Page 1

High School Highlights Pg. 2-4

In the News Pg. 5

Devils Den of Sports Pg. 6-7

He said/She said Pg. 8

Frustrated Man Pg. 9

Creature Pg.10

Movie Review Pg. 11

Editorials Pg. 12

Book Review Pg. 13

Gamer Guru Pg. 14

Middle School Pg. 15-18

Food Fanatic Pg. 19

Horoscope Pg. 20

The Turntable Pg. 21

Porkchop Probs Pg. 22

Paparazzi Pics Pg. 23

Our Sponsors Pg. 24

In This

Issue:

Volume 4, Issue 8 April 2014

Don’t Forget About the Price Tags By: Brooke Robinson

Where do I begin? Prom is coming up soon for the

juniors and seniors of St.C High School which means it is now

crunch time. Girls are carrying on about how expensive their

dresses are, how much glitter will be on them, and the exces-

sive amount of makeup to go with it. Now, for the guys, they

are laid back: they don’t have to worry about much (except

for that major life decision of which hot-rod vehicle will

transport him and his date).

Don’t get me wrong, prom is a lot of stress but with

all of the pampering for one day, it is completely going to be

worth it. For me, being a junior, it is my first time going to

prom and I anticipate it to be an amazing night. Every girl

wants to experience some type of wonderful fairytale in her

lifetime; however, such fairytales come with price tags. Since

it is my first year, as I mentioned, I want it to be special.

Therefore, the price tag I received was more than over my

budget (not too happy about that). Yes, I’m clenching my

teeth but I’m hoping it will be worth it.

So, here’s a tip that might help the girls for future

reference: look at the price tag before you fall in love with the

dress.

The St. Clairsville chapter of the National

Honor Society held its annual Tapping

Ceremony on April 10th, 2014. This year, two

seniors and twenty-two juniors were inducted

into the NHS.

President Brianna Sowers gave the

introductory speech, explaining the background

of the organization.

Officers Kathryn Whinnery (Vice President),

Summer Gallentine (Secretary),

Alex Timko (Treasurer), and

Brigee Mick (Sergeant-at-Arms) spoke about the

NHS’s principles of scholarship, service,

leadership, and character.

Members Marissa Risso, Dana Bernard,

and Frankie Berardi spoke about the symbolism

of the NHS’s logo. Finally, Sowers read off the

names of the new inductees and gave a brief

biography about their high school

accomplishments. The students then took the

NHS pledge, and were given their pins and

membership cards.

The RDD would like to congratulate the

members of the St. Clairsville National Honors

Society on their hard work.

The 2014 Tapping Ceremony By: A.L. Davies

Top Row (L-R): Riley Bartsch,

Quentin Clark, Michael Jacob,

Landon Porter, Mike Monteroso,

Jake Miller, Derek Gross, Alex Gazdik,

Allison Greenwood. Middle Row (L-R):

Caitlin Wolfe, Brooke Robinson,

Brandon Meier, Macey Zambori,

Hannah Pagano, Devin Bailey,

Alexis St.Clair, Alexis Wilson. Bottom

Row (L-R): Samantha Collins,

Brenda Williams, Jonathon Bartolo,

Brooke Gould, Sonu Tadipatri,

Anna Davies, Bond Weedman.

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 2 Page 2

This month’s issue stars sophomore Laura Bernard

as student of the month. Laura is such a calm, polite, and

bubbly individual. She was a joy to interview and below are

the questions we at RDD asked her.

RDD: What is your favorite genre of music?

Laura: Uhm, mostly Classic Rock. But I’ll listen to anything

really.

RDD: How would you describe your style?

Laura: I would say probably more of a grunge-type style, I

think.

RDD: Where are you most content?

Laura: I think I’m most content just listening to music or

reading.

RDD: If you were on a deserted island, what three things

would you take?

Laura: I would probably take my iPod, definitely a book, and

a friend so I don’t get lonely.

RDD: You mention reading quite a few times, do you like to

read? If so, who is your favorite author?

Laura: Yes, I love to read. I don’t know what my favorite book

is. I like so many, but I really like Nicholas Sparks.

RDD: What extracurricular activities do you participate in?

Which is your favorite?

Laura: I dance at Tony Zeakas Dance Studio, I’m in the play

right now as a mouse, and I have piano on Thursdays. My

favorite is dance.

RDD: Do people compare you to your sister, Dana? If so,

how?

Laura: Uhm, not so much. They just say that we look alike.

RDD: What word would you use to describe your sophomore

year?

Laura: It has definitely been interesting.

RDD: Do you have any big plans for this summer?

Laura: Not really, I just plan on hanging out with friends and

Zach Bigelow( her boyfriend).

RDD: Is your hair naturally curly? If so, if you had the

opportunity, would you change it to be naturally straight?

Laura: It’s naturally curly so I would keep it curly.

During the interview, Laura was a delight and

vibrant. Her style may be grunge, but that is definitely not the

same for her personality. She was very relaxed and gave great

answers. Laura Bernard seems to be a bright, interesting, and

promising student for the upcoming years.

Politely Grunge By: Mickenzi Hughes

Sophomore, Laura Bernard.

Page 3

Don’t jump!

Behind the Scenes By: A.L. Davies

We members of the St. Clairsville High School Players like to pride ourselves on our top-notch acting and performances that charm citizens across our community and school district. However, most people don’t realize all that goes on “behind the scenes,” shall we say. Which is why I, A.L. Davies, am here to give you an inside look at what goes into making a musical.

