Tag Archives: Taylor Herring

April 1, 2011 · 12:53 pm

Clark and Shoemake resign

By: Taylor Herring

After years of teaching AP students, preparing for state subject area tests, and helping students excel, both Ann Shoemake and Andrea Clark announce resignation this year. For somewhat unexpected reasons, these two Star Teachers will be finishing out this year and moving in quite opposite directions.
Shoemake was the first to announce resignation; she herself hadn’t planned on leaving Oak Grove for years. Upon a surprising twist of fate, however, Shoemake was forced to concede to leaving not only her job, but also her husband and life of comfort behind. After avoiding paying income taxes for nearly three years, law officials confirmed Shoemake’s tax fraud. “It all started after the stock market crashed. My husband and I were, well, more active than we should have been,” she explained. The district court has not yet confirmed her sentence, but Shoemake’s attorney feels strongly that she will be facing time behind bars. Through previous connections, however, Shoemake’s lawyers have been attempting to place her in a comfortable facility: Alderson Prison Units in West Virginia. Shoemake was immediately drawn to Alderson, as this was where Martha Stewart spent time after her own stock market scandal.
Shoemake began evading income taxes after the pay cut for teachers went into place. “Her teaching contract prevents officials from taking immediate action,” her lawyer commented. “Once it expires in May, Ann will be facing some very bleak times.”
Although her students, fellow teachers, and family are disappointed and embarrassed by Shoemake’s decision to commit tax evasion, administrators still consider her to have been quite an asset to the school.
On a much lighter note, Andrea Clark is announcing early resignation
as well, (although for an entirely different reason). After 16 years of teaching AP students and being named a Star Teacher five times, Clark has chosen to move in a different direction and join the Peace Corps. After teaching her students to be part of the world, to know about all cultures, and to avoid living sheltered lives, Clark decided that she herself should lead by example.
As the Peace Corps commemorates its 50th anniversary, Clark saw no better time than now to join the organization. “Since I found out Mrs. Shoemake was leaving next year, I decided this seemed like a good time for me to relocate as well,” Clark said. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself; it will give me a chance to reflect on my own priorities.” After finishing this school year, Clark will face three months of training before being assigned to her location where she will commit to two years of field work.
Clark’s only worry is leaving her children at home. “Of course I’ll miss them, but my leaving gives the boys a chance to stay with their dad. They’re old enough to understand.”

APRIL FOOLS

The real story…

For those who haven’t figured it out by now, Mrs. Shoemake did not actually commit tax fraud, nor did Ms. Clark join the Peace Corps… go figure. Although Shoemake has actually met Martha Stewart at a Chi Omega Alumni event in Jackson, she will not be following in her footsteps by spending hard time in Alderson Prison in West Virginia. Likewise, although Clark may, let’s face it, love nothing more than spreading peace to all nations, she is not announcing early resignation either.
Losing two of the best, most committed teachers at Oak Grove would have been upsetting for Clark and Shoemake’s students and fellow teachers alike. They have both served not only as educators, but also as role models, and would have been greatly missed.  Mrs. Shoemake has taught at Oak Grove for 20 years and considers her time here to be some of the most fulfilling years of her life. Likewise, Ms. Clark has been at Oak Grove for 16 years, and would have a much harder time leaving her Acc. English I and Humanities students behind than she might lead us to believe. Lucky for us, however, we won’t have to worry about losing Clark or Shoemake for a while.
As far as we know, Oak Grove’s favorite English-teaching, tax-evading, peace-spreading jokesters are here to stay.

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· 12:36 pm

Three new restaurants expand Hub City’s cultural horizon

By: Taylor Herring

Jutamas

Let’s be honest, we South Mississippians do not always take kindly to exotic cuisine. Equipped with an open mind (and enough gas to make the trek downtown), however, many will be surprised by the unconventional comfort food at Jutama’s Thai restaurant.  Down Broadway drive and in a somewhat unexpected part of town, Jutama’s is tucked away, easily mistaken for a hole in the wall among corroded car shops. At my first visit, I thought it best to tread lightly and order one of the most popular items on the menu: Phad C-ew. Don’t be alarmed by its title, Phad C-ew proved to be a fancy name for, as many in our region might call… noodles with chicken and brown sauce. I also sampled the Thai fried rice and Phad Woon Sen: stir fried glass noodles with mixed vegetables and pork. All three of the dishes were delicious, and the presentation was flawless. If you’re a fan of spicy food, fresh vegetables, and a unique experience, Jutama’s is the ideal place for dinner.

