The Timberwolf
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THE TIMBERWOLF [Volume 11] Spring Valley High School, Huntington, WV [Issue 2] December, 2014 Painting the Mountain State Red Eddie Stamper Election Day has come and gone, Jenkins (Republican) challenged as has the Democratic hold on our him. Evan Jenkins was formerly state. November 4th was monumen- a Democrat, but changed to the tal, not just in our state, but in our na- Republican party to challenge tion. For the first time in over eighty Rahall. The whole race was sur- years, the West Virginia House of rounded by attack ads, claims of Delegates has a Republican majority, millionaire backers for both candi- as well as the WV State Senate. On a dates, and voting records for issues national level, the three Congressio- very important to the people of nal districts in West Virginia elected West Virginia, such as coal, jobs, healthcare, and abortion. Regardless of Republican candidates to the US House of Representatives. Addition- party affiliation, Evan Jenkins won the election with a 55% to 45% result, ally, Shelley Moore Capito won the US Senate seat from West Virginia, showing the changing tides of party majorities, by ousting Democrat becoming the first female senator from the state. By every meaning of the Nick Rahall who had held his seat for thirty-eight years. After it was all phrase, our state has been painted red. over, Evan Jenkins told WSAZ, “I’m just really humbled by the voters’ Wayne County is (with the exception of the Westmoreland community) support today. That’s what elections are about. It’s making choices, mak- contained in the 19th House of Delegates district. In our county, Repub- ing choices for the future. I’m excited about the outcome but ready to get licans have not had much luck fighting for a seat in the state legislature. to work.” This year, Democrats Ken Hicks and Don Perdue took the two available Republican Shelley Moore Capito and Democratic Secretary of State seats. Republicans Steve Marcum and Randy Tomblin came close – Mar- Natalie Tennant also held a heated race for the WV US Senate seat. For cum with only around 324 votes needed to tie Perdue. Tensions were the most part, the race was considered a toss-up with no clear frontrun- high and electricity filled the air as results were handed out at theWayne ner, but as Election Day neared, news outlets such as CNN, Fox News, County Courthouse Tuesday night. Carri Pertee, daughter of Steve Mar- and NBC were calling for Republicans to take the majority in the Senate. cum, described the feeling of waiting for the final numbers: “Every time Tuesday night, with only thirty percent they would bring out the results from the different precincts, my anxiety of precincts reporting, Capito was lead- heightened. Although I was anxious, I didn’t worry too much, because I ing Tennant 60% to 40%. This did not knew win or lose, Steve made a difference in Wayne County.” Despite change as all the precincts released their the lack of Republican representation from Wayne County, Republicans numbers, as Capito became the first now have majority over the House of Delegates, while also making gains Republican gain in the Senate and the in the State Senate. This could be seen as historical, because the WV first Republican senator from the state House of Delegates has been a Democratic majority for decades. in almost 55 years. Putting parties aside, While our county is Capito also became the first female still democratically rep- senator from the state of West Virginia. resented, all precincts in From crossing party boundaries to cross- Wayne County showed ing gender boundaries, Shelley Moore favor for Jenkins for US Capito helped turn our state Republican, House of Representa- and give Republicans a majority in the tives, and Shelley Moore US Senate. Capito for US Senate, Whether Democrat, Republican, or any other party, it is impossible to who are both Repub- observe the changing nature of our state and national government without licans. This pattern seeing the Republicans’ growing strength. While Republicans now have matched that of districts both houses of Congress, that does not mean that the government can get all over the state. In more done. Bipartisan gridlock was a problem for President Obama when the WV US House 1st Republicans had the majority in the House, but it will inevitably worsen District, Republican incumbent David McKinley won with a landslide as Republicans take the Senate as well. While this is a great time for the 91,941 votes to his opponent’s – Democrat Glen Gainer – 51,755 votes. Republican Party, it is also necessary for all elected officials to look past In the WV US House 2nd District, while there were four candidates, two party lines, and work for those who elected them. A government by the candidates showed the most heated