Monthly Archives: November 2009

November 13, 2009 · 2:07 pm

Winning season leads to playoffs

By: Taylor Herring

Coming to the end of a successful season, the Warriors have one thing on their minds: playoffs. After getting the regular season off to a great start by beating Bassfield 30-20, and defeating long-time rivals, the Petal Panthers, the Warrior football team feels prepared. Although the Panthers brought a competitive spirit, their ability on the field simply did not match that of the Warriors. The players came off the field with another success at home, with a final score of 28-18.
With two home game victories under their belt, Oak Grove traveled to Laurel High School to test their skills on the road. The final score was closer than expected, but the Warriors walked away with yet another win, 21- 20. After Laurel, the team had two weeks off before playing against the Wingfield Falcons for homecoming. These two weeks off actually worked to the team’s advantage, because it gave quarterback James McMahon’s injury from the first game a bit more time to heal. Going into the game with much deserved confidence, the team beat Wingfield
44-12.

The undefeated Warriors traveled to Natchez the next week. Although Oak Grove was projected to win this game, Natchez came back in the fourth quarter to win 48-45. This upsetting loss must have truly made an impact on the players, however, because the team practiced diligently with hopes of beating Meridian.

What a difference a week makes. The Y’all vs. Us game on October 9th was a completely different ballgame. The Warriors truly wanted nothing more than to prevail against the Wildcats; and they were happy to welcome McMahon back on the field. After weeks worth of rivaled foresight about the game, fans, players, and media crowded the stadium. Finally, just as many students predicted, Oak Grove walked away from the game victorious with a final score of 28-20. “It was truly the most exciting football game we’ve ever played in. The atmosphere was unreal; and it was an experience I’ll never forget,” James McMahon, quarterback, said.

The team went on to beat Terry on the road, 14-10. Although Oak Grove was expected to win by more than a four point margin, the team was able to walk off the field content with another victory. The next week, Oak Grove suffered an upsetting loss to the Hattiesburg Tigers, 28-42. This set-back obviously encouraged the Warriors to practice even harder, because they came back to beat Brandon 16-10 the next week. This game was especially upsetting to Brandon, because it means they won’t be in the playoffs.

All of Oak Grove’s hard work and dedication truly paid off this season, and it was definitely evident on the field. Looking back on the season, the Warriors cannot help but feel confident about the playoffs which begin tonight when Oak Grove faces off against a talented Harrison Central team.

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· 2:06 pm

Out with the jeans, in with the khakis

By: Sydney Sanders

From tweets to Facebook status updates to WDAM and the Hattiesburg American, the hot topic in Lamar County, especially here in Oak Grove, is the new dress code policy for the 2010-2011 school year.
On November 2nd, Dr. Ben Burnett, Lamar County Superintendent of Education, said the five school board members voted to implement a new dress code for the school district.

For years, the debate on whether or not to enforce school uniforms has been brought up several times, but now, a conclusion has finally been reached.

At the meeting, which was open to the public, a vote of 4-1 approved the policy which will be carried out next August.
“I am glad that this issue was finally decided on,” Burnett said. “I will now work hard to make the implementation of the new board policy for next fall a successful one.”

Mike Pruitt, LCSD board member, agrees that this issue was a lengthy one. “Some may recall that surveys were sent out to parents sometime back in the 2003-2005 timeframe, so it’s accurate to say that consideration has been taking place for at least that long,” Pruitt said. “For the action that was finalized this week (November 2 – 5), quite a number of administrators, teachers, parents, and students have been working for more than a year.”

With the LCSD mission statement – to empower all students with the knowledge and skills to create their own futures; to become passionate, lifelong learners; and to contribute cooperatively to a diverse and changing world – Burnett believes the policy will have a positive effect on safety and discipline. He also believes it will be a financial help for parents in the long run.

With daughters of his own attending Oak Grove, Pruitt agrees strongly with Burnett. “First, I have to admit that my own children have more than a little skepticism about the enhanced dress code. I will leave it at that,” Pruitt said. “Certainly, we hope each of the points [safety, discipline, and eventually less costs] are accurate. When we first began addressing this, I wasn’t sure there were adequate reasons to modify the existing dress code, and it took many conversations with administrators and parents that I represent to convince me of the benefits of starting from the ground up. We can’t lose sight of the fact that a primary function of a public school district is to prepare students to be successful in life – whatever their interest and endeavor. A stricter dress code, in many ways, will help by preparing students for restrictions that exist in most work places. That includes punctuality, accountability and, of course, appearance.”