Petra

If you’re taken aback by the idea of unconventional cuisine served at Jutama’s, this authentic Greek and Mediterranean cafe might not be your cup of tea either. Petra’s cultural decor, vegan/vegetarian-friendly dishes, and outdoor Hookah bar, however, make for a truly unique dining experience. My (extremely helpful, friendly) waitress recommended the grilled shrimp kabob plate, complete with feta cheese salad, hummus, pita bread and rice. Although the portion size was big enough for two to split, I, embarrassingly enough, finished off each and every grilled-to-perfection shrimp I was served. Also, although skeptical at first, I sampled the lamb shawarma: slices of lamb marinated in Arabian spices over rice. I was quite pleased with both dishes, which led me to try the baklava: a sweet phyllo pastry filled with chopped pistachio and honey… don’t knock it ‘til you try it. Aside from Petra’s delicious dishes and cultural feel, professional belly dancers occasionally make appearances to entertain customers. (Guys, that baklava is sounding better and better, right..?) Petra Cafe has something to offer for even the pickiest of eaters.

Tabella

Whether you’re a fan of simple Italian sandwiches and salads or rich pastas, Tabella has something on their menu you’ll enjoy. Robert St. John, who also owns Crescent City and Purple Parrot (conveniently located in front of Tabella), opened his newest restaurant on March 22nd. The rustic look of the restaurant’s exterior is a small preview of the inside’s “old Italy” feel, complete with an entire wall of wine and checkered napkins. I was pleased to start off my meal with complimentary fresh bread and olive oil while looking over the diverse menu. I ordered the Pasta Mia, fettucini pasta with a lemon butter sauce and shrimp, which was delicious. The portion size was impressive as well; I took home nearly half of my meal. I also sampled the Six Cheese Ravioli: large ravioli noodles filled with cheese and topped with homemade pesto. Despite the newness of the restaurant, I was quite pleased with the service, as well as my server’s familiarity with the menu. I will definitely be back; in my opinion, even leftovers from Tabella were tastier than Olive Garden’s food when its fresh.

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March 4, 2011 · 12:03 pm

‘The Fame’ goes to their heads… Crazy celebrities ‘Can’t Be Tamed’

By: Taylor Herring

At the same time thousands of Hannah Montana fans look to Miley with adoration, mothers across the nation direct a simultaneous shake of the head and wag of the finger at her behavior. As Miley has gotten older, she has constantly been burying her good girl image. Her own dad, Billy Ray, (whose sanity might itself be in question) says that he’s “scared for her” and “embarrassed for his family.” Clearly mired in a state of denial, Billy Ray sardonically blamed Miley’s downfall on her role in Hannah Montana. While critics might not exactly understand how Disney Channel acting leads to underage drinking fiascos, many fans wonder if there are more scandalous “daddy-daughter” pics to come.
If Miley’s drunkenness isn’t nauseating enough, her most recent YouTube fail shocked any remaining viewers. As Miley carelessly inhaled the hallucinogenic drug salvia divinorum, a “friend” comments from behind, “I’m totally taping this,” in between laughter. Her only excuse for such behavior was, “But it’s really no different than marijuana…right?” Similar unsettling instances include posing nearly naked in Vanity Fair magazine, kissing a woman on live television, and encouraging her younger sister Noah to follow in her footsteps. Although her recent judgment lapses might suggest otherwise, don’t doubt her intelligence; Miley said, “I almost feel like people think of me as dumb. I’m like, I’m smarter than you think. It’s all a mind game…and whatnot.”
As if Miley has any room to point fingers, she mockingly stated at the Grammys: “I think I’ll do an egg next year like Gaga. A pink one. Wait! An Easter one,” …assuming her fame doesn’t die out before next year’s Grammys.

