Category: Features

Settle down … Rusty is on the case

IMG_0230
School Resource Officer Rusty Settles has been roaming the halls of Jeffersonville High School, and other area schools, for nearly his entire 25 years on the force.

by Tristan Jackson

Every day, he comes into the school.

As he walks by students, they nod their head at him in respect for what he does to ensure their safety. With his uniform cleanly pressed, and his mindset on protecting Jeff High, officer Rusty Settles will do whatever he may have to do to keep Jeff, and the students within it, safe.

In a time where gun control, and school safety, is a hot topic, Settles follows a routine each morning to ensure students can go about with a normal day.

“When I get here everyday, I try to walk the building and check the doors,” Settles says. “I make sure everything is where it’s supposed to be. Once that’s done, I always try to be visible throughout passing times.”

Being visible throughout the school can be tough, though, especially with a school as big as Jeff. Roughly 2,100 students attend JHS, and while the school is in a closed-campus setting, the building still spans a large area.

“I feel safe when I see Officer Settles in the hallways,” said senior Kip Jackson. “I love that I see him in more than one location in the school. He’s always checking up on me and my fellow students.”

Settles has been on the Jeffersonville Police Department for 25 years, as of June. When a position within the high school opened itself up, Settles found the job interesting and wanted to learn more about it.

Little did Settles know, though, that the job would be so critical for student safety years later.

Recent events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where 14 students and three teachers were killed, have brought jobs like Officer Settles’ into the spotlight.

“There are lots of factors in how people view how we do our job. School shootings have caused a lot of different things, a lot of different ways, a lot of different mindsets,” Settles says. “Just think of how students feel when the fire alarm goes off. (They) call mom and dad. (Their) mindset has changed.”

But according to Settles, recent tragedies have not just changed students and parents — his frame of mind has been affected, too.

“My perspective on what has just happened (in Parkland), yeah it’s changed. It goes through my mind, I can’t say it doesn’t,” Settles says. “But I can say, I know some students that would report to me. I, along with the school corporation, will take what they would report and investigate thoroughly to help keep you safe.”

While Jeffersonville High School is fortunate to have Settles on duty full-time, some around the country would like to see teachers armed, or having more guns within the schools.

“It would be nice to have someone else to help investigate certain things. I always reach out to my colleagues at the (police) department for some help with things,” Settles says. “I don’t want to get overzealous with it, but with where we are today and the actions taking place within the country, it may need to be looked at over extra security or people trained to use a gun.

“Ask me a week from now,” Settles continued, “it might be different.”

IMG_0223
Settles has been following the school shooting events closely, using what he sees as potential tips for how to handle violent situations in the future. “My perspective on what has just happened (in Parkland), yeah it’s changed. It goes through my mind, I can’t say it doesn’t. But I can say, I know some students that would report to me. I, along with the school corporation, will take what they would report and investigate thoroughly to help keep (students) safe.”

But even with everything going on, Settles finds one thing is more important than anything else: his relationships he has built along the way.

“I want to build rapport with you guys. You need to know me, I need to know you,” Settles says of students. “That, in itself, is the most important thing.Through the NASRO (National Association of School Resource Officers) training program, I learned the number one thing is building that rapport to help create communication between each other.”

Building trust throughout JHS helps make Officer Settles’ job smoother, and create for a more welcoming environment at Jeff High.

“People may ask me why safety and keeping guns out is not the top priority,” said Settles. “But it is. The talk and communication can help prevent such things from every happening. My job is proactive and reactive.”

by jhshyphen

Raising Cain

Story by Tristan Jackson

Jeffersonville High School has a new state champion.

Camyle Cain, a wrestler in the 138-pound weight class on the female circuit, won the Indiana state competition on Jan. 19 — just one year after the first-ever state competition for girls, in which she placed second against Alara Boyd, the second-ranked female wrestler in the world in her weight class.

“I’ve never felt something so exciting,” Cain said on her experience at the state tournament. “Everyone is so welcoming and nice. Even if you’re going against the girl, she’ll help you warm up.”