First of all, you’ve got to have a steel-trap memory to remember all those lines. And you’ve got to have patience for when a practice centers around a scene you’re not in, and you end up sitting there for an hour. And the costumes? It doesn’t matter if they scratch, make you sweat profusely (it happens), or are way too tight. If it’s how they did it on Broadway, then it’s how we’re doing it in St. C. (Just ask the guys about the beards they got glued to their faces in Fiddler on the Roof last year).

Blocking, or arranging positions of where you’ll stand and move off stage during scenes, is always a good time. And by “good time,” I mean extremely tedious and yet another thing you’ve got to memorize.

Oh, and your sleep schedule? Be prepared for some late nights and early mornings, especially around “crunch time,” or three weeks until opening night. Practices span longer than anticipated, and for days when we do school shows, we’ve got to be at the school before seven to get hair and makeup done.

Despite all the work and effort that goes into a musical, I think I can speak for all the Players when I say we wouldn’t trade acting for the world. And we’re extremely grateful Mr. Berk has the patience to put up with us every day.

On Monday, April 14, those who showed up for school participated in a day full of safety drills. In previous years, the last day before spring break was nothing exciting, usually just watching movies. This year we spent the day practicing drills, from fire drills to ALICE, we did them all. Several students chose not to come to school that day. I got the luxury of not having a choice. Because of this luxury, I

took advantage of the great opportunities to capture each drill. I even got a picture of Mr. Skaggs hanging out of the press box window during the mass evacuation!

Whether at school or not, students still will participate in these monthly drills. It just gives the ones who came to school an advantage.

A Day Full of Drills By: Katelin Gandee

Did a tornado hit or is this the

ALICE drill?

Are you finally grading papers,

Mr. sleutz?

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 4 Page 4

Prom is coming up fast and many people are still trying to get stuff together. This should be easy for a guy,

right? Wrong. Being tall and trying to find even a simple shirt is a challenge. Ties, should be easy, it’s not. A larger neck

makes it hard to find one.

So far, a shirt and tie cost me roughly $150. That’s not cheap by any means. Trying to match a color perfectly with the aid of only a phone picture is difficult because of

the pixels. The color of a phone picture is always different than the original material.

Take all of that and take into account that there is about a week left to get stuff. It really isn’t all that easy for a guy. Especially if the color has to be perfect and quality materials are expected in what is being acquired. I’ll admit that most guys can virtually be happy with getting a shirt from sears and a tie that is close enough in color. I’m not one of them.

And People Say Guys Have It Easy

By: Doug Reinbold

In every school there are those one or two teachers who everyone knows and loves. We have quite a few here, perhaps the most well-known is Mr. Bizzarri. He is the Business Law and Intro to Business teacher, but does anybody really know who Bizz is? We are running out of time to ask him, as he is retiring this year. So for this month we decided to interview the Great Bizz himself.

RDD: How have students changed over your career.

Mr. Bizzarri: Students are always changing.

RDD: What will you miss?

Mr. Bizzarri: Being around my students and colleagues

RDD: What is the difference between JVS and St.C?

Mr. Bizzarri: JVS is better for students that intend on going into the workforce. The world always needs plumbers, automechanics, and hairstylists. St. Clairsville High School is for those who wish to continue their education and graduate college.

RDD: Do you think your left a mark at St. Clairsville?

Mr. Bizzarri: Well, I hope I left a mark here.

RDD: What will you do when you completely retire?

Mr. Bizzarri: I'll never completely retire. I'm a member of the township among many other things. It will slow down a bit, but I'm going to sub for a while, too.

RDD: What is the most embarrassing thing that's happened to you as a teacher?

Mr. Bizzarri: There has been a lot of embarrassing things happen to me over the years.

RDD: Would you have ever chosen another job?

Mr. Bizzarri: My father really stressed to us the importance of a college education. He didn't care what we did as long as we went to college.

RDD: What advice would you give future teachers

Mr. Bizzarri: Treat every student the way you would want them to treat you.

RDD: What advice would you give future students?

Mr. Bizzarri: Always try to learn something new.

Well there you have it, advice from the Great Bizz, for teachers and students alike. Always learn something new and treat others the same way you would want to be treated. Never question whether you have left a mark on the students and

staff at St.C. You will always be remembered! Happy Retirement!

Getting Down to Bizz-ness By: Heidi Madens

Mr. Bizzarri

Page 5

Is Summer Here Yet? By: Katelin Gandee

Spring break, that short glimpse of what

summer will hold, is now over and done with. Most

people spent it in one of two ways; staying home and

doing nothing productive or actually leaving the house

and being productive. For most of my high school

career, and probably middle school career, I've been

one of the stay home-people. This year was different. It

wasn't really the best spring break ever, it was only

three days, two of which were driving, but I did get to

go to Myrtle Beach! Why, you might ask? A college

visit! Spring Break for all you underclassmen is a great

time to go look at colleges, especially if it's in a place

like South Carolina! Spring break this year for me was

pretty fun. I got to visit my future college, eat a bunch

of fried food, drink southern sweet tea, and walk on the

beach! Now I'm going to get to do that all next year,

except during spring break. Spring break next year I'll

get to be back in Ohio, woo! So who is already planning

next year’s spring break?

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 6 Page 6

With all the sports beginning this spring season, St. C has definitely been busy. One athlete who has stood out is Michael Jacob. He plays first base and also pitches on the Varsity baseball team so the RDD decided to ask him a few questions. RDD: How long have you been playing baseball? Michael: Since I could walk. RDD: What do you do on your free time? Michael: Hangout with my friends, my beautiful girlfriend, or family. RDD: What’s your favorite color? Michael: Red. RDD: Do you bond with your teammates during the off-season? Michael: All the time. RDD: If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Michael: Somewhere in the south, like South Carolina. I could play baseball all year long and be warm. RDD: Do you plan on playing baseball after you graduate? Michael: Yes. RDD: How did you get the nickname ‘Zuke’? Michael: My sisters started calling me by it when I was born and it stuck pretty well. Now knowing more about Michael or Zuke, maybe you can go see him pitch the Varsity Baseball team on to victory. With only a few weeks left, don’t waste any time!

