community The Junior Optimist Club is a commu- “They also get the satisfaction of know- nity service club that helps when and where they ing that they are making a difference in these are needed within our community. kids’ lives,” Asmus said. “The biggest project that we have Each year the Junior Optimist Club throughout the year is the Shoe Project in the makes a scholarship avaliable to Seniors who are fall. We put shoes on kids who are in need of active members withing the club. new ones,” Bethany Asmus, sponsor, said. “The criteria is based on how involved Another project in which they are in- they have been with the club; meeting atten- volved is Radical Christmas. They help in pro- dance, service projects, and working fundraisers viding food and gifts for families in need as the are all put into consideration. Christmas season nears as well as during the The Junior Optimist Club meets on the winter months. 3rd Thursday of every month and anyone is free “The thing I think the members get out to join at the beginning of the school year. of it the most is that they are giving back to our If you would like to support your lo- Photo courtesy of Google Images communnity. When they did the shoe project, cal Junior Optimist Club members, they will be Pictured above is the emblem for the Junior Optomist Interna- they got the chance to help kids that are not as having a fundraiser on March 20, at Pizza Inn tional Club. fortunate as that are,” Asmus said. from 4:00-9:00pm. March 10, 2017 Feature 7 Spring Fever: no one is immune Brylie R. Noe Feature Editor

It’s the same thing that happens ev- Serotonin is a horomone that is Staying on task during the day is hard re- ery year, when the temperatures outside proven to help you regulate your moods, gardless, but it gets harder when you have start to rise: students go stir-crazy and it and as sunlight increases in spring, so do a stuffed up nose, sore throat, and head- gets harder to pay attention, people start our serotonin levels. On the other end ache. As a result, come spring we also see to long for summer vacation, and concen- of the spectrum, winter has been proven increased levels of advertisement for al- trating on school seems like it is harder to make our bodies produce more mela- lergy meds. than it has ever been. Most people may tonin, a horomone that makes you feel It is no secret that the weather this think that this so called “spring fever” is sleepy. This is because the sun is late to year has been different from in the past. just an excuse for poor work and hyperac- rise and early to set in winter, giving us For us, it started feeling like spring tem- tive behavior, but there are actually many less exposure. As we transition to spring, peratures in February. As a result, everyone scientific studies that find the change in we will be sleeping less and feeling happi- has started to get more restless earlier in seasons really does make us act different er, which makes it harder to concentrate. the season. Our energy levels surge while from normal. But it is not only our horomone our ability to sit still plummets. This rest- Lord Alfred Tennyson, a famous levels that contribute to spring fever. Dur- less feeling is partially responsible for the poet from the 1800s, wrote about spring ing the winter months, we are unable to idea of “spring cleaning”, which is when in 1842. Obviously, the idea that feelings do simple things like taking the dog on we go through all of our belongings and and energy surge during spring has been a walk or going to the park with a group get rid of what we do not need, cleaning around for centuries. But it was not until of friends. Once the temperatures rise and the house and making everything look recently that we found there was actual, we are finally able to do these fun activi- brighter. It has become a tradition among scientifically proven evidence that we ties, having to stay cooped up in a build- Western citizens to start to clean as the changed with the seasons. ing all day seems like the ultimate punish- weather gets warm. When spring begins, we are start- ment. This is especially true for younger No matter if you are a sufferer of ing to see higher temperatures and lon- kids, who are not as skilled as their older allergies or a spring cleaning junkie, this ger days. The increase in sunlight and the counterparts at regulating their behavior. is one of the most popular seasons for delayed nights makes us feel happier and Another simple reason for why it is a reason. After a long and cold winter, warmer as we begin to leave behind the so hard to concentrate during the spring most everyone looks forward to warmer “winter blues” that come with low temper- months is because of allergies. Sure, all of weather and longer days. So don’t worry atures and not being able to go outside. the blooming flowers are pretty to look at, if it seems like you’re never going to be According to science, exposure to sun- but as their pollen levels rise, many find able to focus in school again; once you get light increases our producion of a horo- themselves falling victim to our least fa- used to the change in seasons, your spring mone called serotonin. vorite part of the season. fever should die down with no problem. 8 March 10, 2017