Oak Grove students, along with Purvis, Baxterville, and Sumrall students, will all have something in common. From khaki pants to collared shirts to district and school colors, students will have to make preparations to adjust to the new guidelines. With the exclusion of black on black for Oak Grove schools, banning of blue jeans (except on reward days), and tucking in of shirts and tops, many students are unsure of how they feel. “After twelve years of being at Oak Grove, we have never had uniforms, and now, we are getting this new dress code my senior year!” Sarah Turner, junior, said. “Now clothing will be one less thing to worry about my last year of school. I guess it’ll finally hit me once school comes around next year.”

The decision to implement a dress code was not made hastily nor was it decided upon solely by the five men who currently serve on the school board. “Many other district policies were consulted, but the decisions were made by a committee,” Burnett said. “The final version was sent to the principals for input and the superintendent’s advisory council also had a copy for the last month for input.”

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· 2:05 pm

Music Review: “Play On” by Carrie Underwood

By: Kent McCarty

After winning American Idol’s fourth season in 2005, Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood released her debut single “Jesus, Take the Wheel” to country radio. The song shot up the charts, spent six weeks at number one, won countless awards, and the rest is history. Ten million albums and eleven consecutive number ones later, Underwood has successfully made a place for herself in the music world. The respect she’s earned over the past four years has allowed her to have a little bit more fun and take a few risks on her third studio album, Play On. The result is Underwood’s most diverse and innovative album yet, a winning combination that will surely allow her to continue her streak of number ones and add numerous awards to her already long resume.

The magic behind Play On is in the variety of material Underwood chose for the album. It’s nearly impossible to assign one genre to any of the songs on Play On, much less the entire CD. To achieve the diversity found on Play On, Underwood worked with writers from nearly every genre. “Cowboy Casanova,” the lead-off single, was written by Underwood and well-known rap and hip/hop writer Mike Elizondo. The hip/hop influence Elizondo brought to the table is evident in the fast-pace chorus and energetic verses. The result of this collaboration is arguably Underwood’s catchiest song to date.

Following “Cowboy Casanova” is the radio-ready Max Martin song “Quitter,” which shows a new side of Carrie with its Caribbean-like backing track and relaxed vocals. One of the major draws on Play On is the catchiness of nearly every song on the CD, and “Quitter” is no exception. “Quitter” is followed by the slow but sweet “Mama’s Song.” With lines like “Mama you’ve taught me to do the right things/But now it’s time to let your baby fly,” this track is sure to be a tear-jerker among mothers and daughters who will soon be leaving the nest.

No album is complete without the inspirational ballad, and Play On definitely delivers in that department. While “Change” recycles the old message that “the smallest things can make all the difference,” it does so without being overly preachy. Underwood delivers a haunting vocal on “Change,” allowing her powerful voice to belt in full force as the song builds up to the final lines. Perhaps the highlight of Play On, and possibly Underwood’s entire career, is another inspirational ballad by the name of “Temporary Home.” “Temporary Home” tells the story of three different individuals who are suffering in some way, yet realize that their present lives are only temporary, or just a stop on the way to something greater. If this one doesn’t move you in some way, you may want to check your pulse and make sure you’re still functioning.

For those who enjoy more pure country, Play On presents “Someday When I Stop Loving You” and Alan Jackson cover “Look at Me.” The first features one of Underwood’s most restrained vocal performances to-date and the second is a soaring ballad that will have traditional country music fans recollecting country songs of years gone by.