Baseball Star By: Sarah Heidelbach

Junior, Michael Jacob

Page 7

A Day in the Life of a Baseball Player By: Brooke Robinson

Ready for a Good Season

When one hears the phrase, “Hey, Bubby Dude, throw it here!” Or, “Run three Bubby!” it isn’t difficult to understand that a baseball game is taking place. The St.C boy’s baseball team has recently begun their season and according to sophomore, Cody Goletz, this season is one you won’t want to miss. Cody has been on Varsity for two years now and has showed his potential on the field. We at RDD decided to ask him a couple questions in order to get some insight on what’s in store this year and to discover the things that make up a baseball player.

RDD: Explain the daily routine of a baseball player.

Cody: “We warm up, then throw, then hit, and run.”

RDD: Being a sophomore on varsity, what does it take to be a leader?

Cody: “You gotta keep your head up and stay positive.”

RDD: What is one thing you and your teammates strive for everyday?

Cody: This is what Coach Sliva would say, “Play baseball the way it should always be played.”

RDD: How far do you predict your team going this year?

Cody: “We plan on going to regionals.”

RDD: Do you feel the team has had a successful off-season?

Cody: “Yes, we practiced a lot and we’ve matured more this year.”

RDD: How many injuries occur on a regular basis?

Cody: “We have them about once a week.”

RDD: Why should spectators come watch a St.C baseball game?

Cody: “Well, on Wednesdays we’re going to start having pizza night. Also our games are exciting and our fans usually scream, “Pump it up!”

Cody appeared rather enthusiastic during this interview, showing that we, the residents of St.Clairsville, should come out and support the team!

Love Means Nothing By: Katelin Gandee

Sophomore Cody Goletz

cheesing hard.

Spring is in the air so that means spring sports are starting up. The Red Devil tennis team welcomes back Coach Verba and new assistant coach, J.C. Yevincy. Coach Yevincy, whose nickname is Shakira, plans for some world domination or at least some tennis domination this year.

On Monday, March 31, 2014 the Red Devils traveled to John Marshall, in the van and several cars since buses weren’t available. The match ultimately ended in a loss for the Red Devils. The lady devils lost their 1, 3, 4 singles and all their doubles, the 2 seed won 8-0. The boys lost all their matches, sadly. The Red Devils will face Weirton on April 7 at home.

The Lady Red Devils Softball team has had a good start

to their season. Head Coach Rachel Duncan has brought the team

to an 8-5 winning record thus far.

The Varsity squad includes Lauren Figura,

Michaela Miller, Summer Gallentine, Jolyn Shunk,

Summer Stevens, Carlee Gillespie, Antonia Hummel, Kaley

Garloch, Megan Teater, Kipra Rhodes, Mackenzie Otto, and

Ashley Baker. A few standouts

are senior, Lauren Figura and

junior, Michaela Miller, who both

pitch very well. Figura has an

honorable mention in Division III

all-state, all-OVAC, and all-

Buckeye 8. When one is pitch-

ing, the other fills the short-

stop position respectively. Sen-

ior Carlee Gillespie covers center

outfield with her speedy feet, and

sophomore, Jolyn Shunk is the

catcher and already has Varsity

experience.

With all the talent-

Varsity Softball player and

Junior, Michaela Miller.

Chase Wiethe hitting up the tennis court.

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 8 Page 8

Well, I have some bad news. Clancy and Sally

broke up. Sally broke up with Clancy and he is not taking it

well. Break ups are never enjoyable unless you’re the one

doing the dumping. If you’re on the other end then it

sucks. Unless you weren’t happy in the relationship then I

guess you would be quite pleased.

Let’s look at it this way; you’ve been dumped.

Well, now you’re out of a relationship and you are free. Let

the wind blow in your face and your hair flow like a

waterfall of golden honey. Breathe in the air and take in

everything for it’s a new beginning. You can do whatever

you want, when you want and you don’t have to worry

about your girlfriend finding out about your mischievous

adventures you do with your friends. It’s all over man, so

look on the bright side of things and don’t let a break up

get you down.

When a couple breaks up they need space from

each other. So don’t pal around with your ex after you guys

break up. You broke up for a reason so stay away from

each other for a while. If there is a possibility of staying

together, then talk to her. But if there isn’t, then stay away

from each other and leave her alone. Often times a broken

up couple hang around too much which closes the door of

opportunity for a better guy to come into that girl’s life.

Your time with her has passed. So, hangout with your

friends more. Make up for all those times you blew them

off to put on your wedding band, and everything will be

fine.

The End By: Zach Musillli

Making the Break By: Mickenzi Hughes

Some teenagers might say that the only thing more

difficult than getting into a relationship is getting out of a

relationship. What happens when the once great thing you

thought you longed for turns into something sour and no

longer fun for either of you?

The way I see it, you have two options. Option one is

you break off the relationship and deal with the aftermath.

Option two is the less desirable and you stay and suffer. But

who wants to do that? However, one thing breaking up and

asking out have in common is the courtesy rule not to do it

over a text message! Nothing irks me more than someone

who doesn’t have the courtesy or courage to end it in

person. If you can’t end it in person, maybe you aren’t

mature enough to be in a relationship to begin with.

Breaking up is hard to do, I’ll admit, and being

broken up with generally isn’t any better. But it’s probably

not the worst thing you’ll go through so being optimistic is

the best cure for both parties of the break up. And ice cream

helps too.