 

Speaking of Gaga’s insanity, and although you wouldn’t guess it by looking at her meat dress at the VMAs or bubble suit at a concert in San Diego, she wasn’t exactly “born this way.” From humble beginnings, Germanotta’s talents were first considered distinctive, her style innovative, and her persona edgy. Her debut album in 2008, aptly titled The Fame, was commended for its ingenuity; it was refreshing to see an artist create such a combination of risqué lyrics, pop influence, and stellar vocals (not to mention her suggestive videos).
The fame must’ve eventually gone to her head;  individuality morphed into insanity when Gaga showed up to the 2010 VMAs wearing an…original…dress made of raw meat. The purpose, although not exactly evident at fans’ first glances, was to show support for the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal. “Dead meat is dead meat,” Gaga said. “You’re not gay and dead or straight and dead; you’re just dead.” While her heart may have been in the right place showing support for a cause, unfortunately she received more personal publicity with the meat dress than the actual legislation she (less-than-evidently) opposed.
More laughable still was Gaga’s arrival to the 2011 Grammys in an egg carried by four men. Prior to her entrance, she employed an “incubation period,” staying inside the egg for 72 hours. Perhaps we can blame her mediocre Grammy performance on oxygen shortage inside that egg.

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February 4, 2011 · 11:40 am

Movie Review: The Black Swan

By: Taylor Herring

In Director Darren Aronofsky’s fifth film, he successfully transforms a typical ballet story into a risque psychological thriller (and has the Golden Globe nominations to prove it). In comparison to his previous films, Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Wrestler, Black Swan appeals to a much larger audience. While Black Swan might seem limited by its ballet-centric plot, it raises interest from young and old, men and women alike (let’s hope not only old men and young women saw its value). While women love the film’s stylistic similarities to Tchaikovshy’s Swan Lake, men love its psychedelic approach and, let’s face it, its not-so-conventional love scene. Aronofsky also shows his knack for casting; he could not have pinpointed a better main character and symbolic “white swan” than Natalie Portman. Mila Kunis proved that she was also expertly selected, leaving critics to describe her performance of Portman’s supporting actress as effortless, superb, flawless.
Considering their parts, Portman and Kunis had to develop a unique relationship both on and offscreen. Because audiences were so enthralled by the promiscuity of their… intimate scenes, Portman states, “Since it’s me, people are shocked. I see the value of a good girl persona, but it’s so easy to subvert it occasionally.” Luckily, the actresses are close friends offstage, making the filming of the scandalous scenes less awkward. The brief love scene (hallucination, rather) was not the only struggle for the cast; both Kunis and Portman lost a significant amount of weight to fit the part of a dreamer battling the struggles of the all-but-wonderful world of dance. Through extensive dieting and up to eight hour bar routines, both actresses lost over 20 pounds for the film. Training like a professional ballerina may have seemed impossible for most starlets, but Portman handled  the challenge with poise, as she has been practicing dance since she was only four.
Nina Sayers’s (Natalie Portman) transition from innocent, dependent “mama’s girl” to drug-using, unhinged rebel begins with her dream: to dance the part of the white swan in Thomas’s (Vincent Cassel) version of Swan Lake. Nina pledges to do everything in her power to be cast, eventually leading to her demise. Her exploits include bulimia experimentation, repressed-desire, manifest drug use, and (what kind of psychological thriller doesn’t include…) a developing touch of mental insanity. The real conflict, however, arises when Lily (Mila Kunis) moves to New York to dance for Thomas’s company. An effortless dancer and natural beauty, Lily possesses what Nina (initially) lacks: promiscuity. In order to be cast as the prima ballerina, a dancer must master not only the purity of the white swan, but also the carnality of the black swan. The nature of the film shifts at the conflict from a comfortable rivalry to a self-harming, hallucinogen-induced survival of the fittest.
After four Golden Globe nominations, five Oscar nominations, and a title of Best Actress for Portman, Black Swan has topped box office charts for the past two months. Portman’s flawless features and glittering exhibition make for an unforgettable picture. From the first pirouette to the final hallucination, Aronofsky’s Black Swan provides everything a viewer could want from a “ballet movie.”