But don’t think Play On is an album full of only tear-jerkers and thought-provokers. For every reflective song on the album, there is at least one fun and upbeat track that’ll surely have you singing along. Besides “Cowboy Casanova,” Play On features the contagious “Undo It,” a song about a relationship that’s so bad you wish it never happened. “Undo It” draws influences from many genres, including country, pop, rock, and a little R&B. The insanely catchy chorus could take this song to great heights on radio, and possibly rival the success of her signature hit, “Before He Cheats.” The country/rock track “Songs Like This” is short and to the point, but it will surely be a crowd favorite at concerts with its high-energy delivery and fun nature. Though many songs on Play On borrow from pop and rock genres, no song comes as close to leaving country behind as “Unapologize,” co-written by Underwood. “Unapologize” shows that, while Underwood is a country artist at her core, she’s certainly capable of branching out into other genres successfully.

Also included in Play On is Carrie’s first on-ablum duet, “What Can I Say,” which features America’s Next Great Band winners, Sons of Sylvia, and shows off a new dimension of Underwood’s voice. Play On appropriately comes to a close with the title track, a nice mid-tempo song about never giving up. Underwood’s amazing range shines on this track, especially in the last minute, where she shows off those powerful glory notes she’s become known for since her time on Idol.

Play On is Underwood’s strongest body of work yet, and shows off new aspects of her personal life and voice like we’ve never seen before. Each track brings something unique to the album, giving the material diversity unmatched by anyone currently in country music and proves that Underwood truly is one of the most versatile artists in music history. As she continues to grow as an artist, her successes will surely ‘play on.’

5 out of 5 stars

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· 2:03 pm

Oak Grove honors local veterans

By: Anna Kate Baygents

The 12th annual Veterans Day breakfast was held on Wednesday, November 11th, for the first time at Temple Baptist Church. “The facility was more conducive to the larger crowd we have seen in recent years,” Tara Lewis, Beta Club co-sponsor said. “It was nice that our program didn’t interfere with the regular morning school schedule, student breakfast, and parking.”

This event was sponsored by Beta Club, Student Council, Historical Society, Lamar County Board of Supervisors, Wal Mart, Chick-Fil-A, Corner Market, Sam’s Club, and Bellevue Florists. Founder of the annual event, Jerri Whitecotton and fellow history teacher Malisha Siders organized the program in which all local veterans and their families were invited. Approximately 300 people attended.

Becky Sanders, Beta Club sponsor, said of the event, “As a service organization, we believe one of the best ways to serve our community is to honor veterans. It’s nice to have a way for our students to show their appreciation to these servicemen and women.”

The Oak Grove Concert and Treble choirs performed, singing “The Procession of Patriots” and “God Bless America.” Seniors Anne Caroline Lovitt and Kayla Purvis sang the national anthem.

Congressman Gene Taylor was the guest speaker, offering thanks to the veterans and wisdom to students.
Many high school students showed up to help with the breakfast. “I think it is very important for students to show appreciation and gratitude to all veterans for their dedication and commitment to serving and protecting our country,” senior, Kayla Purvis said.

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· 2:01 pm

NHS inducts new members

By: Kent McCarty

National Honor Society recently inducted its 2009-2010 members in a ceremony held at Oak Grove United Methodist Church. Current club president Amy O’Steen, as well as club officers Anne Caroline Lovitt, Ashley McLeod, Shelby Sims, and Hailee Bradford, introduced new members to the organization with speeches, followed by a photo-op and presentation of membership certificates by sponor Suzanne Daughtry and Principal Wayne Folkes.

National Honor Society is an organization that allows its members to serve others through various projects and fundraisers. Before being accepted into the NHS, prospective members must have completed numerous hours of community service, as well as maintain a grade average of 95 throughout high school. As its first project, the club is currently accepting canned food and unused jackets for the needy. This Christmas, the club will sponsor an Angel Tree child and its members will collect money and gifts for a child in need.

The club held its first meeting on Monday, November 2nd, in Mrs. Daughtry’s room, and will meet again on November 16th to discuss the canned food and unused jacket drives

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· 1:59 pm

PSAT: Practice makes perfect for two seniors

By: Sydney Sanders

In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, were notified that they had qualified as semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Oak Grove High School is proud to have two of these semifinalists, seniors Georgia Wyatt and Amanda Hardwick.
“It feels great to be a Semifinalist,” Wyatt said. “Most people don’t even know what [the National Merit Scholarship Program] is.”

The PSAT is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives students a chance to enter the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

From submitting transcripts to letters of recommendations to entrance essays and SAT prep, both girls attribute their success to Andrea Clark, humanities teacher.