Cain was convinced to join the wrestling team by head wrestling and strength & conditioning coach Danny Struck, who has been coaching at Jeff for over 20 years. While she excels on the mat, Cain’s first love was the football field.

“I didn’t want to originally,” Cain said on joining the wrestling team. “Struck would ask me everyday to come. He would say ‘if you don’t like it, don’t come back. Just try it.’ I didn’t like it the first week, but I kept going, and a month down the road, I realized I really liked this sport.”IMG_0070

Cain joined the football team her freshman year, and played under head coach Lonnie Oldham. During her first year, she built relationships with her coaches, including Alfonzo Browning, who would eventually go on to become the head coach.

Cain’s wrestling coaches have helped pave the path to a state title, and her football coach would end up accompanying her to the state championship

“It meant a lot to me, especially after everything we’ve been through over the last four years,” said Browning, on taking Cain to State. “I was honored to be able to take her up there.”

While Cain enjoyed the experience, a high school athlete’s goal is to win a state championship. Her hard work got her all the way to the championship match after winning the first two matches in the competition.

Cain went into her final match with a 8-0 record against female opponents, including a first place finish in the USA preseason national tournament and regional champion.

In dominating performance, her first two wins of the tourney would come by the way of pin. As the favorite, Cain would eventually make her way to the championship round, where she would face off against Westfield High School’s Melody Barrows.

During the final, she continued her impressive display, pinning her opponent less than two minutes into the match.  

“When I won I couldn’t even control myself,” Cain said. “I really didn’t know how to act.”

The win is not only a tremendous accomplishment for Cain herself, but a groundbreaking accomplishment for the girls who could potentially follow down the same path.

“She improved both physically and mentally,” Struck said. “She’s grown up and she’s much better at keeping her emotions in check.”

It’s safe to say the win brought a lot of attention to Cain, and she has received an abundance of support from the students and teachers around the building.

“Every time Coach Browning sees me, he’ll say ‘what’s up champ’,” Cain said. “Everyone is so excited for me.”

Although Cain won a state championship, there will always be people who doubt and hate excellence, especially as a female exceeding in a predominantly male sport. Cain is no exception.

“I do get some crap for it. Some people say, ‘You didn’t really win state because you’re a girl,’” Cain said. “I don’t really know why. I guess they are just jealous.”

Regardless of the naysayers, Cain shined on her way to a state title, utterly dominating her competition.

“She’s got a runner-up against the second-ranked wrestler in the world and a state title; that’s a nice resume for when she goes for the All-Marine team,” Struck said.

With the backing of her coaches, teammates and classmates, Cain made her championship dream come true.

“I can’t believe I won state,” Cain said. “That’s something every athlete dreams to do.”

Cain finished her high school career on top, but it’s not the end of the road for the outstanding Red Devil. Although she has yet to pick out a college, Cain fully intends on wrestling post-high school, and the school that she decides to attend will be getting a girl who is ready to work.

“I just want to get better,” Cain said. “Get better for when I further it.”

by cmolina

Seven Years Later

Story by Carlos Molina

This year marks the seventh anniversary of the historic season from the Jeffersonville Lady Red Devils basketball team.

In 2011, the Lady Red Devils won the IHSAA 4A state championship, only the fourth state title in school history. (Three of the four state titles have come from female sports team: track – twice – and basketball.)

In the Class 4A championship game, the girls defeated Penn by a score of 42-29. The win vaulted JHS to an overall record of 28 wins and two losses during the season, the best final mark ever from a girls’ team.

During that championship run, head coach Chad Gilbert had the luxury of returning players, partnered with a little bit of luck.

“The experience was one you dream about,” Gilbert, now the athletic director at Charlestown High School, recalls. “To win a state championship, you have to be good and you have to be lucky. The state championship was one that we worked extremely hard for many years to achieve the goal. We felt like we won the state championship for everyone that ever wore a Red Devil uniform before us, and everyone that has worn a Red Devil uniform after us.”

