Category: News

Top 7 Sneakers of 2016

Story by Caleb Albert and Sam Gatewood

 

  1. Timberland 6” Boot

Timberlands have been a New York staple for decades. Starting as a construction boot, Timberlands quickly became “the boot to have.” What makes them popular is their durability, their resistance to weather, and the versatility to be worn with almost any fall/winter outfit.

Retail: $190

Availability: Available at nearly any retail store

  1. Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2

Kanye West, in recent years, has been elevated to a point in which anything he produces — whether it’s music, clothes, shoes, or videos — is noticed by everyone, and coveted by his fans. His recent contract with Adidas has proven that; just look at the spike in Adidas’s stock since he joined the team. His “Yeezy Boost 350” model, in particular, sells out instantly with every release, and prices for these shoes are marked up nearly 400-percent within the resale market. The second version (or V2) was first released in 2016, and although it was more unique and less wearable than other colorways, it continued the tradition of being nearly impossible to buy.

Retail: $220

Availability: Sold out

Market value: $500-700

  1. Air Jordan 12

Although it originally released in 1997, Michael Jordan’s 12th signature numbered sneaker is still being remodeled and perfected by Jordan Brand. The year 2016 was huge for the model, being reintroduced in a variety of familiar and new colorways. There were many releases, but the most popular ones were the “French Blue,” “Flu Game,” and the “OVO” model, which was Drake’s collaboration with the brand.

Retail: $190

Availability: Some colorways still available for retail, but more popular models are sold out.

  1. Adidas NMD

First introduced late 2015, the NMD made its debut as the NMD_R1, which was initially seen as innovative, but not loved by tons of people. However, in 2016, it began to be introduced in a plethora of colorways, and other versions, such as the NMD PK_1, NMD CS_1, the Chukka, and the NMD XR_1. What makes this shoe important is both the number of options available, and the enormous amount of hype generated in such a short amount of time.

Retail: $120-170

Availability: Sold out

Market value: $150-300

  1. Air Jordan 1

Hailed as many sneakerheads’ most iconic Jordan model of all time, the Jordan 1 was the shoe that made history by being banned by the NBA initially. Nike decided to commemorate the icon this year by reintroducing the Jordan 1 in the original “Banned” colorway. They also honored a recently popular colorway, “Shattered Backboard,” by releasing an alternate version of the shoe.

Retail: $160

Availability: Most are sold out, but some are still in stock for at or below retail.

Market value: $200-500 for more hyped up releases

  1. Adidas Ultraboost

Similar to the Adidas NMD, the Adidas Ultraboost started as an understated runner, which generated popularity as more options were introduced. What makes this shoe so popular is the comfort, which utilizes Adidas’s primeknit construction, and a full-length Boost outsole, which is said to be the most comfortable cushioning technology in sneakers as of now. In 2016, Adidas released “Uncaged” versions of the Ultraboost, which were simply the Ultraboost, without a cage with the lacing system covering the upper. The versatility, functionality, and comfort make this a go-to for many people of all ages.

Retail: $180-220

Availability: These sell out any time they release, but have consistent restocks

Market value: $200-350

  1. Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam”

Space Jams – The Space Jam 11s appeared in the 1996 blockbuster, “Space Jam,” starring Michael Jordan. These shoes quickly became one of the most coveted shoes of all time. Jordan Brand is releasing an updated version of the cult classic on December 10th of this year, and it is expected to be one of the most popular models Jordan has released in a while.

Retail: $220

Availability: Out of stock

by thecalbert

A DIY Christmas

By: Amber Smith, Carley Calabro, Kelsey Luce

 

The holidays are right around the corner and we know that budgets are tight; so here at The Hyphen we have given you some ideas for holiday gifts and treats. In ten minutes or less and for ten dollars or less, you can make the ideal present for friends, family and loved ones.

Cocoa in a Jar

What you’ll need:

-Mason jar (Michaels $1.00)

-hot cocoa mix (Meijer/Kroger $2.00)

-marshmallows (Meijer/Kroger $2.00)

-candy canes (Dollar Tree $1.00)

-ribbon (Michaels $1.99)

Step 1: Pour cocoa mix into jar.

Step 2: Put marshmallows, crushed candy canes or any other preferred candy in the jar.