Page 9

As the years have gone by, I have stood and

watched them drift by. I’m beginning to wish that I didn’t

just wait, and wish that I actually took advantage of

those years while they were there. Soon enough I’ll be

out of here without the slightest clue to what lies ahead. I

bet that many can’t wait to be free from school, away

from parents, and out of the area. Don’t wish away the

time, live in the now. The past is past, the future is

unknown, but the now can change the future for an

individual.

If there was some way to turn back all those

wasted years and start again, I would. Things would be

different, but I know I have to live with the life I have

created for myself. I might not like it, it may not be the

best life, but it is mine. Nobody can change that except

for myself. Do what is important in life, don’t sit around

and waste it, go out there and live life.

To those who say, “I can’t wait to get out of

school so I can get away from the valley,” I can only say,

don’t wish it away. The world is an unforgiving place and

will spit out those who can’t work with it. The odds of

someone leaving home with a high school education

Don’t Waste The Years

By: Doug Reinbold

People already drive like idiots on an average

day, so what happens when you throw rain into the

mix? I’m not saying that everyone drives like an idiot,

and I’m not saying those who do drive like idiots

should still drive in the rain as if it were a normal day,

but it really is not necessary to drive as if the idea of a

motorized vehicle is completely unprecedented. I

could understand driving a little slower when it is

raining, but going 20mph in

a 40mph zone is not

acceptable! Sure, rain

causes people to crash, but

that only happens when

people drive like they own

the road. Go ahead and ask

me how many times I have been late to lessons and

meetings due to people driving imperceptibly slow.

Heck, I have even seen people pull out right in front of

others because they thought they would get stuck if

they stopped at the stop sign.

It is literally JUST a bit of water falling from

the sky; it does not have the same physical properties

as snow! Listen to Chris, and he will explain to you

how to properly drive in rainy conditions. Just remain

calm, watch the signs, drive at the posted speed limit

(or just a little under), and keep an eye on the cars

around you. That, my friends, is how to avoid harming

yourself or others and still look like you know what

you are doing. Good luck out there and drive safe!

Fools in the Rain By: Chris Clark

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Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 10 Page 10

Paranormal Trifecta By: Lukas Kazmirski

Children were all taught not believe in ghosts, but

as one grows up one may learn more and more about the

strange cases of paranormal happenings. Most people try to

deny it but there are cases reported now and then of true

hauntings. Whether these cases are denied for religious

reasons, personal fear, or simply in the hope of not

frightening others, the paranormal is either accepted or

completely denied. What few people know is that there is

not just one but three different types of paranormal

entities: Apparitions,, Poltergeist, and Demonic.

Apparitions are basically the dead who have not yet

moved on. Essentially they are someone who died under

either unnatural or unfavorable means and failed to move

on to the next world. Apparition’s strength is very minimal

but can, on occasion, become stronger depending on how

they died. The common Apparition can do only a number of

things such as: slightly moving objects, speaking in

whispers, and appearing in a ghostly form.

Poltergeists are far more powerful, they are

basically somebody who was either at peace and something

disturbed them or somebody who took their own life for

ritualistic reasons and chose not to move on. Poltergeists

can be extremely dangerous and powerful depending on

how strongly they were provoked. Their abilities number

far more than any kind of apparition and these abilities

include: causing illusions, harming people, moving large

objects, and in some cases can even kill.

Demons, unlike the other two, are creatures that

have never lived; they have never walked the earth in

human form. They have far more power than anything a

ghost can produce. Demons can move any object they

choose, manipulate nearly anything, and in extreme cases

can even possess. A demon haunting happens in three

stages: harassment, where all people involved are

tormented, oppression where the demon targets the

weakest willed individual, and finally possession where the

demon will take control of that individual. Demon hauntings

can usually only be resolved by exorcisms done either on

Courtesy of Google

Images

Courtesy of

Google Images

Demon

Apparition

Poltergeist

Courtesy of Google

Images

Page 11

Puppy Horrors

If you were waiting for your whole life for that one great horror blockbuster, then don’t expect it to be Oculus. While Oculus was good in some ways, which weren’t many, it did badly in other aspects.

First, the main plot was not too hard to follow. A family buys a rustic looking mirror to put in the father’s office. This mirror, however, is possessed by a demon inside of it in the form of, guess what, a little girl. It’s very cliche , right? The mirror essentially tears the family apart and drives them to kill each other.

What the horror movie lacked overall was horror. Not once did I feel that I

was scared to the point where I even found it terrifying. Of course, it had your usual jump scares, but never made me feel like the atmosphere was scary. Another flaw, like with most horror films, was that I didn’t care what happened to the characters. If one of them died, I didn’t feel saddened which indicates that there wasn’t much characterization.

Overall, the story had much originality. I haven’t heard of a film with a similar plot before, so I figured that I might as well see it. When it is released on DVD, I would not advise you to purchase it right away. After a while, you will probably see it in the 5 dollar movie bin.

Courtesy of Bing Images

Oculus

Once again, it’s time for a puppy ‘tail’ of

horror. Porkchop has met the eighth month mark of

his life, and this fright is becoming massive. No

longer can he sneak under my bed, or crawl into my

bed unknowingly. With this new height he has now

realized the mischief he can cause. Tables are no

longer a safe place to leave unwanted carcasses of

meals or snacks, and my night stand is a war zone

when drinks are left up on top. His menacing ways

are driving me insane. If I lose another pair of shoes

my head just might explode. Puppy troubles are

A new puppy is every

kid’s dream, and when I learned

that my one- year-old Boxer

would be having her first litter

my excitement could not be

contained. Out of the eight

puppies she had, my mom chose

the biggest, porkiest of them all,

which led her to name him

Porkchop.