“Mrs. Clark is the reason I even knew about the PSAT,” Hardwick said. “Her humanities I and II classes helped my test taking skills tremendously.”

“I owe much to Mrs. Clark for sure,” Wyatt agreed. “She helped me tremendously by giving me loads and loads of practice tests. I also credit other helpful teachers like Mrs. Shoemake, Mrs. Daughtry, and Ms. Welch.”
To ensure that academically able young people from all parts of the country are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state.
NMSC provides scholarship application materials to semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other NMSC requirements.

Wyatt and Hardwick recently took the SAT in early November and are working toward other scholarship requirements. Both say they have worked hard toward this goal since freshman year. “I’ve taken the PSAT every year since 9th grade,” Hardwick said. “I feel good about my accomplishments but know I still have lots of work left to do.”
Clark said she was not surprised that the two young women are semifinalists. “They are intuitive test takers and learn quickly,” Clark said. “They were also both willing to tackle their weaker areas to improve as much as possible. They are both bright and funny students with a strong work ethic.”

At Oak Grove, most students seeking scholarships in the National Merit Program take Mrs. Clark’s humanities I and II courses. During these classes, usually taken during sophomore and junior years, students learn test taking skills and study techniques, and prepare for other standardized tests, such as the ACT. Students on the National Merit path take the PSAT as practice during their freshman and sophomore years. While enrolled in the humanities classes, students take practice test after practice test to prepare for the big day – the third Wednesday in October.
“Humanities is absolutely the way to go,” Wyatt said. “My advice is to take harder math courses, too, which will help you prepare for the math section of the test.”

Because the PSAT is a nationwide test, preparing for the unexpected isn’t easy. “I took practice tests and tried my absolute best,” Hardwick said.

Hardwick has applied to many colleges and has been accepted to LSU and Ole Miss so far. She plans to major in environmental health or biomedical studies. After graduation, Wyatt plans to major in education or English Literature and has applied to Tulane, USM, and BYU. With help from the NMSC, the future looks bright for these senior girls.
In February, 15,000 Semifinalists will be notified that they have advanced to Finalist standing.

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· 1:58 pm

LCSD cuts schools’ budgets

By: Kent McCarty

As state sales tax revenue falls due to the poor economy, the state is cutting back education funds across the board by 5% to compensate. As a result, the Lamar County School District now has to cope with a loss of $1.85 million in state funding; a task that school district officials say will not be easy. The state has also warned of additional cuts slated for the beginning of 2010, giving district officials the added burden of planning for future funding losses.

On the district level, the board is cutting budgets for each school in the district by 5%, as well as delaying bus purchases for this year. “[By doing this] we think we can make the cut we are experiencing now, but my biggest concern is the future,” Superintendent, Dr. Ben Burnett, said. “As one of the fastest-growing districts in the state (we grew by 800 students in the last two years along), we need to begin building more schools in the near future. These cuts are going to make this much more difficult.”

The district has formed a budget committee, comprised of parents, teachers, and administrators, as a way for people in the community to submit budget cutting solutions that will help the school district accommodate for future cuts. The budget committee has its sights set on trimming the 2010-2011 by 10% to alleviate the effects of future shortfalls.
Another way the district plans to meet the budget shortfall is by reducing funds spent on utility costs by $200,000. “Green Teams” were formed this year as a way to take any steps to decrease energy uses throughout the district. Green Teams are each run by an administrator, lead custodian, and school maintenance worker, all of whom take steps to decrease utility costs. To oversee these teams, the school board elevated HVAC technician Nathan Rankin to the position of “energy manager.” By doing this, the school board has filled a position that can be very useful in decreasing energy costs with someone already on the payroll, preventing the need for additional funding during a time when money is tight.

The school board has also begun monitoring energy usage per square foot in every building, and is asking that students and teachers help by being mindful of energy saving measures. “We expect lights to be turned off when not in use,” Burnett said. In addition to monitoring light usage, teachers are also expected to make sure their classroom computers are powered down when not in use. Two copiers have also been removed from OGHS teacher workrooms, and teachers now must buy their own paper, whereas the school previously provided several cases of paper yearly. The new energy managers are also working with each campus in the district to check air conditioner settings after hours and on weekends. With so many buildings throughout the district, the school board thinks they can successfully decrease energy costs by a sizable amount with these changes.