Step 3: Hot glue ribbon around the lid of the mason jar and decorate the jar however you please.

“Ugly” Holiday Sweater

What you’ll need:

-An old sweater from around your home — or from Goodwill ($0.00-$5.00)

-At least two feet of garland of any color (Michaels $2.00-$5.00)

-Two packages of 15 green and red small pom poms (Michaels $1.50 each)

-One piece of 8 ½ x 11 black felt (Michaels $0.20)

-Hot glue gun

-Scissors

Step 1: Start by laying out your garland in the shape of a Christmas tree. You’ll want to lay the top of the garland straight up to make the point of the tree and the wrap the rest underneath it, making it bigger as it goes down. Cut the excess off the remaining garland.

Step 2: After you have your garland set to your desired length, hot glue the garland onto the piece of black felt.

Step 3: Cut the excess felt off to where it fits the shape of the tree.

Step 4: Hot glue the felt onto the sweater.

Step 5: Once your tree is glued to your sweater, glue the red and green pom poms in various spots on the tree to make ornaments.

Step 6: Glue the rest of the pom poms that are left over around the tree on the rest of the sweater.

Step 7: Make sure everything is secure and you have a new holiday sweater in ten minutes or less!

Candy Sleigh

What you’ll need:

-Candy canes- dollar tree(1.00)

-King size kit kat- dollar tree (1.00)

-2 Mini size Snickers- dollar tree

-2 Mini size milky ways- dollar tree

-1 starburst- dollar tree

-1 green or red pom pom

-Hot glue gun

Step 1: Start with the base, which is the king size Kit Kat.

Step2: Start stacking, and hot gluing other candies on top biggest to smallest.

Step 3: Top the sleigh with a green or red pom pom.

Step 4: Hot glue 2 candy canes to the bottom of the King size Kit Kat.

Grinch Kabobs

What you’ll need:

-strawberries- Kroger

-bananas- Kroger

-mini marshmallows- Kroger

-green grapes- Kroger

-red, green, or white kabob sticks- Kroger

Step 1: Cut the bananas in thin slices and cut the stems off of the strawberries

Step 2: Place one grape on the kabob.

Step 3: Put one banana slice on top of the grape making the base of the hat.

Step 4: Put the strawberry over the banana with the tip of the strawberry facing upwards.

Step 5: Top the hat off with a mini marshmallow.

by carleycalabro

Janitors having issues cleaning up the mess

By Phillip Steinmetz & Kyle Sanders

 

A dozen pieces of Tuesday’s homework balled up, a few spots of crushed cheddar Goldfish from two days ago and a milk carton from first period’s breakfast on Monday.

That’s what the floor might look like in an average Jeff High classroom at the end of the week.

However the mess is not the fault of the janitors slacking on their job. Instead, it’s a culmination of being understaffed, and not having enough qualified applicants to fill those positions.

“We are just trying to get the stuff done that needs to get done,” said janitor Chris Schwinn. “It all comes down to time management, working extra hours on the weekend and overtime to get stuff that must be completed done. We can’t pay attention to things like washing every window in the school. We’ve got to take care of other things that are more important: cleaning the bathrooms, taking out the trash, sweeping up the hallways, stuff like that.”

On a normal school year, JHS would expect to have three day-shift and eight night-shift janitors each weekday. This year, it has gotten as low as two in the day, and only two at night.

Also adding to the chaos is the illness of veteran custodian William (Willie) Thornton, who has been out since the beginning of the school year. Thornton, who has worked within Jeff High for over 29 years, has experienced health issues that has prevented him from attending work, where he is the lead custodian.

“We had our two-day custodians, Chris and Bridget, step up and have done everything we asked them to do and more in Willie’s absence,” said assistant principal Timothy LaGrange. “The building is in great shape. At times, we’ve had a sub for that third spot, but not consistently. I don’t know when we will get that third position filled. In Willie’s situation, if he came back, we want what’s best for Willie.”

According to LaGrange, there are a few obstacles that have made it challenging to hire custodians this year. The biggest challenge is that other businesses, like Amazon and the newly-erected River Ridge, are offering more money for employment, which is cutting the application pool.