Now I’ve heard the

horror stories on how these cute

puppies can turn into monsters

and destroy whole rooms and eat

beloved items, but never did I

think the terrors could be so true.

I live in constant fear as to what

terrors I will walk into when

going home. Chewed shoes and

destroyed wires show up

regularly in my bed and my floor

tends to be covered in a light

covering of destroyed trash and

paper. Honestly, this is just the

small, normal things this cute

Porkchop the puppy posing

for a photo.

Hoarders: Puppy Edition It is time for another

installment to the tales of Porkchop

the puppy. I have never met such a

mischievous pup, but his tricks, and

always leave me one step behind.

Coming home to a floor of shredded

garbage and stuffed animal remains

is normal routine. Never would I have

guessed my little heathen to be a

hoarder, too! There was a time when

he was actually little enough to

squeeze through the opening under

my bed, and not once did I think he’d

use that to cause me misfortune. I

was sadly mistaken, for when I was

doing some cleaning I found, to my

horrors, the biggest stash of hidden

garbage and destruction I have yet to

see. An hour later I finished

excavating piece after piece, and had

By: Gabrielle Becker

Stress, Stress, Stress

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 12 Page 12

Page 13

Quacking Good Books

Warning: Even if you don’t wear camouflage,

hunt, or pray, you might enjoy these books. Even if you

aren’t a Vietnam veteran, retired football player, pioneer

woman, or a CEO of a multimillion-dollar company, these

books might be worth your while. Yes, even yuppies are

welcome read the stories and advice from the Robertson

family.

Those of you who know your pop culture or

shop at any of the countless stores who sell their

merchandise, you’ve probably guessed that all this has a

little something to do with A&E’s, Duck Dynasty. Well,

you would be right, but I want to talk about the books,

not the ‘unscripted’ reality TV show.

Happy, Happy, Happy took me by surprise; there

is much more to Phil Robertson than football and

camouflage. If you had any doubts about Phil Robertson

after the drama of his interview with GQ, you need to

read this book. Phil take his Bible seriously and after

reading about his humble beginning and life struggles

you’ll respect his opinion even if yours is different.

Hey! Si-cology 101 will have you laughing,

reading faster, eager to flip each page and that’s a fact,

Jack! There is extra humor in reading this book because

if you’re like me, you’ll find it impossible to read in any

voice other than Si Robertson’s. Each of Si’s entertaining

stories are accompanied by hilarious jokes. Here’s a

sneak peak: “I’m the master of distractions! A couple of

hand gestures and –bam!- I’ll pull the underwear clean

off your butt!”

Miss Kay’s Duck Commander Kitchen isn’t exactly

a novel, but it’s much more than just delicious recipes.

But if you’re looking for a tasty pioneer meal, I

recommend Jep’s Meatloaf Choice and homemade hush

puppies. Beyond the food, this cookbook is filled with

inspiring scripture, family testimonials, and even

pictures of the Robertson men before the beards.

Most recently The Women of Duck Commander

was published by the duck men’s wives. In this book

women share their stories, good and bad; they don’t hold

anything back. Miss Kay reveals a time in her life when

she had suicidal thoughts. Lisa Robertson tells her story

of childhood abuse. Also Jessica Roberts confronts the

rumors that she is gold digger to set the record straight.

The women also share the heart warming and funny sto-

ries that explain their family dynamic.

There’s something for everyone in each of these

books and if you don’t plan on reading any, you have got

to be quacking kidding me.

Pictures provided by Google Images

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 14 Page 14

More and more people are buying the newest Xbox One or PlayStation 4. With this comes the negligence of your (or your friend’s, if you have those) older PS3 or Xbox 360. Before the transition, I highly recommend you to play these ten games, or offer them to a friend (once again, if you have those).

1. Fallout 3- Who doesn’t like a great post-apocalyptic game with sentimental feelings? Traverse about our nation’s capital while trying to avoid mutants, or maybe even humans with a need to exterminate you. Fallout 3 is one of my favorite games of all time with great weapons, story, and a big twist to our usual first person shooters.

2. Any Halo game- If you haven’t played the Halo series, and have an Xbox 360, do yourself a favor and play all of the Halo games (except 1 and 2). I don’t have to go into detail with the reasonin because it is Halo.

3. Borderlands and Borderlands 2- Aside from being a great first person shooter and RPG, Borderlands has a sense of style that most games don’t deliver. The first and the second games are a must play. If you would like to add more hours of gameplay, purchase the Game of the Year edition of both of them.

4. Assassin’s Creed II- As I really liked playing all of the Assassin’s Creed games, I found the second to be my personal favorite. The setting and main character (Ezio) coincide well to make a remarkable game with hours of fun just climbing and exploring. And as usual, there will be hidden blades, enough said.

5. Mass Effect- Seeing how there are so many great games for the Xbox 360 and PS3, I find it very hard to fabricate a list of games to play. However, I take many factors into consideration. One, for example, is the most “bang for your buck.” Any of the Mass Effect games, which there are three in total, deliver a great RPG experience, without breaking your wallet. If you want to play all three, I advise you to purchase the Mass Effect Trilogy.

His Name is Link, Not Zelda! By: Chris Clark

As you all may know, I

love the Legend of Zelda series.

I’ve been playing Zelda for as

long as I could hold a control-

ler. While I’m usually quite

efficient when it comes to vid-

eo games, there’s one that I

took my time on in order to

fully immerse myself in the

story. Sit down and get ready

to hear the story of how it took

me about 13 years to beat The

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of

Time.