Former basketball player Jamice Williams led the team with 3.8 assist per game, and still reminisces about the championship.

“Winning state meant the world to me,” Williams says. “The team and I worked so hard to accomplish this goal and it was well worth all the sweat and tears. I wish I could put into words how much it actually meant to me, but it’s hard. It was a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Senior Jacinta Gibson is currently a four-year starter on the girls basketball team. Growing up in Jeffersonville, Gibson looked up to the girls’ team that won state.

“Winning a state championship has always been a dream of mine and to see those girls accomplish that gave me a lot of hope for my future as a Red Devil,” Gibson said. “ I look up to all those girls”

Averaging 61.2 points per game during the season, the Lady Red Devils convincingly beat their opponents, winning their regular season games by an average of 31.5 points per contest.

“We had a talented team that were great players, but even better people.The team and coaching stuff really enjoyed being around each other,” Gilbert recalls. “We trusted each other. We believed in each other and we know when we walked out on the court together we would not be defeated.”

by cmolina

Defying the laws of science

story by Emily Tully

“I really enjoyed the pep rally last week, and being a part of that. They were never really my favorite part about school, but now everything is my favorite part.”

With a look of genuine happiness and reflection on his face, Mr. Alan Shrebtienko reflects on the beginning of the year festivities that took place in late July.

To some, pep rallies and enjoying school might seem miniscule and unimportant, but to Shrebtienko, it was the first of many more.

More importantly, it brought back feelings of normalcy.

Mr. Shreb, as his physics students call him, was out of work the entire 2016-17 school year due to a medical condition called necrotizing pancreatitis.

According to the Radiological Society of North America, necrotizing pancreatitis is a “severe form of pancreatitis characterized by necrosis in and around the pancreas.” Essentially, the pancreas is inflamed, and in this case, the tissue can become infected and die off, leading to organ failure.

For Shreb, the treatment was a long and excruciating process, lasting five months total. “I went into the hospital on July 13, and I got out on December 24,” Shreb recalls.

The disease took over his life completely for half of a year, and still affects him in his daily life.

“I can’t drive anymore… it has taken most of my vision, I mainly see silhouettes,” Shreb describes. “It’s going to be hard to get back to where I can recognize the students. I can’t even see them when they raise their hands.”

After being released from the hospital in December, recovery was another long process on this painful road to his “new normal.” Shreb explains that until as early as January 2017, he could not stand up or walk.

“The hardest part was just learning how to walk again,” Shreb said.

However these obstacles aren’t going to stop Shrebtienko from continuing what he loves doing — teaching his students.

“I missed teaching the students physics,” says Shreb. “I think it’s important for everyone to know… if you understand the nature around you, it makes it more enjoyable.”

His absence didn’t just affect him and his students, but also his fellow teachers and friends.

Biology teacher Missi Brewer explained the feelings shared among the science department about his situation.

“We are so happy for him to be back. Like, it was such a loss to Jeff High, to not have him around,” Brewer said, fighting back tears. “And his physics department [was a loss], not to mention him as a person.”

The return to school, and a normalized daily routine, isn’t something Shreb thinks is going to be easy.

“I’ve just got to take it day by day and get used to, what’s going to be, my new normal,” Shreb explained.

An experience so traumatizing and difficult comes with many challenges, but it also came with an important lesson to Shrebtienko. He says, “It’s taught me to appreciate what you’ve got because it can be taken away in a heartbeat.”

by emtully

Transitions: the story of Vic Tomes

story by Kristen Jacobs

Senior Vic Tomes puts his pants on one leg at a time. He draws, plays instruments, and has friends that love and care for him.

In a lot of ways, Vic is exactly like the rest of us. But in some ways, he is not.

That’s how everyone is though, right? Everybody has ways they are like the rest, but they also have originality.

Vic is just the same.

Although Vic was born a female, he identifies as a male. At the beginning of his sophomore year, Vic realized who he was.