“The pay is probably more important than anything else and that’s one thing we can’t compete with Amazon,” said math teacher Jim Spears. “The school corporation could spend more money on that or anyone’s position. Everyone deserves to make more than they are making, so how do you do that? Right now, we are in dire need of custodians, so how do you do that? It’s not an easily solvable work problem.”

Despite the hiring difficulties, the school isn’t far away from being back to full staff. At the time of print, LaGrange says JHS is two custodians away from full strength.

To make up for the less hands on board, some weekends or long breaks require JHS to bring in multiple custodians from other schools for a “blitz.” The blitz lasts one or two days, and the entire school is cleaned.

“It’s a challenge to meet our standards,” LaGrange said. “(It’s) not because of the people we have aren’t doing a great job because they are doing a great job. They are great workers, dedicated and do a great job.

“But we are understaffed and some of that is a larger, economic issue,” LaGrange continued. “There are a lot of jobs available, like River Ridge, (which) has created a little bit of competition for us.”

A creative way in which Greater Clark County Schools has tackled this challenge is by offering custodial job opportunities to high school students. The position offers $9 per hour to work up to three hours after school, everyday.

The hope for the hires is to give the custodians an extra hand while they are still filling in the other main positions.

“We’ve had a few people who have applied, we are going to hire a pool of high school students very soon to fill in and help us out as well,” said LaGrange. “I am excited for that and we’ve got some good candidates by the people I’ve talked to, we could use some more good people and high school students that want to work. It’s a very good part-time job for high school kids.”

by kylesanders5308

Rape Culture Explained

“Y is for your sister. O is for oh-so-tight. U is for underage. N is for no consent. G is for grab that a–” (Freshman Week chant caught on social media at St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada.)

“Grab ’em by the (female genital). You can do anything.” (United States of America’s president-elect Donald Trump).

In today’s world and society, things like this are said and done all too often.

According to the Women’s Center at Marshall University, rape culture is defined as an environment in which rape is prevalent, and in which sexual violence against women (or men) is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture.

Everyday in our world, millions of women and men are raped, sexually assaulted and violated.

To anyone who doesn’t think that the normalization and allowing of rape, or any other form of sexual violence happens, look at college campuses. Heck, you can even just turn on the news.

Take the Brock Turner case, for example.

Turner, a 20-year-old male attending Stanford University, assaulted an unconscious girl by a dumpster following a night of partying. To boast, there were even multiple witnesses. Based off of the evidence, one would assume his punishment would be a couple years in jail at least, right?

Well, if you guessed anything more than six months, you’re completely wrong.

Because Turner was a talented athlete (swimmer) at a prestigious school (Stanford), the ruling judge in the case didn’t think he was a threat to society. Instead, he got six months in jail, and served only three months due to good behavior.

Take a minute and imagine how furious you’d be if that was your mother, sister, or daughter. Isn’t it nice to know that in this country, you can get more time for the possession of drugs than taking away another human being’s dignity, intimacy, and right to privacy?

If that sickening example of rape culture in our world today isn’t enough for you, then look at Florida State University. The school and administrators covered up sexual assault allegations against Jameis Winston — not once, but twice. And why would any person with at least a twinge of decency, or moral, do such a thing?

Because Winston was the star athlete in a town focused around football, not the girls he violated. So according to authority at Florida State, and around Tallahassee, those girls don’t mean anything.

Even in pop culture today, things like this happen. In 2014, popular singer Ke$ha was forced by a judge to continue working with her producer, Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald (Dr. Luke)  who also sexually abused her for an extensive amount of time.  

The culture of rape and sexual violence in this generation has gone too far.

The crimes don’t just happen against women, but they do happen more. One in five women in the United States will get raped at some point in their lifetime, while one in 71 men will face the same fate.

The most staggering number? Out of those crimes, more than 90-percent don’t report them. Yes, you could blame the victim for not reporting. But in this world, would you report the crime if it happened to you?

Whether it’s not being believed or being blamed, the victim has a lot of good reasons not to report.

And when it comes to college campus assaults, the numbers aren’t getting any better. Even prestigious colleges like Harvard and Notre Dame have been investigated by the U.S Department of Education for the failure to investigate sexual violence.