Alison S. Enax Barker Bites: News Student Life Editor

St. Patrick’s Day Future’s Albums Tattooed Freckles Improvements at SHS St. Patrick’s day is on In the past couple of The makeup industry is Walking around campus, March 17 every year. It is an Irish weeks, the fans of the world famous constantly changing. It is always some students may have noticed holiday but is celebrated by even rapper, Future have not only been improving and coming up with new things around the school. the Irish at heart all across the treated to a nice surprise. Not only new styles and trends for the public There are new doors in all of the world. On this day, it is expected did Future release one album, but to follow. entrances leading into C build- of you to wear green. If you don’t he released two. Within two weeks, The most recent trend ing and A Building. These are two you will be pinched. This is because the rapper has released two albums; that people are following is tattoo- buildings that have a lot of traffic people used to think that wearing FUTURE and HNDRXX. ing freckles on their faces. This is coming in and out of them. green made you invisible to lepre- With the release of these not the first time people have used This improvement helps chauns. They believed the lepre- two albums, Future also became tattoo ink for cosmetic reasons. the buildings look nicer and clean- chauns would pinch anyone they the first artist ever to debut #1 on For years, people have tattooed er. The doors leading into the Li- could see, which was anyone not the Billboard Top 100 two weeks makeup onto their faces. Eyeliner, brary no longer slam which is a wearing green. in a row. This means that the two eyebrows, and lipstick are some huge improvement. The doors are St. Patrick’s Day started albums were a hit with his fans. common examples of these tattoos. greatly appreciated. out as a religious feast day for the Both of these albums are People tattoo their faces However, some students patron saint of Ireland. His tradi- being critically acclaimed for the with freckles for many reasons. The are complaining that one of the tional death date is March 17. number of hit songs on each one. majority of them say they like the doors are locked. It is the right Saint Patrick’s Day, also Therefore, the songs have been fresh aesthetic it gives them. This door which is naturally the door known as The Feast of Saint Pat- more publicized. These songs in- is a trend that may or may not go that people open first. rick, has now turned into a day cel- clude Mask Off, Draco, Selfish, out of style, however it will always Hopefully these new ebrating Irish culture with parades, Rent Money, Coming Out Strong, be on their faces. Who knows what doors will lead to even more im- special food, and a whole lot of and Sorry. These two albums were the next trend in the makeup in- provements around Sikeston High green. the artists first albums since DS2. dustry will be? School’s campus. March 10, 2017 Sports 9 Fighting ‘Til the End

Amber L. Dukes Reporter

The Sikeston Girls’ Basketball Team put up a great fight against the Dexter Bearcats Thursday night at the Class 4 District 1 Champi- onship. This was Sikeston’s third district ap- pearance in a row, with each year facing the same opponent, the Dexter Bearcats. The girls fought hard, with outscoring Dexter in the first quarter 9-6, and being close behind at half with a score of 23-19. The last half was a strong battle, but it seemed that fouls were the problem against the Bulldogs. With two key players fouling out at end of the first half, it was their defense that made their way until the end. The game ended with a score of 44-35 Photo by Standard Democrat Senior Tyeshia Mitchell is handed the second place plaque at the Class 4 District 1 Champi- with it being in Dexter’s favor. The Girls closed onship game. their season with a record of 12-15. The Rematch: SHS v. Vashon

The Boys’ Basketball Team has contin- ued the tournament winning streak with taking the title of District Champions for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs faced the Cape Central Tigers Thursday Night, a local rival the team has faced one other time, beating them at our Win- ter Homecoming, 82-76. The Boys played fierce against the Tigers a second time and came out on top once again with a score of 76-55. The next competitor were the Hillsboro Hawks at the Sectional Matchup Tuesday night in Farmington. The Boys took the Hawks down and scored a victory with a score of 70-56. The Bulldogs will now face state ranked and competitor Vashon, at Jefferson College in Photo by Standard Democrat Hillsboro, MO Saturday at noon. It will ultimate- Photo by Standard Democrat The Sikeston Bulldogs and the Sikeston Cheerleaders pose with Freshman Payton Howard makes a pass during the Sectional the first place plaque at the Class 4 District 1 Championship ly be the matchup of the season, having lost to game against the Hillsboro Hawks. game. them in the state competition last season. 10 Sports March 10, 2017 Girls Soccer: time to kick it Kylie D. Noe The team consists of a heavy under- Reporter classmen presence, with many freshmen expect- ed to make an impact on Varsity in Audrey Vogel Soccer season is here, and the Lady ‘19, Emily Boyd ‘20, Ainsley Colwick ‘20, Jade Bulldogs have been working hard to prepare for Davis ‘20, Kylie Lossing ‘20, and Megan Witt their first game at Jackson on March 20. ‘20. The Lady Bulldogs are being led by Coach Kayla Graham ‘17, Madeline Witt ‘17, Kayla Gabe Dement and Coach Niki Sturms. Curry ‘17, and Larysa McClellon ‘17, are the While the team has many goals ahead seniors this year who play a huge role in the suc- of the season, there is one common one: to win cess of the team. Other returning Varsity players Districts. District assignments were renovated include Lyndsey McClendon ‘18, Annie Ensor this year, and the team remained in the same ‘18, Kylie Noe ‘18, Mackenzie Yant ‘18, Emma district to compete against Cape Central, North Photo courtesy of Semoball. Jones ‘19, and Paige Crumpecker ‘19. County and Farmington. Annie Ensor chases down the ball. Running into the season Riley G. Cantrell Reporter nitely going to help us this year. Last year we had six to seven distance runners, and this year we The Sikeston Track and Field program have about twenty so we can fill all of our open is hoping to take off on a roaring start, and they spots and hopefully earn more points.” are looking for another successful year of run- The Sikeston Track program has made a ning, jumping, and throwing. name for themselves and have become a very suc- “This season I want our athletes more cessful part of Sikeston and their many successful focused and concentrated. I want them to set athletics. goals that are achievable and I want them to “This team needs a lot of leaders to step compete at their best.” Said Head Coach John- up and make something happen. Success breeds son. success and we need those leaders to show our Photo courtesy of Standard Democrat. Coach Johnson talked about what will younger athletes how to want it.” Said Johnson. Tyzeek Hill screaming of excitement after a big win. help them this season. “Our numbers are defi- Sikeston’s season kicks of on March 25th. Hittin’ dingers and takin’ names Maxwell C. Ault Sports Co-Editor of what he was expecting out of the team this season and his coaching approach. The Sikeston Baseball team has been The team is anxious to for the first through a unique off-season. The team was told game. Only losing two seniors, Trent Sidwell after the closing of their previous season that the and Blake Wolferding, a majority of the previ- current head coach, Alan Scheeter, was resigning. ous Varsity remains. Eight of the nine starters Scheeter was to be replaced by current basketball are returning. head coach, Greg Hollifield. Weeks before the The team has been moved down to start of the season, Hollifield brought the team in Class 3. Currently, the team is not State ranked. for a meeting and told them that he would be re- The Dogs are hopeful to go through the regular signing from his position of head baseball coach; season undefeated, and then move into the he would be replaced by Brett Kolons. playoffs. The first game is on March 23, against Photo courtesy of Google Images Kolons immediately took into action East Prairie at East Prairie. Senior, Trey Smith 20’, jumping from an opponent. March 10, 2017 Sports 11 Serving up sass Jackson R. Clay Distribution Manager