competition; Republican incumbent people, for the people, is impossible without the support of the people. Alex Mooney and Democrat Nick Casey held a close race, Mooney with 47% of the vote, and Casey with 43%. In the WV US House 3rd District, http://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia%27s_3rd_Congressional_District_elections,_2014 http://crow.herald-dispatch.com/elections/wvgeneral.php the results were a bit more interesting; ballotpedia.org rated this race a http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/11/04/republicans-pick-up-senate-seat-as-capito-becomes-first-gop- “Battleground Race,” due to the national coverage achieved by this race. senator-from-w-va-in-nearly-55-years/ http://banter.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Republicans-vs-Democrats.jpg This district includes Huntington, Wayne County, http://www.wvgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CH/20140801/GZ01/140809961/AR/0/AR-140809961. Bluefield, Princeton, and Beckley. Incumbent Democrat Nick Rahall has jpg held his seat in Congress since 1976, and former state senator Evan http://wvpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/112_rp_wv_2_capito_shelley.jpg Editorials p. 2 The Hawaiian Christmas Dr. Cooper #motavator Shelby Bellomy Good Afternoon stu- Bethany Mota, a nineteen-year old from California, might be more dents, this is Dr. Cooper. familiar to you as macbar- Christmas has always bie07. This YouTube star been my favorite holi- and beauty guru is more day, despite the shame- successful than the average ful commercialization American teen. She not only we have seen in it lately. has her own fashion line at The Christmas seasoni s Aeropostale but now she has overflowing with unique a single paired in a dynamic traditions from all over duet with Mike Tompkins. the world: pinatas are The song is call Need You broken and candy col- Right Now; it immediately lected in Mexico; stockings are hung in the U.S. and England; twelve- rose to number four on the course meals are served in Ukraine; and Australians have barbecues on the iTunes chart. beach. Interesting as these are, I decided instead to research the holiday Beth has no problem with a fan base, having 7,535,858 subscribers on traditions of the Hawaiian Islands. Many of those that know me, includ- YouTube, 2,080,136 followers on Twitter, and 4,163,731 followers on ing Mrs. Murray, know that I am a big fan of Hawaiian history. These tiny, Instagram. The “mota”nation began in 2009 with her first video, Mac and tropical islands, a blend of Polynesian, Asian, and Western cultures, boast Sephora Haul. Her “mota”vation comes from when she was bullied in a very fascinating Christmas celebration. eighth grade for reasons such as weight and physical appearance. As an Before European explorers reached Hawaii, the islanders celebrated the outlet, Beth decided to film YouTube videos. Now she has been a guru closest equivalent to Christmas, which was the annual Makahiki festival. for five years. During the winter of last year, she announced her fashion Made to honor Lono, the Hawaiian god of fertility, rain, and peace, the line, which led to meetups and travel- festival lasted a whopping four months. It consisted of feasts, dancing, ing across the country on a tour bus. sports, games, and sacrifices. Work of any kind was forbidden, as well as Last summer she released her Bethany war. Simply stopping everything and having fun for one-third of the year Mota fragrance and room decor. Soon seems like a mind-boggling concept to civilizations today. See why I think after that it was announced that she Hawaiians are so cool? would appear on Dancing with the The first Christmas was celebrated on Hawaii in 1786. A visiting Europe- Stars, partnered with Derek Hough. an ship landed on Kauai and the crew had a large roast pig feast. Christmas Her videos cater to every interest, was introduced to the rest of Hawaii when the first Protestant missionar- from makeup tutorials and Get ready ies arrived on the islands around 1820. As the previously-tribal Hawai- with Me to breakfast ideas and Star- ian Islands evolved into the Western-style Kingdom of Hawaii, Christmas bucks dupes. Because her videos are so became an adopted custom among the natives along with Christianity as popular, YouTube picked her to appear a whole. in the first Youtube ad. From there she made appearances on television Today Christmas is a mainstay holiday in Hawaii as it is with the rest shows such as the Today Show, The View, Entertainment Tonight, and of the United States, albeit with some interesting changes. Santa Claus, many more. known in Hawaiian as Kanakaloka, wears a Hawaiian shirt; He also rides The buck doesn’t stop there! in a canoe pulled by dolphins, as opposed to the normal sleigh and rein- Bethany Mota makes an esti- deer.