Rape culture isn’t only the act of rape or assault, but it is also the derogatory terms thrown at females. You can hear those explicit words hundreds of times in the hallway of a high school.

The double standards make it seems as if when a woman has multiple partners, she is one of these words. But when a man has more than one girl, he’s praised by his buddies for it.

You may not know it, but that is all rape culture too.

Let me preach this one thing to any man (or even woman) that has been angered over rejection: you are not, ever, entitled to another human being’s body. Ever.

I took the time to ask a victim of rape (a student at JHS) how she felt afterwards: “I didn’t know what I felt at first. Then I started feeling ashamed and embarrassed, like you don’t want anyone to know.”

For more information and awareness on sexual violence go to http://www.nsvrc.org/. For more information and awareness on college campus sexual violence, watch the documentary “The Hunting Ground” on Netflix.

The feeling of shame, and as if the assault was the victim’s fault, is common. As a society based on prejudice and mostly negativity, it is our responsibility to end this culture of sexual violence.

If not for you, then for your mothers, sisters, or even daughters.

by chloetreat

Pride Cafe

 

When walking the JHS halls in the morning, there’s a sense of grogginess among the students, and even some teachers. There has been desire to resolve the problem with a cafe shop at Jeff for quite some time now.

On Nov. 18, that dream became a reality.

Jeff’s new cafe, which is located on the right-hand side of the Pride Store, is known as the Pride Cafe. The cafe will be selling cups of coffee, and hot chocolate with marshmallows, for $1 per cup on Fridays from 7:10 – 7:45 a.m.

Inside the store, there are three coffee makers, and four flavors to choose from: hazelnut, caramel, pumpkin spice, french vanilla. The Pride Cafe is also having a holiday special in December, so students will have the chance to get peppermint flavored coffee as a choice to choose from.

Social studies teacher Steve Cooley, who was a major help in making the cafe a possibility, was in charge of getting the Pride Cafe ready the day before the grand opening. Cooley was excited about the opening, and equally excited for the students to enjoy the cafe for themselves.

“Hopefully we will have a line of kids out there waiting to get in,” Cooley said.

Inside the Cafe

The cafe is a PBIS (Protective Behavioral Intervention and Supports) rewards fundraiser. So when students buy a cup of coffee, the money earned will go towards rewards and prizes that JHS will then give back out to students who win them. Some of these prizes include gift cards, trips during school days, and more.

“What we’re trying to do is find a way to generate a revenue stream to pay back the kids,” Cooley said.

So how did the idea of the Pride Cafe become a reality? According to Cooley, a student-teacher at another school had a Keurig in the classroom, and would reward her students with coffee for good behavior.

That, along with cooling weather, is what prompted JHS staff to implement a cafe at the school.

The expectations for the cafe is that students at Jeff High will enjoy a nice cup of coffee or hot chocolate in the morning to feel more awake, while also being responsible with it and throwing their trash away once they’re done.

“We want to encourage our kids (students) to be smart with the coffee,” Cooley said.

There has been talk among staff of a lounge being the next step for the cafe so students can go in, relax and watch some television while enjoying a nice cup of coffee. The Pride Cafe could be the start of a Pride Lounge, potentially becoming the next addition to the many improvements added to JHS recently.

As Cooley wished, the opening of the cafe was a hit, with roughly 60 students waiting in line to get their cup of coffee and hot chocolate.

Unfortunately the cafe was forced to close before everyone could get a cup due to the overwhelming response. If the Pride Cafe continues with the success it has shown, it could become a well-known tradition at Jeff High.

by Cameron Njuguna

JHS: Still Going Strong After Four “Straight” Years

Four years play a big role in our society.
It takes four years for high a school student to go from the “newbie” freshman to the ruling senior. The Olympics, made to test an athlete’s true expertise, happens once every four years. The United States presidential election, voting for the face of our country, occurs every four years.
Around Jeffersonville, a big moment happened four years ago: Julie Straight was named the principal at Jeff High School.
Before Straight was tabbed with leading the school, the Jeffersonville native spent over 20 years in the English classroom, coached gymnastics, girls track and field, cross country and cheerleading teams, and sponsored clubs, such as Renaissance and the Class of 1994.
“I’ve always been very involved and I’ve always loved kids and students,” Straight said. “This is where I wanted my professional career to be.”