Picture this: it is

sometime in the early 2000s. I

rush home from school every

day and sit in front of the Nin-

tendo 64 with my older sister

Caitlin. We spend the day with

the controllers in our hands

and the guide book open on

the floor in front of us. Most of

our time was spent finding all

the secrets and completing all

the side quests in Ocarina of

Time. Finally, after many hours

of game play, we had obtained

every possible item, completed

every side quest,defeated all

the monsters that followed

Ganondorf, and prepared our-

selves for the final fight. Unfor-

tunately, our luck had just run

out. As we turned on the N64

the next day to finally beat the

game, we noticed something

peculiar: our save file had been

corrupted and deleted from

the system.

Now, flash forward to

April of 2014. I love older

games, especially ones that I

played as a kid. As I was dig-

ging through all my old Ninten-

do games, one specifically

catches my eye. I pull out Oca-

rina of Time, pop it in the N64,

and start my adventure all

over again. It was refreshing to

once again emerge from the

Kokiri Forest, wielding nothing

more than the Kokiri’s Sword

and a cheap, wooden shield.

This time I was determined to

complete the game, even if it

meant not completing side

quests and acquiring useful

items.

Everyone remembers

the feeling of accomplishing

something as a kid. If you

played video games, you know

what I’m talking about. I mean

the feeling of saving the world

for the first time, feeling like a

hero. Most people will not feel

this again, at least, not to the

same extent. However, I can

say that I have defied this rule,

and I have, once again, felt the

childhood feeling of accom-

plishment. On April 6th, 2014 I

finally completed the Legend

of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the

Games to Play Before the

Next Generation

By: Brandon Meier

Pictures Provided by Google Images

Page 15

Bookish Benefits By: Madison Gillotte

When was the last time you read a real book? Not a

book required for school or a movie description. An actual

“book-book.” For some people it has been ages and yet for

others, like myself, books are an everyday must-have. The

people who constantly read for fun know what a joy it is to

dive into a story; to learn about other people and see their

life’s mysteries unfold. Those who “don’t read” are not only

missing out on those few benefits, but also many more. Here

is a list of professionally proven facts/benefits about having

the hobby of reading:

· Stimulates the mind and can help slow down and

sometimes even prevent dementia or Alzheimer’s in

the long run. Also, well-written books can help

reduce stress.

· Helps improve concentration/focus, improves

analytical (critical) thinking skills, and you’re

expanding your knowledge about many different

topics just by simply reading.

· Expands your vocabulary, you gather better writ-

ing skills and techniques, and it helps with expanding

your memory, allowing you to obtain more

knowledge!

· Can bring a sense of peace and relaxation. Also…

(my favorite) it doesn’t have commercials like

television!

So you see? Reading isn’t “just for geeks.” Reading on

any subject benefits any type of person whether you’re active

or lazy, tall or short, or even cultured or uncultured! There

are books for everyone, so don’t be afraid to grab one and

Some Book Suggestions: For the YA Fictional Romance Lovers I suggest, The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska both by John Green and The Significant Series by Shelly Crane. For the YA Fantasy Fiction Lovers I suggest, The Land of Stories (the first and second) by Chris Colfer and The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. For the YA Historical Fiction Lovers I sug-gest, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

For the YA Mystery Fiction Lovers I sug-gest, Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro and The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.

For the YA Action-Adventure Fiction Lovers I suggest, The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth and An Abundance of Katherinesby John Green. For the Adult Fictional Romance Lovers I sug-gest, Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult and The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks. For the Nonfiction Lovers I suggest, Night by Elie Wiesel, Anne Frank the Diary of a Young Girl, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and In Cold Blood by Truman Ca-pote *Most books may be categorized differently and may have more than one stated genre.

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 16 Page 16

Bathroom Weirdness By: Paige McGlothlin

Have you seen the writing on the 7th and 8th grade

stalls? If not, you're a lucky one and probably one of the few

people who haven't. As you know the bathrooms are shared

by the 5th, 7th, and 8th grade students. You never know

who could walk in next; it could be anyone.

Most things are written without names. If you want

to share information just tell your friends! Leave it off the

bathroom stalls. There is definitely no need to write who

you're dating. Sorry, but no one really cares. Bathrooms are

for using, not drawing. Who has that much time anyway?

Use the bathroom, wash your hands, and leave! It's that

simple. “#POTTY, Should I break up with my boyfriend?”

and “Hey, I'm new here,” do not need to be there. Nothing

needs to be there. Next time you are in the bathroom and

you are going to write on the walls, think, do I need to do

this or can I just tell

my friends and get

the same effect.

Who knows if your

friends are even going

to see it?

Image Courtesy of google.com/

Should Football be Banned from Schools? By: John Kasik

American football, arguably the most popular sport in North America, but is this game safe enough for middle and high school athletes? More importantly, does it need banned altogether? Over the past 20 years, medical experts have been conducting studies that prove that the game of football is violent and dangerous, and many people, including parents, feel that it is unsafe to play and should not even be played. If you agree with them ask yourself this, do you ride a bike or participate in any other sport? I ask this because these activities bring with them similar consequences as football. Many people bring up the concussion issue that has plagued the sport for decades but I do know that

organizations have been created to help make this sport safer. While I do agree with people being worried, I do not agree with the belief that the game of football should be ripped away from the high school culture we live in and have students be deprived of competition and athletics.

Picture Provided by Google

The New Flappy Bird? By: Julia Skrabak

Eyes burning, fingers cramping, not worrying what

time it is, always being on your phone, and losing sleep.

These are all side effects of a new game that has taken over

the Internet: 2048.

Seemingly easy when

first downloaded, 2048 is an

addicting app that will have

you fuming, waiting and

hoping for that one game

where you'll finally receive the

2048 tile.

Kids are playing it into

all hours of the night, getting

up the next morning and

discussing new high scores

and how infuriatingly close

they were to that coveted

yellow block.

