Author: jalinernest

Boys Basketball Preview

story by: Jalin Ernest

The season opener is right around the corner for the 2017-18 JHS boys basketball team, as they look to build upon the core that was started during the 2016-17 season.  

After losing just two seniors (Cameron Northern & Michael Minton) from last year’s 14-win team, the Red Devils will open the season on Nov. 22, as they travel to Indiana’s capital to face off against the Southport Cardinals. In last season’s meeting, at Johnson Arena, the Devils upset the Cardinals, 65-52.

“This team is more familiar with the style of play and is better prepared,” said head coach Joe Luce, who has a 29-23 record in three seasons as the Devils head coach.

For this season, the clear leader of this young team is senior Bailey Falkenstein. As a Junior Falkenstein averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assist per game.

However the young talent for the Devils shined bright all throughout last season.

“We have a chance to make good run and anything’s possible with the type of team that we have but we’re just going to have to wait and see and let our actions speak louder than our words,” said Falkenstein.

Sophomores Tre Coleman and Jacob Jones looked to lead the team as freshmen. This season, the duo will look to improve on their already-impressive resumes: Tre Coleman picked up his first official Division 1 scholarship offer from the University of New Orleans on July 25, while Jones shined on the AAU circuit against some of the nation’s top teams in the Adidas Gauntlet.

The Devils finished with 14 wins and 11 losses last season, but their struggles came on the road, where JHS finished 1-7 away from Johnson Arena. However the team held an impressive 12-3 record at home.

Against other Hoosier Hills Conference opponents, the Devils finished 3-4, which was good enough for sixth overall.

The Devils look to add more length to their starting rotation, as Senior Jaden Coleman, who played JV last season after transferring from Rock Creek High School, looks to prove he can be a big factor on both end of the floor. “Our biggest strength is how long we are. This year our length should help us block shots, rebound, and deflect passes,” said Luce.

by jalinernest

2017 Female Athlete of the Year: Faith Denig

story by Tristan Jackson

Just a few short months ago, Jeffersonville High School’s softball team was coach-less and unsure if they would even be playing this season.

Now, with first-year skipper Mike Coons at the helm, the team has gotten off to a 5-4 start after finishing 7-9 one season ago.

The Devils’ improvement this year has been facilitated by the play of junior 2B/SS Faith Denig, who is batting .320 on the season. Denig has also tallied nine runs and five RBIs in the team’s first nine games.

“This year we’re all adapting to a new coaching style but we’re doing pretty good,” Denig said. “Next year I really think we’ll be a competition and a threat to others.”

Denig not only brings incredible talent to the softball team, but she brings a sense of veteran leadership, as she’s been playing on the Varsity level since her freshman year.

“Her positive attitude helps us out all the time,” said junior Lindsey Nelson. “Her mentality on the field helps push other people to do things that will help us out in the long run.”

While softball is Denig’s main focus, as she has already committed to play in college at Ohio Dominican, she still finds time to man the goalie position for the girls soccer team at Jeff.

“Some nights I don’t get home until eight or later, and then I still have to stay up and do homework and then get up early again for workout and practices,” Denig said, on playing both sports. “But you have to find time if you want to do it.”

Even with a busy schedule juggling two sports, Denig also finds time to be one of the leaders in the radio and TV department for Jeff High’s radio station, 98.5 WJHI.

“Faith is one of the most hard-working students in the entire radio and TV department.” said junior Jason Monihon.

Denig has proven to be fantastic in everything she has found herself involved in her at Jeff, and that has earned her high praise from her coaches.

“Whenever you have a player like Faith who shows up everyday, plays wherever you tell her to, works hard, and never complains, that’s the type of player you want on your team,” Coons said.

Beyond high school, Denig plans on attending Ohio Dominican on a softball scholarship and majoring in business and communications. If her time at Jeff is an any indication of her future, it looks very bright.

by jalinernest

Cheap gifts for cheapskates

story by Jalin Ernest

With Valentine’s Day closely approaching (Feb. 14), many couples look to take the cheaper approach for a thoughtful gift. For some, less may mean more. But during this time of love and compassion, the thought is what counts the most.