The beginnings…
“When I first stepped in as interim principal, it was very challenging because we ended up down a few administrators (and I) had to bring in some extra help,” Straight said. “The structures were what worked for someone else, (but) weren’t what would fit my style the best.”
In 2012, there were changes that Straight had to devise, such as organizing structure throughout the building.
“When I was named principal at the end of (the 2012) school year, that was a whirlwind of a summer,” Straight said. “Hiring people, re-establishing some leadership, and the way we would just do business here.”
Once she got the ball rolling as principal, she set her sights on several educational improvements, including honing in on higher test scores.
“If you look at data, all of our main metrics moved up,” Straight said of the improvements since her take over. “ECAs continue to go up, our graduation rate (is) up, our P.R.I.D.E. program has flourished. I think that being a part of the Jeff High family is something that a lot of people have pride in.”

What others are saying
Greater Clark County Schools Superintendent Dr. Andrew Melin, who is Straight’s direct boss, has been impressed with the new principal.
“I believe all of Mrs. Straight’s efforts have resulted in the improvement of many important metrics like graduation rate, post-secondary acceptance, dual credit attainment, etc,” Melin said. “As a result, I believe the image of JHS in our community and region is the best it has ever been.”
Melin also praised Straight’s progress of bettering JHS’ culture.
“Perhaps the most significant change I have seen in JHS since Mrs. Straight was named principal is the establishment of a positive school culture with the students, parents, staff, and community,” Melin said. “She has also been integral in expanding our College and Career Readiness initiative, which includes enhancing our counseling program and our efforts to join the Ford Next Generation Learning Network.”
Assistant principal Tim LaGrange agrees with Melin, saying that Straight became principal at a grueling time, and that he was impressed on how she took on the challenge.
“I think first of all she took over the building in a difficult situation, meaning she was the third principal in a matter of a few days,” LaGrange said. “She calmed the waters (and) she steadied the ship.
“I think one of her most positive attributes is that she bleeds Jeff Red Devils,” LaGrange continued. “She loves Jeff High and all of our kids. That is apparent in all of her decisions. I think that from a personal standpoint, she’s a great boss. She’s the kind of boss that you want to work hard for and that you don’t want to disappoint. On a daily basis, she is a very positive leader who cares about the kids.”.
Despite the kind words, Straight commends the teamwork that her, and her apt-called JHS family, have had throughout the last four years.
“We really work together: students, teachers, and faculty,” Straight said. “I’m very proud of that, and how far we’ve come. It’s hard to believe it’s not really that long.”

The future of JHS
Although principals are considered the ‘top dog’ of the school building, Straight explains that to get the full picture, one must include all of the moving parts. She says the staff and faculty go into making JHS such a great school just as much as she does.
One way to see the improvement would be looking at all of the clubs that have popped up, which are student-run, but also teacher-sponsored.
“We have blown up club-wise: we have our debate team, chess club, key club,” Straight said. “Now we have Optimist club, and so many other things that are growing that we’re taking pride in.”
She explains that all of these various clubs give the school a more community and family feel. She would like to think that this feeling within the school has increased since she has been principal.
In four years time, Straight has said to have brought a young atmosphere to the school, increased the positive culture of the building, positively impacted test scores/graduation rates, and implemented P.R.I.D.E throughout JHS.
So what are Straight’s plan over the next four years? According to the principal, it’s seeing continued improvement. Straight said that she doesn’t plan on going anywhere and is content with being a Jeff Red Devil.
“I’m very happy doing what I do,” Straight said. “I like being in a school where I’m supposed to be, and that’s where I want to be.”

by hayleehedrick

Where’s Willie?

For over 29 years, William “Willie” Thornton has strolled the halls of Jeff High, cleaning up messes along the way. However despite being at JHS for nearly three decades, Thornton hasn’t been seen in months.

Willie is battling health issues, which have kept him from coming in to do the job he loves.

“I like my job and I like the people I work with,” Thornton said. “It’s up to the doctors on if I can return or not. I really want to come back.”

The impact of his absence can be noticed around the janitorial staff, as every one of them who has worked with Thornton mentioned his dedication to the school.