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December 15, 2010 · 1:58 pm

Pot prohibition should go up in smoke

By: Taylor Herring

In 1937, the United States Federal Government passed the Marijuana Tax Act to effectively prohibit the sale, use, and possession of cannabis in the United States. In 1973, President Richard Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Administration in an effort to declare an all-out war on drugs– pot, in particular.  In 1984, First Lady Nancy Reagan established the “Just Say No” campaign to eliminate marijuana use in the youngest segment of the population. Yet, in the past month of 2010 alone, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 16.7 million Americans used marijuana on a regular basis.
By virtually any standard, marijuana prohibition efforts have repeatedly failed to achieve their primary purpose: keeping pot away from the people.  Instead, the marijuana prohibition movement has served to drive marijuana use into the underground, criminal sector of society, and away from legal oversight.  Now, marijuana users are forced to turn to drug dealers and illegal farmers to obtain their precious crop– a process that not only fosters dangerous crime, but also has a detrimental fiscal impact on state and national governments, alike.  After 73 enduring years of failed marijuana control, the federal government should act to end the futile era of pot prohibition.  There are three primary justifications for legalization.
First, the harms of marijuana are often largely overstated.  Despite popular misconceptions, various analyses of the substance indicate that there is no clear connection between marijuana use and lung problems, impaired cognition, amotivational syndrome, or hormone deficiencies. The substance has neither addictive properties found in other “drugs” like heroin, methamphetamines, or cocaine, nor toxicity (there have been literally ZERO reported deaths as a result of marijuana overdose). In fact, a recent Newsweek article asserted that a person is more likely to overdose on potatoes than pot. The lethal dose of the seemingly harmless spud is a mere ten raw potatoes; a person would have to smoke a whopping 1,000 pounds of marijuana to overdose. This is, believe it or not, a feat unable to be conquered by the likes of Lil Wayne, Willie Nelson, and (let’s face it) a few of the 23% of admitted teen smokers in the United States put together. To the contrary, marijuana has been shown to have various medical benefits such as reduced nausea in cancer chemotherapy patients, stimulated appetite in AIDS patients, and reduced intraocular pressure in people with glaucoma. For these reasons, it is clear that, on balance, cannabis has positive medical impacts with negligible detriments, and, thus, could reasonably be integrated into society.
The benefits of legalization are not restricted to the medical realm.  From a public policy standpoint, ending pot prohibition is a fiscally responsible measure.  According to the FBI’s 2009 Uniform Crime Report, marijuana arrests accounted for more than half of all drug arrests in the United States, with one marijuana arrest occurring every 37 seconds.  The cost of these arrests and their associated legal fees are beginning to add up.  The Cato Institute recently issued a statistical analysis that found the legalization of marijuana would save the Justice Department a staggering $8.7 billion annually by eliminating such price tags.  The analysis noted another economic benefit to ending prohibition: tax revenues.  If marijuana were legalized, the substance would be taxed at both the production and retail level just as any other commercial good, and would reportedly generate another $8.7 billion in taxes, assuming it would be taxed at a standard rate. Coupled together, these factors give marijuana significant economic potential in the legal market (not to mention potentially skyrocketing profits for the fast-food industry).
After decades of dazed and confused prohibition policy, it is time for the United States to “just say no” to underground marijuana, and instead pursue a fiscally responsible policy that opens the door for medical treatments and closes the door to violent Mexican drug cartels.  It is time for the federal government to heed the wise words of rap artist Sean Paul and simply “legalize it.”

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November 12, 2010 · 2:41 pm

Warrior runners finish in record time

By: Taylor Herring

The Cross Country team kicked off their season quite successfully, with four returning Varsity competitors at the top of the roster: Chad Moore, Anthony Stricker, Jackson Shahady and Nick Stevenson. After recruiting Nolan Johnson, Will Murphy, and Garrett Head, however, the team was predicted to be even more successful than years before. The team met and exceeded expert predictions at District; the boys became the first boys’ division to win District in Oak Grove’s history. The girls’ division finished with a “perfect score,” meaning that the top five runners were all from Oak Grove. Senior Chad Moore won first place in the boys’ division; freshman Christie Stricker won in the girls’ division. With a larger number of All-District competitors than ever before, the team’s next goal was the State competition on November 6th.