  • Great Escape Movie Theater (Clarksville, Ind.): At $11.50 per person for a regular 2D movie, it’s not the cheapest, but it’s the easiest. To cut costs and save money, get your candy from a store away from the theater. Make sure to choose your movie prior to your arrival because when you get there, choosing your movie may be harder than it seems.
  • Steak and Shake (Clarksville, Ind.): This may be as close as it gets to cheap at a sit-down restaurant. Milkshakes are a little pricey, but very much worth it. With a menu of meals under $4, you may not beat it at any other restaurant.
  • Eastern Lanes ( Clarksville, Ind.): Who doesn’t love bowling? It is an easy idea, maybe even a  last minute plan that can work for a lot of people. With a special on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:30 pm to 12:30 am you can get shoes and a lane ( a maximum of 3 people ) for $11 per person.

Cheap Gifts:

  • Flowers: What girl wouldn’t like flowers with a nice little message attached to them. You can get flowers from anywhere, Walgreens, Meijers, Krogers, probably even Rural King. If you need t just throw something together get you some flowers and a one dollar card and write a nice message and she will love it.
  • Chocolate: Because … why not?
  • Teddy Bear: Every girl needs someone to cuddle with when her boyfriend isn’t around. They come in many sizes and you can get them from Walgreens, CVS, and Meijer. Some of them may not be the cheapest but any girl would love to have them and would be thankful that you got them one.
by jalinernest

Cheap Dates and Cheap Gifts

story by Jalin Ernest

With Valentine’s Day closely approaching (Feb. 14), many couples look to take the cheaper approach for a thoughtful gift. For some, less may mean more. But during this time of love and compassion, the thought is what counts the most.

Great Escape Movie Theater (Clarksville, Ind.): At $11.50 per person for a regular 2D movie, it’s not the cheapest, but it’s the easiest. To cut costs and save money, get your candy from a store away from the theater. Make sure to choose your movie prior to your arrival because when you get there, choosing your movie may be harder than it seems.

Steak and Shake (Clarksville, Ind.): This may be as close as it gets to cheap at a sit-down restaurant. Milkshakes are a little pricey, but very much worth it. With a menu of meals under $4, you may not beat it at any other restaurant.

Eastern Lanes ( Clarksville, Ind.): Who doesn’t love bowling? It is an easy idea, maybe even a  last-minute plan that can work for a lot of people. With a special on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:30 pm to 12:30 am you can get shoes and a lane ( a maximum of 3 people ) for $11 per person.

Cheap Gifts:

Flowers: What girl wouldn’t like flowers with a nice little message attached to them. You can get flowers from anywhere, Walgreens, Meijers, Krogers, maybe even Rural King. If you need to just throw something together get you some flowers and a one dollar card and write a nice message and she will love it.

Chocolate: This is more for the girls that need to get their significant other that just so happens to be a male. Guys already know that every girl loves chocolate, but if you are a girl and don’t know what to get your boyfriend just go with chocolate. You really can’t go wrong.

Teddy Bear:Every girl needs someone to cuddle with when her boyfriend isn’t around. They come in many sizes and you can get them from Walgreens, CVS, and Meijer. Some of them may not be the cheapest but any girl would love to have them and would be thankful that you got them one.

by jalinernest

I’m with her

story by: Simone Brady

 

Her History:

Hillary Rodham Clinton (née Hillary Diane Rodham), born on Oct. 26, 1947, in Chicago is the Democratic party’s nominee for President of the United States. She obtained a law degree with honors from Yale University in 1973 after graduating from Wellesley College in 1969. During her youth, she worked on Republican campaigns; however, after hearing Martin Luther King, Jr. speak, she changed her affiliation to Democrat in 1968.

Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, won the presidency in 1992 and again in 1996. She served as First Lady from 1993 to 2001, making various diplomatic trips to 82 countries during her tenure. After the end of her husband’s presidency, Clinton decided to run for a Senate seat in the state of New York. She won the election, and went on to her appointed duty from 2001-2009.

Then, in 2009, President Barack Obama appointed her as Secretary of State, which was her position until 2013. She became the most extensively traveled Secretary of State in history, visiting 112 countries and traversing over 950,000 miles.

Clinton ran against Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2008, but conceded in the face of defeat. Despite her loss, she never gave up on her goal to be the first female president. When the opportunity arose again, she took it and ran with it, launching a successful campaign and garnering many supporters.

Along with her fans came critics, of course, including her opponent in the presidential race, Donald Trump, who calls her “Crooked Hillary” due to some of her more public missteps.

Her Ideas:

Clinton plans to reform immigration and make it much easier for immigrants, both legal and illegal, to obtain citizenship. She claims that she will enact this plan within her first 100 days in office, according to her website.

Her belief is that protecting families is one of the most important things one can do when dealing with illegal immigration. Clinton’s agendas of promoting naturalization and attempting to help immigrants obtain safe healthcare are also part of her plan to overhaul America’s immigration system.

Her plans to combat terrorism are well-rounded; she wants to fight radical Islamic terror from many angles. According to her platform, she wishes to take out bases in Syria and Iraq, work with U.S. allies to prevent terrorist attacks, and tighten defenses here at home by preventing gun access to people who are suspected of terrorist ties.

Clinton also supports LGBT rights and racial justice. With the legalization of same-sex marriage last summer, and the rising coverage and awareness of police killings, protecting citizens’ rights has become more crucial than ever.

Clinton appeals to many citizens all across the United States — people of all different races and ethnicities, those across the gender and sexuality spectrum, of varied economic status, and any other factor one can think of. Even those who are not necessarily big fans of her are flocking to her side due to fear of her opponent.

Final Word:

Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton is on a mission to be the very first woman to hold the office of President of the United States. Despite her mistakes and the few faux pas that she may have made, with over 30 years of experience in politics and law, she is truly the most qualified candidate in this race to achieve that goal.

by jalinernest

From Varsity Letters To College Letters

story by Carlos Molina and Tristan Jackson

IUPUI, Bowling Green, Western Michigan, and Wright State have all offered junior Jacinta Gibson, a guard/forward on the girls basketball team at Jeffersonville High School, a scholarship to play at their school.

The junior is entering her third year as a member of the Varsity. Gibson played volleyball her freshman year and ran cross country her sophomore year, but decided to focus her skill set on solely basketball this year. Gibson also played in the AAU basketball league for the Indiana Elite.

Gibson finished the 2015-16 season, and averaged 4.4 points, 1.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and started 24 of the 25 games they played. However Gibson’s all-around game is what is attracting so many coaches.

“I am really excited. I just feel as if they are rewards for my hard work in the offseason,” Jacinta said. “I’m focusing on basketball this year. I was a part of the Varsity team for my freshman and sophomore year and this upcoming season, I hope to make the Junior All-star team.”

Girls basketball head coach Michael Warren has high expectations for Gibson, especially now that she has colleges interested in her game.

“It’s awesome for her and awesome for the program. It’s a credit to her hard work and it’s what she’s earned over the summer for her work in the spring,” Warren said. “Her work ethic is unbelievable. She has come a long way since she has come here.”

The girls team ended last season with a 15-9-1 overall record, including 4-3 in conference play.This year, Gibson is expected to play a much larger role.

“People are going to know she has offers now, so she’s going to have to take more of leadership role and step her game up,” Warren said. “It’s great for her to have AAU experience and Division One offers, but as a coach and a team, I need her to come play like that come January and February.”

Sophomore power forward Chelsea Gibson (Jacinta’s sister) also plays for the Indiana Elite and the girls basketball team at Jeff. Gibson plays Varsity basketball, as well, with her sister.