“We miss Willie’s leadership,” said Michelle Grut, a day janitor at JHS. “He has put lots of years into this school, and we truly, truly miss him.”

As for a possible return to work, Thornton (and his doctors) have until March to decide on whether he will be able to return to the janitorial staff.

“He’s been an anchor for our custodial staff for years. He’s a tremendous worker,” said assistant principal Timothy LaGrange. “He’s had some health issues, so losing him was a big blow to us during the day. I personally miss him alot, he had a great sense of humor and I just enjoyed being around him. In his situation if he came back, we want what’s best for Willie.”

by cpolk99

Tully and Treat’s High School Help

Chloe’s answer

Q: How do I keep loving the thing that makes me happiest in life, even when everyone else judges me for it?

A: Being different and loving different things is something I’ve always struggled with myself. I think the most important thing is to remember why you’re doing that thing, because it makes you happy.

Not everything you do in life will please others, and that is okay!! Don’t let society’s definitions and labels affect you…ever. You should surround yourself with the people who love you for who you are no matter what.

Your family and real friends should be supportive because they’re the ones that  love you most and should support you through it all. If they don’t support you, then they aren’t worth it, and remember that there isn’t anything wrong with cutting out the toxic people in your life.

Emily’s answer

Q: My group of friends are constantly putting me down and draining me emotionally. I want to find new friends, but I don’t know how to leave the ones I have now.

A: It sounds like your friends aren’t really friends to you at all, that you’re in a toxic friendship- and that’s not good for your mental health.

An important thing to remember is that the most beneficial thing in life is to make yourself happy before anyone else! It sounds like you don’t want to upset your ‘friends’; but if they were good friends, they wouldn’t be putting you down. Why worry about people who don’t show you the same courtesy?

Now, that being said, they may not be being the best of friends now and it probably is time to move on. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t good company, ever. Let them know how thankful you are for the time you spent together, and that you will always respect and be there for them if needed, but the best thing for you right now is to find new friends that don’t drain you emotionally.

It’s important to not leave things unsaid or have any hard feelings. That opens doors to bitterness, nostalgia, and possibly regret, which is a whole other story in itself.

If you are interested in having your question answered, send us an email at 661192@mygccs.com or 804362@mygccs.com! All questions will be printed anonymous and we will give you our most open, honest answers.

by emtully

Athlete of the Month – October

The Athlete: Junior Taylor Wooten, who is Jeff High’s highest placing girls cross country runner, received high praise from her coach Tom Kendall. Kendall credits her work ethic and coachability for her success, while Wooten is motivated by her teammates to be the best runner she can be.

Athlete’s Perspective: “My teammates are what push me to work hard. I’ve made some of the best friends I’ve ever had through running.” — Wooten

Coach’s Perspective: “Taylor has been our No. 1 runner all season. She has worked very hard at evolving her speed and endurance.” — Kendall

Stats: Wooten has had impressive runs this year, including a time of 21:49 on Oct. 1. However her best run came during her sophomore year, where she ran 21:06 at semi-state.

by brycethomas310

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

Your Third Option

Story by: Caleb Albert

Image result for gary johnson

Almost all of the media coverage focuses on the two infamous candidates of the 2016 election: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Because there is so much attention being given to them, other candidates, such as Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, have been forgotten and left out of the race. In fact, many people think not only that only Trump and Hillary are running now, but that only Democratic and Republican candidates are capable of being elected in November.

However, Gary Johnson, a Libertarian and the former governor of New Mexico, is still eligible for the presidency, and has persevered through his campaign, despite the lack of media coverage.

Johnson is the perfect blend of conservative and liberal — he is fiscally conservative, but socially tolerant. This means that while he plans to cut spending in a lot of ways, he is more liberal with social issues, such as marriage rights and religious freedoms. He is also in favor of implementing term limits, which will help create balance of Republican and Democratic representation in our legislation.

Many voters want political experience in a presidential candidate, which is something Johnson has to offer in abundance. Serving as governor of New Mexico, Johnson inherited an incredibly tragic economy: in 1995, he began with a $4.397 billion budget. However, he left with a $7.721 billion budget, and a surplus of roughly $1 billion. He averaged a 7.29-percent budget increase per year.