In preparation for State, the team practiced staunch “two-a-days”: running four to five miles in the morning, and repeating the route in the afternoon. “The team became very dedicated during the month preceding state; they knew what they had to do to win,” Coach Robin Ryder said.

Chad Moore swept the course at State, earning the Class 6A Boys’ State Championship and making the 3.1 mile trek seem like a walk in the park. “I knew this would be my last time to run for Oak Grove,” Moore said, “I had to go all-out.” All-out proved to be a modest understatement; Moore toured the route in 16 minutes flat, finishing with the top male time of the day and nearly exceeding his personal best time of 15:58. Moore’s win was no close race either; the second place spot was captured by a runner 25 seconds behind him. Although Moore has already received offers from Milsaps, TCU, and Lipscomb University, he expects to see subsequent recruitment as a result of his success at State.
After hard work and excessive preparation, the team’s devotion materialized at State. The boys’ division finished fourth of 27 teams; the girls’ division finished second overall. With miles of practice behind them, the team can rest easy, knowing their dedication was worthwhile.

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· 2:24 pm

Upgrade Downgrade

By: Taylor Herring

Until last week, students were forced to survive the long school day with no caffeine to aid them. Now, however, caffeinated beverages such as Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite Zero, Fanta Zero and even Vault Zero are sold in the newly placed Coke machines. In addition to these drink machines, we have seen a significant upgrade of snack foods: cereal bars, Rice Krispie Treats, and NutriGrain bars. So students, if anyone is forced to work tirelessly into all hours of the night on, perhaps, pre-cal/trig homework, have no fear of the next day at school; it’s out with the water and in with the soft drinks to keep you alert.
Replacing water and Fuze with Coke Zero and cereal bars? Upgrade

Since its humble beginnings, Hattiesburg has been considered to be a sort of “Smalltown, USA”. As of recently, however, Hattiesburg has received much publicity. Not just one, but both congressional candidates for Mississippi-District 4 representatives visited Oak Grove to educate students on their individual platforms. In addition, Madeline Albright, former Secretary of State under Bill Clinton’s administration, visited the Saenger. She spoke about NATO and foreign aid before an absolutely packed theatre. Considering the recent publicity Hattiesburg has received, the former small town should only expect more attention to come.
Downgrade: Hattiesburg’s evolution from small town to publicized city?

Until this year, seniors have been allowed to be exempt from both mid-terms and semester exams. During the week of the most recent mid-terms, however, many seniors were displeased (to say the least) to find out that this policy had been repealed; seniors may only be exempt at the end of the semester. To add to the dejection, our district has also re-adopted the former absence policy. Instead of four total absences allowed for exemptions, students may have only two absences per nine weeks. Beware, juniors, it’s only a matter of time before the “85 or above” senior exemption is taken away as well!
Administrators tightening up absence/exemption policies? Upgrade

Walking through the newly decorated hallways, one question resonated, “Wait, so what’s the theme this year?” The homecoming hallways, senior hall in particular, seemed hardly up to par with previous years. On top of this, many students have complained about the dress-up day themes… Geriatrics day, and we aren’t even allowed to wear sweat pants? Not to mention, if students decided not to dress up, they had to wear jeans and a tucked-in, school uniform approved polo. So much for homecoming week fostering school spirit!
Downgrade: Homecoming hype fails to live up to expectations?

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October 1, 2010 · 1:50 pm

4th Congressional District Candidates set to face off

By: Taylor Herring, Staff Reporter

Steven Palazzo, Republican

Palazzo hails from Gulfport, Mississippi, where he attended Saint John’s High School. Following his high school years, he earned degrees at the University of Southern Mississippi, served in the United States Marine Corps, established his own accounting firm: Palazzo and Company, and served in the Mississippi State Senate.