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· 1:53 pm

Junior and Senior girls face off for title

By: Ashley Ricks

The annual powder puff football game is a fundraiser unlike any other. Junior and senior girls face off in a fierce game of flag football.

The powder puff game was brought back to Oak Grove in 2007 and in 2008 the cheerleaders began using the game to help pay for competition. Both players and coaches were required to sign up and pay an entry fee. Because of the passion the girls have played with in past years, cheerleading sponsor Laura Lightsy chose to go a more professional route. She chose all four referees from USM to determine the calls of the game. Both teams had four practices ranging from an hour and a half to two hours each.

So on October 26, the junior and senior girls played a nail-biting game of flag football. Seniors started on offense, juniors on defense. Throughout the game the two teams battled for superiority. Both sides were giving it their all. The seniors took the lead with the first touchdown made by Rachel Weldy. However it didn’t take long for the juniors to retaliate with a touchdown made my Brianna Blackwell. As the game progressed, so did the energy. The juniors thought they took the lead with another touchdown by Brianna Blackwell, but the points were taken back to a call on holding. In overtime, the seniors were brought to victory by Rachel Weldy’s second touchdown. “The game went exceptionally well and will continue to for years to come” Laura Lightsey said.

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· 1:51 pm

Warriors shoot for wins

By: Amelia Landers, Editor

The 2009-2010 boys’ and girls’ basketball season is underway. Both teams began preparing for this season last year. They worked during the summer and have had practices during and after school. Both teams with the help of their coaches, are ready for the season ahead.With a jamboree held at Oak Grove on Saturday, October 31, both teams were able to test their skills and competition before the season actually started. The jamboree featured teams from Petal, Purvis, South Jones, and West Jones.

The varsity boys’, coached by Vandarel Jones and Edmond Bradley, had their first victory on Saturday, October 7, at home against Indianola. After overcoming obstacles prior to the tournament, the team came together with the win of 50-47. Last Tuesday, the boys played Northeast Jones and had an outstanding game with a 60-35 win. Next Tuesday, Oak Grove will play Laurel High School at home at 7:30 p.m.

The varsity girls’ are coached by Crisla Hershenhahn and Edmond Bradley. The girls had their first
game on Saturday also against Indianola. Last Tuesday, at home, the girls also had a great game with a defeat over Northeast Jones with a score of 53-20. The girls will also play Laurel High School at home at 6:00 p.m.
The boys and girls basketball teams both ask for everyone to come out and support them as they prepare for the anticipated season ahead. Both teams have a very promising season ahead of them and are aiming for the championships. This is only the start of a great year for the 2009-2010 girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball teams.

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· 1:50 pm

No rest for Oak Grove runner

By: Taylor Herring

Junior Chad Moore excels in both athletics and academics. Chad, a member of the Oak Grove Cross Country Team, was recently named the two time Boys District Champion. His instructor, Coach Ryder, said that Chad won the race by over 30 seconds, and he expected him to do very well at the state competition.

Ryder was correct in assuming Moore would be successful; he finished fourth at the state competition at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS.

Moore runs five miles every morning, and averages five miles in the afternoon as well. Practicing with the team six days a week, Chad runs sixty miles each week. This is not a huge deal for him, however, because he has been running competitively for four years. To maintain endurance, many runners restrict themselves to eating a low-fat diet and drinking only water and milk. Chad is no exception; his diet consists of high protein foods and no carbonated beverages.

In order to continue performing the way he does, Moore focuses on how hard he has worked to become such a great runner. Moore credits his determination to maintain his rigorous running schedule to focusing his energy on glorifying God. Of course, winning first place in many of his meets is quite the encouragement as well. Moore said that he does plan to continue competing in cross country after high school. He hopes to earn a scholarship through the program as well, and feels confident that he will do so.

The entire team has done incredibly well this season. As Moore watches his teammates succeeding as well, he has even more of an incentive to persevere. “This cross country season went really well,” Moore said. “The team has won more meets and more individual events this year than ever before.”

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