It's been called "The

New Flappy Bird", but unlike its predecessor, it has an

Image Courtesy of google.com

Page 17

Washington, D.C. is our nation’s

capital and the site of the biggest class

trip middle-school students can

participate in. The eighth grade trip to

this amazing city is full of fun and

informative attractions.

First is a stop at the Gettysburg

battlefield in Pennsylvania. Later that

day, you will visit historical monuments

like the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials.

On the second day, you will visit

more memorials including the Martin

Luther King and 9/11 memorials.

Day three starts off more

solemnly than the others with visits to

Arlington National Cemetery and the

United States Holocaust Memorial

Museum.

To end this day, eighth graders

will attend a Medieval Times Dinner and

Tournament show. The next morning,

you take a tour of Mt. Vernon, George

Washington’s home, and take a cruise

aboard the Potomac Spirit.

Although this is the last

attraction, you will always have your

memories of the fun you had in D.C., and

maybe someday you could take your

family to Washington D.C. and share the

fun with them

Picture Provided by Google Images

Windows XP Support Has Ended! What This Means to You & How You Can Protect Yourself

By Justin Musser

Microsoft has ended support for Windows XP, so what does that mean to you? If you do not own a computer with Windows XP, this has no effect on you. If you own a computer with XP, I will explain what this means to you.

When Microsoft ended support for Windows XP, this is what happened:

· Microsoft will provide no more updates for XP. · Microsoft will end online help for any troubleshooting. · Microsoft’s antivirus will have no more updates for Win-

dows XP. · There will be no more security updates for Windows XP.

Now, this may seem terrifying, but with a few simple steps

you can keep using your computer without any risk. I recommend using these tips to stay safe:

1. Update to the latest Windows XP Service Pack, called Windows XP SP3.

2. Select a good antivirus to warn and prevent computer viruses.

3. Use highest internet privacy settings. 4. Stop using the internet, if possible.

If you follow these instructions, you and your computer will

stay safe from viruses. Best of all, you can still use your computer as normal.

Washington, D.C. Class Trip By: Brandon Verardi

Picture Courtesy of Google Images

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 18 Page 18

The Middle School Move By: James Shope

So, what’s high school really like? What will it be like

going from the “seniors” of the middle school to the wan-

dering ducklings of the high school? Will the classes and

work load be heavier? Will it be challenging

enough? Will I really have to worry about my GPA now?

Many middle school students are starting to ask them-

selves similar questions around this time of year as they

make out their schedules and other preparations for next

year and starting high school. What are your expecta-

tions going into high school, and how can the transition

from middle school to high school go smoothly?

First of all, I am an only child, therefore I cannot

ask my older sibling(s) what going from middle school to

high school is like, or I would. Talking to others about

this process can be extremely helpful. Attending the high

school orientation program which will be offered this

summer can also be beneficial. Familiarizing yourself

with the building, teachers, and classes is also help-

ful. Luckily for St. Clairsville students, we don’t have to

relocate across town.

By the time the first day of school rolls around this

August, the new freshman class will be ready to take off

their training wheels and begin their new adventure into Picture Provided by Google Images

High School Jitters By: Cory Bodkin

Can you believe it? The school year is almost over and that means in a little over three months, we’ll be high school freshmen. Sounds crazy to you doesn’t it? Well, that’s not the only crazy thing going on. All of us eighth graders had our class scheduling before spring break along with the rest of the high school. Most of us asked our high school friends for some advice on what classes to pick. Some of us took Algebra I this year, so we get to meet the famous Mr. Baum next year in Algebra II. What about that wild and crazy teacher Mr. Hicks? We had him for our computer science teacher this year, but probably won’t get to have him as a teacher again until we’re sophomores taking Chemistry. Bummer! Another big event that ended up extremely intense and competitive in our class was the class officer elections. I actually ran for our class vice president against a very

tough competitor. We both wished each other good luck before we gave our campaign speeches. After all the officer speeches were given, Mr. Verba told us straight to our faces that in all of his years of teaching, we had some of the best speeches he’s ever heard. Good luck to all the students who ran for an office to represent our Freshman class. Some of the people in our class are a bit scared at the fact that we’re going up to the high school with the big dogs. With the group of kids in our grade, I honestly think the high school should be afraid. So to those who are a bit scared, don’t worry about it. Many other high school stu-dents have been in our shoes and they made it through their first year just fine. I pose a challenge to my fellow classmates in eighth grade: are you ready to show the high school what our class is made of? I’m ready! Are you?

Page 19

Finding a small, French based restaurant is difficult in

this area. Panera is one of my most frequently visited stops, but

recently my visit to Later Gator has opened my eyes.

Center Market in Wheeling is home to some interesting

shops to go on a visit. Later Gator is small, quaint building,

which I later learned was the original building from the 1800’s,

with a dark setting. Dim lights and darker, more modern

furniture brought out the sophistication, but the colorful menu

with hilarious names for meals brought out the experience. The

range of coffees and other drinks, and lunch options was

phenomenal, and the crepes just topped it off perfectly; A

trifecta in my opinion. Getting the soup of the day gets topped

with an alligator shaped biscuit!

Looking at the menu, the names make one chuckle such

as ‘Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner,’ a sandwich choice and a

new drink called ‘Holy Cow’ which is a ginger ale float. Though it

is a little on the pricey side, the experience is worth it. There are

Taste Bud’s Delight

By: Gabrielle Becker By: Doug Reinbold

So on the 15th of April I headed to West Texas

Roadhouse. Mind you, I haven’t been here in a few

years so I expected things to be different. I was sadly

mistaken. Not that it wasn’t good, but I guess I

expected a bit more out of it. I ordered a steak (not

something I do often anymore) and a baked sweet

potato. The steak was well-seasoned and the potato

was of good size.