“It’s really awesome and I’m really proud of her,” Chelsea said. “I expect a lot of scoring, more assists and more college offers for her this upcoming year.”

by jalinernest

Blue Lives Matter

story by Jay Williams

The idea that “Black Lives Matter” is a completely valid statement. Every life matters.

As someone who supports the police and condemns the wrongdoings toward them, I’m extremely perturbed by those who cause these wrongdoings. I can appreciate someone who yearns for equality amongst other races. I support Black Lives Matter. I support the movement that says, “my life matters too,” rather than the movement that says, “my life matters more than yours.”

Black Lives Matter, in my opinion, should stand for equality. The movement should be a matter of saying that black lives matter just as much as any other life. Sometimes, even I could see how a black man would fear going out; how being in the presence of a police officer could be a fearful moment for a person of color.

But when people who hate police, and hate the wrongdoings towards black people, choose to take to violence to get revenge or payback — that is when my support for the movement terminates.

I’m a Blue Lives Matter supporter because, more often than not, the typical police officer is an honorable person. Most police are good police. However it is that one officer that makes a mistake that alters the view of every police officer. I know many police officers personally and have yet to meet one that isn’t a class act.

Most recently, the events in Dallas shed a whole new light on the Blue Lives Matter statement. Officers Thompson, Zamarripa, Krol, Ahrens and Smith lost their lives on that terrible night — men who everyone revered as a professional and good people.

It isn’t fair. It is not fair to those families affected. Every life, of every race, should be valued. Discrimination is not the face of this country.

At the end of the day, police have no reason to blindly take the life of someone who doesn’t pose a serious threat, regardless of color or creed. However, fighting back and causing more violence is no way to end it.

Using violence to promote peace is the absolute least effective way to go about this issue. Black Lives Matter has shifted to a group who tolerates violence, and has caused the need for extra support for police.

As a country, America can not tolerate injustices being done to those who sacrifice so much for our safety.

by jalinernest

Black Lives Matter

 

  story by Jalin Ernest

Many people would say that the Black Lives Matter movement is outrageous, or a misrepresentation of what America is all about. While I understand that there are a lot of black-on-black crimes (and that has to stop), but cops killing innocent people is not okay either.

I understand situations involving a person with a weapon that could potentially harm an officer are some of the most difficult ones, but aren’t police officers taught to defend themselves in all situations? If it is a knife, doesn’t a taser work just as well? If it is a gun, maybe police can shoot and hit them in a place to disarm the suspect?

My point is there are other options, and don’t always have to end in death.

Yes, some officers have to make decisions within a certain time frame that can be as small as a second, but the excessive shooting of an unarmed man, especially those of color, and not calling for help is completely sickening. People lose their lives everyday from various crimes, but there is no need for a police officers to continue to take the lives of an innocent, unarmed African American.

Police officers are meant to keep the peace, not disturb the peace. Now with this said, not all police officers are bad, and not all are taking lives. To those of you that do not do these horrendous acts, thank you for doing your job the right way.

A huge misunderstanding in the Black Lives Matter movement is those thinking I am saying that it’s just black lives that matter. It’s not because, truly, all lives matter. However it’s becoming more and more common that it is a black man, or woman, getting killed for “allegedly” being combative.

Some people do not know what the meaning of “Black Lives Matters” really is. It is meant to represent the African Americans being killed without any guns, knives, or any other weapons that could possibly hurt the officers.

It is not a movement of African Americans being racist by saying that the lives of white, Mexican, or other races do not matter. It is saying that Americans don’t see anything being done when it comes to a police officer killing an unarmed African American, and we are tired of it.

But blind eyes continue to be turned. For example, in February of 2016, 22 African Americans were killed by the police nationwide — with 41-percent being unarmed. This means every 32 hours of a month, an African American is killed, and nearly half of them are unarmed.

We want to see some kind of consequence given to the officer, or officers, that took place in the crime, because last time I checked, murder is still a crime.

 

by jalinernest