Economy
Palazzo believes that politicians have lost control of fiscal responsibility and restraint. His promise is to decrease regulation, lower taxes, increase incentives to benefit small businesses, stop big government spending, and return to free market economic principles in an effort to stimulate economic prosperity.
Defense
Palazzo draws his views on defense policy from his time spent in the U.S. military. As he views the matter, Islamic militants cannot peacefully coexist with Americans, and as such, the U.S. must take proactive steps toward eradicating terrorist organizations around the globe in order to preserve American security. Palazzo also believes in restoring honor to military service by providing support to war veterans and service members.
Health Care Reform
Palazzo has a strong distaste for the latest reforms made to the healthcare industry under the blanket of ObamaCare. If elected, Palazzo promises to fight for the act’s repeal and the return of healthcare to the hands of private industry.
THE RUNDOWN
The Palazzo campaign has become a major challenge to 21 year incumbent Gene Taylor. By feeding off of the anti-incumbent sentiments of the second most conservative district in the country, Palazzo hopes to succeed in his ultimate goals: Firing Pelosi and returning Mississippi values to U.S. Congress.

Gene Taylor, Democrat

Taylor is a resident of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Prior to his election to U.S. Congress in 1989, he practiced law along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, worked as a member of the Bay St. Louis City Council and Mississippi State Senate, and served for 13 years in the United States Coast Guard. Taylor currently serves on two major committees in the U.S. House of Representatives: the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Economy
Taylor, a member of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Democrat coalition, does not support many taxpayer-funded initiatives like the latest government bailouts and stimulus packages. Taylor serves on the platform of job creation and industry regulation in South Mississippi. During his time in office, Taylor has championed insurance regulation, worked to earmark over $10 billion in government spending for infrastructure projects along the Gulf Coast, and negotiated defense-related contracts that have provided thousands of regional jobs.
Defense
Taylor, like Palazzo, supports a strong, expanding military and generous veterans’ benefits. He has given particular focus to supporting regional military posts of Keesler Air Force base, Ingalls Ship Yard, and Camp Shelby, in addition to fulfilling lifetime veterans’ promises.
Health Care Reform
Taylor also opposed the latest federal reforms made to the healthcare industry on the basis of costliness. In the future, Taylor hopes to revise provisions of ObamaCare, make improvements to existing government healthcare projects of Medicare and Medicaid, and bolster regulations of the health insurance industry.
THE RUNDOWN
For the first time in a long time, Taylor faces a reasonable opponent in the race for Mississippi’s 4th district. Taylor’s campaign has recognized that his best prospects lie in his experienced record in “representing South Mississippi.” Taylor hopes to navigate the rough seas of anti-establishment in this race for conservatism by November 2 and return to serve yet another term for the citizens of South Mississippi.

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September 14, 2010 · 1:21 pm

OG students travel to Australia with peacekeeping organization

By: Taylor Herring
Staff Reporter

From June 30 to July 12, a group of 38 students and four adults traveled across the globe to Australia. People to People, a student ambassador peacekeeping program, took students in the Jackson and Hattiesburg delegation. These students were anonymously selected based on academic and leadership qualities. In order to pay the $6,800 fee for the trip, the students fundraised during the preceding year. While this cost may seem lofty, it covered not only air-fare to and from Australia, but also travel inside the country, meals, and 5-star hotel fees. Three of our own students participated in the People to People trip to Australia: senior Kate Zachary, and juniors Elizabeth Lucas and Susannah Carpenter.

When asked which part of the trip was most exciting, Kate Zachary immediately recalled the group flying to Cairns, an entirely different state in Australia. While in Cairns, they explored the Wet Tropics Rainforest in North Queensland. The most memorable part, however, was snorkeling among the Great Barrier Reef. The unexpectedly shallow waters made the colors of the reef most vibrant; according to Zachary, the brightness of the reef was indescribably beautiful.
Susannah Carpenter asserted that while the Great Barrier Reef was a beautiful experience, her favorite part of the trip was learning to surf in New South Wales. This eastern coastal region is a surfing community, so most of the inhabitants are on the beaches and in the water on a regular basis. After careful instruction from surfing guides, the group paddled out on surf boards alongside the professionals. Carpenter was one of few who was able to stand on the board her first try; however, she did so with ease.  “Although surfing was a tough technique for most to master,” Carpenter said, “the feeling of being out on the water was a really great experience.”