I can’t say it was a bad trip, but I felt very out

of place. If I had to go there I would, but if I had an

option I probably wouldn’t. If I had to rate it on a

scale of 1-10, I’d give a 5 out of 10, good service but

not the greatest food I’ve had.

All in all, I probably won’t go back for a long

while. It just doesn’t pull in the crowd that I’d hang

around at all.

Left: Later Gator keeps it classy,

sassy, and above all, delicious.

(Courtesy of Google Images).

Right: Every meal is bigger at West

Texas Roadhouse.

(Courtesy of Google Images).

Everything’s Bigger…

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 20 Page 20

Page 21

Those who follow this music column may’ve

discovered I am a vinyl enthusiast. So on April 19th,

or Record Store Day as it’s called in the music world,

myself and my significant other (a fellow aficionado)

hit the streets of Pittsburgh to track down some

stellar record deals.

Allow me to explain Record Store Day.

Basically, it’s a day designed by bands who support

the vinyl industry to bring business to local record

shops. Bands release special editions of albums on

coloured vinyl, or singles that were only pressed on

vinyl.

My dear and I first hit up The Exchange.

There was a special rack at the entrance of the store

full of RSD deals, which was instantly bombarded by

hipsters. I managed to snag Chvrches’ Recover EP

(1,792 of 2,500 made) and The The’s “Giant” single

on 12-inch before exploring the back of the store,

which was full of used records.

Second on our list was Desolation Row

Records. After sorting through box upon box of

records, I was rewarded with The National’s Boxer

LP, and a special release of The Smiths’ live BBC

tapes on vinyl.

All in all, it was one of the best days ever.

And we’ll be back next year for sure.

An Experience for the Records By: A.L. Davies

You could say we had a successful day. (Photo courtesy of J.Garczyk)

Mobile Middle Earth

By: Lukas Kazmirski

We’ve all played those games on our phones where we build the castles,

armies, and crops, but one of the newest versions out there is the Kingdoms of

Middle Earth. This game, based mainly on The Hobbit franchise, is similar in many

ways to other versions of kingdom games. You get to choose your side of either

dwarfs or elves and then begin to build your kingdom as you want. This game is

free on the App with a handful of things in the game that can be purchased for

small fees. What is great about this app is that it takes an movie franchise and

makes it into a game that everyone these days has been playing continuously. I

would recommend this app to any fan of The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings movies.

Courtesy of Google Images

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 22 Page 22

By: Gabby Becker

Puppy Horrors

A new puppy is every kid’s dream, and when I learned

that my one- year-old Boxer would be having her first litter my

excitement could not be contained. Out of the eight puppies

she had, my mom chose the biggest, porkiest of them all, which

led her to name him Porkchop.

Now I’ve heard the horror stories on how these cute

puppies can turn into monsters and destroy whole rooms and

eat beloved items, but never did I think the terrors could be so

true. I live in constant fear as to what terrors I will walk into

when going home. Chewed shoes and destroyed wires show up

regularly in my bed and my floor tends to be covered in a light

covering of destroyed trash and paper. Honestly, this is just the

small, normal things this cute little monster loves to haunt me

Evil takes a puppy form in

Porkchop. (Photo Cred. G. Becker)

Stress, Stress, Stress

Once again, it’s time for a puppy ‘tail’

of horror. Porkchop has met the eighth month

mark of his life, and this fright is becoming

massive. No longer can he sneak under my

bed, or crawl into my bed unknowingly. With

this new height he has now realized the mis-

chief he can cause.

Tables are no longer a safe place to

leave unwanted carcasses of meals or snacks,

and my night stand is a war zone when drinks

are left up on top. His menacing ways are

driving me insane. If I lose another pair of

shoes my head just might explode. Puppy

troubles are starting to cause me stress. Love

and affection and his cuteness is only keeping

Hoarders: Puppy Edition

It is time for

another installment to the

tales of Porkchop the

puppy. I have never met

such a mischievous pup,

but his tricks, and always

leave me one step behind.

Coming home to a floor of

shredded garbage and

stuffed animal remains is

normal routine. Never

would I have guessed my

little heathen to be a

hoarder, too!

There was a time

when he was actually little

enough to squeeze through

the opening under my bed,

and not once did I think

he’d use that to cause me

misfortune. I was sadly

mistaken, for when I was

doing some cleaning I

found, to my horrors, the

biggest stash of hidden

garbage and destruction I

have yet to see.

An hour later I

finished excavating piece

after piece, and had finally

calmed down enough to

face the tiny monster. His

timeout was deserved,

very well deserved.

By: Gabby Becker By: Gabby Becker

Page 23

Is America

near France?

We’re airplanes! I should

have worn a

coat.

Where are

they?

HIIIIIIIIIIIII!

I feel like a

supermodel!

Does he really

have to sit so

close to me?

How long until I

get yelled at?

I have such

better hair than

Phil.

Ever

since I

went to

Dr. Wiley

I love my

smile!

Where is my

sugar

glider?

This is so

stimulating I

am going to

mumble

something

monotonous...

Volume 4 Issue 8

Page 24 Page 24

A. Sebulsky Steel, Inc

Beck-Altmeyer Funeral Home and Crematory

Mr. Greg Bizzarri & Family Richland Township Trustee

Convenient Food Mart

Jacob and Sons

Mr. Walt Skaggs

St. Clairsville Educational Association

Wesbanco

Mrs. Lisa Giffin

Mr. and Mrs. Milhoan

Mrs. Dolores Pytlik

Mrs. Denise Skaggs

Mrs. Joyce Zeiher

Mr. Kelly Rine

Mrs. Mindy Husek