“Being trans, you’re always trans, it just comes to this point where you realize the way you’ve been living isn’t how you want to be living,” Vic says.

Feeling unaccepted, Vic hid his true self from the rest of the world. After falling into a depression, he attended therapy to release his thoughts and feelings.

Finally, Tomes surrendered to himself, and confided in his mom, Kristie, about who he truly is. On the way to a concert for the band Avatar, Vic divulged that he was transgender.

He was never surprised by his mom’s reaction — there was no screaming, no yelling, no crying — just unconditional love. That’s all she has ever had for Vic: love and acceptance, no matter who he is.

Once Tomes acquired enough courage, he decided to come out to the world on social media.

Of course, showing yourself to the world comes with a price. Although the truth was met with support, it was also met with hatred and hostility.

“People are very closed-minded,” says Vic. “But I’ve realized that I have never surrounded myself with negative people.”

In fact, many people in Vic’s life have been supportive, including his older sister, Haylea.

“Well I’ve always known on a certain level that he was transgender. At first, I thought it was just a tomboy stage and he would grow out of it, but later in life, I realized that it was who he was,” Haylea said. “When he told me, I was more happy that he had the courage to come and talk to me about it, and I wasn’t worried about anything else than protecting my brother and making sure he knew he was loved and that I supported him.”

Another JHS student that identifies as transgender, Shaun Williams, supported Vic’s decision to share his news.

“I didn’t expect it, but I was happy that he found himself, and I’m happy that we can relate a lot now,” Williams says.

Although Vic’s immediate circle includes supportive people in his life, he also has some people against him: one being the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

Months after Vic decided he wanted to join the Navy, Trump released a statement banning trans soldiers, saying “…the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military.”

According to a 2014 Research and Development study, it is estimated that somewhere between 1,320 and 6,630 transgender individuals serve active duty in the United States military. However, no statement was made about the actions that will be taken regarding these current military members.

Vic was disappointed by this statement, but has decided that if President Trump follows through with his declaration, he will join the Peace Corps. His dream is to travel and be accepted, both of which he can do in the Peace Corps.

“That’s my dream,” Tomes says, “to travel the world, meet as many people as possible, and help them in any way I can.”

Vic believes that body parts don’t define a person. He is confident in his belief that someone is who he or she feels they are, and whatever parts that individual is born with don’t distinguish the person he or she is inside.

According to Vic, he is the same as everyone else. He eats, he drinks, he breathes.

“The only reason I am different from the rest of you,” Vic says, “is my green hair.”

by kristenjacobs5

Restoring History: the story of the Schnatter-Nachand Fieldhouse

story by Kyle Sanders

At 601 E. Court Ave in downtown Jeffersonville sits one of the city’s most historic buildings: the Nachand Fieldhouse.

This building, which used to hold Jeff High’s basketball games until 1971, is now seen as a place for friends to have a great time and hangout. However after being around for 80 years, the Fieldhouse has fallen in need of renovation.

The city of Jeff had visions of saving the historic gym, but would require major work, both inside and outside of the building, that would cost upwards of $1.8 million.

While this goal seemed impossible months ago, a recent donation from one of Jeffersonville’s most famous citizens has turned this pipedream into a reality.

“This location (the Fieldhouse) holds a special place in my heart,” said John Schnatter, JHS alumni, and founder and CEO of Papa John’s Pizza. “I grew up watching sports here as a kid, including local legends like Indiana’s Mr. Basketball, Mike Flynn. Jeffersonville has been good to me and I wanted to show my support for the community.”

Schnatter’s donation of $800,000 brings the Fieldhouse closer to meeting its goal of $1.8 million. Once this amount is reached, it will be renovated by the Jeffersonville Parks Department’s workgroup, Save the Fieldhouse.

The workgroup plans to use the money to pay for exterior brick work, restoration of the front facade, replacement and upgrades to both electrical system and bathroom, as well as replacing the heating system while adding air conditioning.  

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Charlie Nachand, son of former Jeff Parks Director Charles Nachand. “Without a donation like this, we would have no chance of reaching the $1.8 million we need to.”