Elizabeth Lucas’s favorite part of the entire trip was not an event that the group did as a whole. Hers, however, was the “home stay” portion of the trip. During home stay, the students stayed in pairs with separate Australian families in Southwest Rocks: a region of New South Wales along the Pacific coast. The purpose of the stay was to become acquainted with the way of life of Australian citizens. The students not only grocery shopped with the family, but prepared meals and ate with them as well. They stayed with the family for two nights and did basically anything the family would do on a regular basis. “The people were so happy; it was obvious that they enjoyed having Americans stay with them,” Lucas said. “Staying with such welcoming people, in such a beautiful area, almost made me want to be Australian!”

The group participated in a myriad of other activities over the course of their stay. In Cairns, for example, the students had the privilege of meeting native Aborigines. This tribal group speaks an entirely different language than the native Australians and lives in secluded huts throughout the area. The students on the trip were able to observe an ancient Aboriginal tradition: didgeridoo playing.

Not only did the students encounter a tribal group native to Australia, but also native animal species. In Cairns, they were able to get “up close and personal” with koala bears; some were actually able to hold and feed one of these friendly creatures.  The students also became quite acquainted with dingoes: wild dogs found only in Australia. On Frasier Island, in fact, there is a $30,000 fine for simply feeding these wild animals. “It was somewhat strange,” Zachary commented, “to see a dog act the way a dingo acts. It was scary to think of known cases of these animals actually eating babies, while at home these very animals live in our houses.”

Another interesting aspect of the trip was the difference in American and Australian food. Foremost, since kangaroos are so abundant in the region, they have become domesticated animals which many people eat. Furthermore, Australians enjoy baked beans for breakfast, instead of for lunch or supper as Americans do. They also commonly eat “potato Jims,” an Australian version of American hash-browns or “tater tots.”  Mealtime was usually an exciting time for the group; they never quite knew what to expect on their plates.

The students involved in People to People viewed this trip as one which they will remember always. The 15-day expedition was certainly a once in a lifetime experience; they each gained a unique appreciation for the culture of Australia. “The entire experience was incredible. I will, without a doubt, return to Australia in the near future to visit a truly amazing and beautiful country,” Zachary said.

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May 11, 2010 · 1:07 pm

Senior Feature: John Lloyd Martin

By: Taylor Herring

With one of the only Presidential scholarships from Oak Grove, senior John Lloyd Martin is anxiously awaiting graduation. In order to receive the honor of a full scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi, Martin had to score at least a 30 on the ACT and maintain a grade point average of 3.7 or higher. The Presidential Scholar at USM receives not only full tuition, but also room, board, books, and a meal plan. “While all these things are nice, the best part about the scholarship is that I’m not allowed to get a job,” Martin said. The Dean of Students at Southern Miss does not allow first-year freshman to have a job, simply so that they can maintain the highest grade point averages possible. Martin is proud to have the honor of attending their state-of-the-art Honors College. Although he has not always had all A’s, Martin is ranked 18th in the senior class and has made exceptional grades during his high school career. The reason, in his opinion, that he did not receive all A’s was his involvement in the two hardest classes at Oak Grove: Ms. Welch’s Pre-Cal/Trig and Coach Smith’s AP Economics. Martin has attended Oak Grove his entire life, and the teacher who influenced him the most was Mrs. Andrea Clark, who taught Martin English and Humanities. Aside from being one of the most entertaining teachers in the school, in Martin’s opinion, she tremendously helped him improve his test-taking skills and overall attitude about high school.

A few of Martin’s hobbies include turkey hunting, wake-boarding, fishing, and making raccoon hats.  Considering he stays so busy outside of school, he hardly has time for extracurricular activities. During his high school career, however, he has been involved in the Chess Club, Beta Club, First Priority, and Student Council. Martin is one of only three Presidential Scholars from Oak Grove. Although he still currently has an undeclared major and undecided job ambitions, Martin feels very confident about the future and is excited to finally begin life out of high school. While he believes life away from his home will be quite an adjustment, he is extremely excited to be staying in Hattiesburg for college. The typical victim of senioritis, Martin advises underclassmen not to worry too much about grades.  “Everyone should just try and have fun in high school. Sure, homework and grades are a big part of it, but enjoying the short time you have with your friends is what really matters,” Martin said.

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