As the tennis season starts, the Sikeston Boys Team looks to greatly improve on what they accomplished last season. After only getting three wins last year, the team wants to make this season one to remember. “This years team is looking a lot better this year than what they did last year. I think the amount ax reps of experience they have gained from the number of Max C. Ault practices over the past couple of weeks has been M Sports PCo-Editor very beneficial towards our progress”, Brett John- son, Boys Tennis Varsity player said. The NFL Scouting Combine started on Feb. The boys tennis team will look to start their 28- Mar. 6. Two of the biggest events that happened season off on the right foot when they face former is John Ross, which he ran a 40-yard dash in record photo courtesy of Standard Democrat district rival Cape Central at home on March 23 at time. His time was 4.22 seconds, played Washington Sikeston’s Jordan Wheatley hits a backhand during a 5-4 loss 4 p.m. Varsity will play first, then the match will be WR. Also, Rueben Foster was in a heated altercation to Dexter. followed up by a Junior Varsity match soon after. with a medical official. The Combine is full of evalua- tions for previously injured athletes and these athletes go through many tests. Trading news in the NFL, Jay Cutler will most likely be released from the bears. Cutler has been in the league for a long time. He has a good Time “fore” golf arm, but continual injuries prevent him from being a consistent starting quarterback. Also, his contract Jackson R. Clay is expiring. Mike Glennon, a backup quarterback for Distribution Manager the Buccaneers, has been giving a very good offer from the Bears But the Buccaneers have also offered The golf team has high hopes for this year’s him another backup spot of 7 million. He would be season. Chris Cota and Hannah Uthoff are the new the highest paid backup quarterback in the league. coaches this year. They hope to make a positive im- Although his contract offer from the Bucs is a good pact on the team this year. one, Cutler is express his wants to start. This year there is only one senior, Luke Mark Cuban, the owner of the Mavericks, Blanton. The juniors are Will Garner, Allison Miles, has said that Russel Westbrook should not be a Luke Selvig. Hayli Howard, Mason Smith make up candidate for the MVP. This sarcastic comment sent the sophomores on the team this year. shockwaves through social media and sports news “This year I think we will exceed all of ex- broadcasters. Westbrook stepped up for the Thunder pectations, and I think that we will start our season after Kevin Durant left for the Warriors. Westbrook off strong with the upcoming invitational in Notre has been performing every night for his franchise Dame. Our roster is very strong this year.”, Luke and leads the league in triple doubles, 30. Golden Blanton, Sikeston Golf Player said. State Warriors released news around March 1st that The first golf event will be the Notre Dame photo courtesy of Standard Democrat Kevin Durant sprained his medial collateral ligament invitational at Bent Creek Golf Course on March 21 Sikeston Golf Legend Will Garner is chipping for a double and sustained a tibial bone bruise and would be re- at 8 a.m. The team hopes to see everyone there. bogey. evaluated in four weeks. Tail End Winter Sports Wrap-Up

Photo by Standard Democrat. Tyeshia Mitchell breaks the defence and scores a lay-up.

Photo by Standard Democrat. Sikeston Boys’ Basketball and Cheerleaders pose after winning the District Championship.

Photo by Standard Democrat. Fred Thatch Jr. runs past a Cape defender.

Photo by Kathee Brown. Photo by Chris Hodgkiss. Sikeston Wrestling State qualifiers pose for a pic- 4th place State Wrestler, Josh Stinnett, poses after a ture before leaving for State. win in the Missouri State Wrestling Tournament.