1 National Signing day comes and goes By Greg Griffin “I’m undecided with what I National Signing Day has want to do, but being a game warden come and gone with two seniors at or a job in criminal justice interests me Loudonville High School signed and the most,” Kyle said. ready to play football! Last Wednes- Garrett and Kyle are excited day Kyle Clady and Garrett Dotson about being able to do what they love both signed to play football at college. the most and that is football. They are Kyle signed to Ashland University, also excited about college and what and Garrett signed to Wright State. might happen while they are there. Both of them have worked very hard in “I can’t wait to meet my new their high school careers, and they are teammates. I’ve already talked to most ready to take their knowledge and hard of them, but it’ll be interesting. Some work to the football field and the class- of the players are from Florida, Ken- room. tucky, and mostly Ohio. I’m just excit- Even though Garrett and Kyle ed to be around new people,” Garrett signed to play football, their education said. “I’m most excited about the col- Kyle (64) and Garret (25) walk is a big part of making it through col- lege experience and meeting new peo- together off the football field lege and finding a good job. Taking ple. Playing at the next level for 4 classes in college will allow them to I’m going to have to take pre -requisite more years will be a great experience,” find jobs that they are interested in. classes that will allow me to be a social Kyle said “I want to go into social work. worker,” Garrett said. LHS Drill Team dances to the top By Morgan Graham more that are coming up. The next to make memories that they’ll never Loudonville’s Drill Team per- dances are February 11 th , 17th and the forget. forms every year at half time for the 21 st . I recommend coming to watch the “I personally have had many boys’ basketball games. last three, they’re going to be the best memories with these girls but I will “This year our season has been ones yet,” Smart said. never forget at our latest performance great. We’ve made huge improvements To learn the new routine danc- on January 27 we had a hip hop dance. from last year and this year we have ers have to learn the steps, counting, So after we finished our eight count we had a lot of chorography thrown at us, and learning how to put the dance to- were supposed to hold our pose and so we’ve definitely taken advantage of gether. As a team the girls have to Savannah Sheppard dropped her hand it. The girls on the team are great and learn how to be on time for each step. to her side and started spiriting while we’ve had a lot of fun together per- “It all just depends on what type of everyone else was still holding our forming. I think it is safe to say we’ve person you are. Thankfully, this year pose. That will always be my favorite given drill team a better name,” said we’ve gotten girls who are smart and memory of the season because as eve- drill team performer Katie Smart. can catch on easily. We are now capa- ryone knows you never spirit at the The drill team performs every ble of learning a whole dance in just end of a dance,” said Smart. other week. They use the time between two hours and it’s great because then performances to learn the choreogra- we have more time to perfect it,” phy for the dance. Each year the drill Smart said. team performs six dances for their sea- As the season winds down, son. “We have already performed three and seniors on the drill team time starts dances this year, but we have three to click away, the girls bond together 2 EDITORIAL: Technology plays big role at LHS By Hannah Lane When schools give laptops or than without. Technology, over the years, tablets to the students, it makes turning Students are not the only ones has changed in so many ways. There in assignments more efficient. People in the school that rely on technology are laptops, smart phones, tablets, and say that the students will use the lap- anymore. Many teachers have now projectors. About twenty years ago, tops to get on You Tube and watch made technology a big part in their technology like this would be a fig- videos or get on sites and play games. lessons. Technology has just become a ment of our imagination. Back then, Like our school and many others, the big part in how students learn nowa- administration is able to block certain people used landlines phones and wire- days. It may just be me, but I’m per- less phones that were bigger than the sites to limit students from messing fectly fine with that. head of the user. around. Students in our school have People say that if students are been proven to be very organized allowed to use technology in school with their time and use their tech- they will just surf the web and just nology to their best advantage watch cat videos or do anything other when it comes to school work. than what they are supposed to be do- Parents, at first, were very ing. They believe that technology in unsure about how they felt having schools is going to make it harder for their kids on the internet instead of students to learn anything, but I be- doing book work. Does anyone else lieve just the opposite. These people feel this way? I don’t. Now that we don’t actually see what is going on in have had the laptops for a couple the class room. Technology can be years, their views have changed used in many ways to help students drastically. In a weird way students learn. are more likely to do homework at home if they have a laptop, rather EDITORIAL: The evils of social media By Shy Farely say whatever they wish because they They can change their name, age, and Social media: almost every- are behind a screen. Cyber bullies can even their pictures to make themselves body, especially teens, have at least put out embarrassing videos or photos look better and how they wish they one form of social media, whether it is of someone. They can also send mes- looked. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, or some sages filled with name calling, threats, Addiction to such things can other social media. Chances are that and black mail into sending pictures cause one to become dependent to you have at least one. Some have nu- you don’t want to send or doing other online communications and isolate merous accounts on countless plat- things on the internet that can get you themselves from the “real world.” - - forms. Although there are benefits of hurt. We already have face to face bul- They can push away family, friends, social media and developing technolo- lying, I don’t think we need to allow and peers, becoming socially reliant on gy, there are also many detriments. more abuse, anonymous abuse, to hap- the phones and laptops. Teens (particularly teenage pen and become a reality. girls) who use social media platforms Some people believe that there are vulnerable to “predators.” People are no mentally harming factors that such a pimps, rapists/molesters, abduc- can come from social media but there tors, and stalkers, can easily get per- are addictions and anti -social behavior sonal information from people’s Face- as well as unneeded (and more) insecu- book posts. Things like your full name, rities caused by things such as Face- social security number, credit card in- book, Twitter, etc... Addictions to so- formation, your school, and even your cial media are caused by the feelings address can be tracked down if the of self -loving and security one gets wrong person gets ahold of your pages when they reach a certain amount of and IP address. views on their YouTube video or likes There is one other form of they get on their selfies or Facebook. predators out there, on the web: cyber Some people get addicted because they bullies. Cowards that think they can can be whoever they wish to be online. 3 EDITORIAL: Is love in the air? By Bailey Polen Day with your significant other. Mil- from the problems in their relationship “Love is in the Air” at least lions of people celebrate Valentine’s or that actually celebrating Valentine’s that is what is said on every mug I Day by spending time with their fami- Day is a sign that your relationship is passed in the store. For all of us “pro - lies or by swapping little gifts amongst failing. All of that is not exactly true. valentiners” and Cupid enthusiasts, their friends. Enjoying the time you Just because you celebrate it doesn’t February 14 th is our time to shine. have together with the people you love mean it’s a cover -up for how bad your Valentine’s Day can be some- is how Valentine’s Day should truly be relationship really is. what of a “touchy” subject for some viewed. On another note, isn’t having Another reason for not want- people.