Thanks to Schnatter’s donation, the Jeff Parks Department chose to add the southern Indiana native’s name to the historic fieldhouse, which will now be known as the John H. Schnatter-Nachand Fieldhouse.

“We were tasked to determine the fate of the John H. Schnatter-Nachand Fieldhouse,” explained Bill Burns, president of the Jeffersonville Park’s Authority. “At our first meeting, we knew the only option was to restore the building. Out of that, (the) workgroup born the thought of a private-public partnership to raise the money to restore the Fieldhouse.

“This project has been one of the most rewarding project I have had the privilege to work with,” Burns continued. “I never dreamed that the Fieldhouse had touched so many lives.”

According to the Parks Department, the Fieldhouse serves more than 15,000 people annually. Through the basketball and volleyball leagues, summer programs and Zumba lessons, the Fieldhouse still is in use to this day.

“I go to the Fieldhouse all the time,” said senior Tyler Wheeler. “These renovations are (going to) help bring in more people to play basketball with, and make the Fieldhouse even better than it already is.”

The John H. Schnatter-Nachand Fieldhouse is a historic building in Jeff that’ll continue to live on, and is expected to remain open throughout the renovations.

 

by kylesanders5308

For The Culture

story by Emily Tully and Aaleiah Winford

At a time when the nation needs it the most, a new organization has formed within the confines of Jeffersonville High School: a club celebrating and embracing the diversity of our school.

Formerly known as the Black Student Union, now called ‘For the Culture,’ the club had their initial meeting on Aug. 15. The group’s initial goal was to promote a better understanding of different cultures, and raise awareness of diversity.

‘For the Culture’ started as an idea from senior Jakayla Bendermon and junior Tyra Malone, which gained support from foreign language teacher Suzanne Siebert, before finally becoming an established club at Jeff High.

“First and foremost, we strive to be a club that’s very inclusive, and to get as many people as we can involved,” Siebert said of the club. “We want to build a community of like-minded students with the goal of supporting one another and becoming future leaders.”

For the first meeting, roughly 40 students, along with Siebert, gathered together in C104 to discuss issues that affect different races in their daily lives, based upon their surroundings in today’s society. The club also brainstormed ideas towards getting involved in school and community projects.

“My goal (for the club) is to empower students to be future leaders, produce awareness for things that are happening in our society,” said Malone, the club’s vice president. “I feel that it’s amazing on how many people came.”

As the posters around the school state, ‘For the Culture’ is not just for black students. The club welcomes all races and genders, in addition to anyone who has an open mind or wants to learn about cultural differences.

However the young club has already faced struggles early in their tenure at JHS.

Some of the struggles included remaining inclusive, yet embracing diversity within cultures. For the Culture faced this issue after discussion regarding the club’s former title, the Black Student Union.

Bendermon, president of For the Culture, explains that the name change was purely an act that supports the union’s idea of inclusiveness.

“We simply decided, as a whole, to change the name, for the culture,” Beldermon said. “‘For the Culture’ represents something that we all can relate to.”

Jeffersonville High School is made up of more than 2,000 students, and is full of different orientations that make the school diverse. One of the club’s main goals is to educate students about the varying cultures within the student body.

“We really want to bring all the cultures together and educate one another on the different humanities that we are surrounded by every day,” Beldermon explains. “A big part of our union is providing a safe place for anyone to talk about their feelings and problems regarding themselves and their lifestyle, and express themselves without repercussions or judgement.”

Anyone that attends Jeff High can join ‘For the Culture,’ as it’s open to all colors and creeds. In fact, the club’s officers encourage all students who are interested to join for a meeting.

For anyone that is weary of the idea, Siebert urges those who have dispositions to come as well.

“Come on in, we’re going to have a good time,” Siebert said. “We have a lot of events planned, such as guest speakers. Please join us for one or two meetings in order to educate yourself.”

The club meets every Tuesday, with meeting locations currently varying from week to week.  

 

by aaleiahw