All of his budgeting was done by vetoing 750 proposed bills, more than any other New Mexico governor combined. Although this seems unfavorable, the increased budget allowed for new schools, roads, highways, and hospitals. He cut taxes 14 times and never raised them. This type of political and business administrative experience is exactly what America needs in a chief executive officer.

Some people might be wondering why the media isn’t covering Johnson as much as the Democratic or Republican nominees.

Andrew Gustafson, a senior at Jeffersonville High School, said, “Clinton and Trump are running campaigns that are focused on scandals and personal attacks, while Johnson is focused on the issues. Scandals make better news stories than a qualified candidate discussing policies.”

Major media outlets understand that controversy makes for more interesting news, which could be why Johnson has been left out of the presidential debates, and why so few people know of his campaign.

Although, according to recent Quinnipiac polls, Gary Johnson is currently polling at 35-percent for voters under the age of 40. Young people are not only the voice of the future, but are the future, and we’re inheriting it quicker than some thought we would.

Don’t let your voice be persuaded by the same two political parties that have run this country for too long. You have other options.

by carleycalabro

Greater Clark County School Board Elections

Although the Presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be the main topic of conversation on Nov. 8, 2016, those results aren’t the only ones for students to keep to an eye on.

The results that will be affecting the students of Jeff High School the most will be the Greater Clark County school board elections. Four of the seven school board seats are up for election, with three of those four openings having re-election filed.

The Hyphen breaks down what you should know about each race, and those candidates running.

District 2- all of charlestown township      

Current board member: Tony Hall (filed for re-election)         

Challenger(s): Katie Hutchinson & Pasquel Ross

Tony Hall: “I feel like I can share my experience and knowledge. We have a very bright future in Clark County and I feel great things are ahead for Greater Clark…(We have to) make sure every decision you make is answering ‘is this best for kids?’…During the first board meeting, we recognize students, teachers, other staff and even some community members who have gone above the norm.”

About the candidate: Hall is a retired Greater Clark County school teacher. He was a math teacher for 33 years, an Athletic Director for 17 Years and a girls basketball coach for 13 years. Hall is the secretary of the board of trustees. He is in two committees within the school board: Charlestown redevelopment and the ISBA nomination committee.

Katie Hutchinson:  “I am running for the educators, families and students. It seems GCCS has lost focus of who, not what, we are about. As a school board member, I want to put our focus back on students and involve families in every step, not just the voting … I will bring a fresh look and a passion for always doing what needs to be done. I am not ok when things are ‘good’. Our kids deserve greatness because they have greatness inside of them. We are preparing our students for tomorrow. We can’t continue doing what we’ve always done — it’s not working.”

About the candidate: According to former JHS teacher Katie Hutchinson, she has worked for Greater Clark for eight years.

Pasquel Ross: could not be reached for comment and no verified information was found.

District 5- Jeffersonville Township Precincts 17, 18, and 20 through 25    

Current board member: Christina Gilkey (filed for re-election)            

Challenger(s): unopposed

Christina Gilkey: “I, personally, feel we (GCCS) are in a great place in what we are doing for teachers and students. I want to continue to be apart of that. There’s a learning curve to being a school board member. We [board members] have to do homework and study material just like students.”  

About the candidate: Gilkey is the Board of School Trustees Vice President. Within the school board, she attains to the strategic planning committee, insurance committee, and college and career readiness.

District 6- Jeffersonville township precinct 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 11a, 12, 13, 15 and 16     

Current board member: Jerry White (not seeking re-election)                        

Challenger(s): Milton Clayton (filed for open seat)

Milton Clayton: “I’ve always worked with kids and I’ve enjoyed working with children…I have an extensive public education background. I want to help ensure the safety and education of students. I’m a parent and a grandparent and I know how education affects family.”

About the candidate: Clayton worked with Greater Clark County Schools for 41 years. Of those 41 years, 25 of them were in the transportation field. He has held the position of Administrative Assistant and Director of Transportation for the GCCS system as well.

District 7- Jeffersonville Township Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 14        

Current board member: Teresa Bottorff-Perkins (filed for re-election)   

Challenger(s): Kelli Dattilo

Teresa Bottorff-Perkins: “I’ve been involved in education my entire life. I spent 40 years as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. I am passionate about students and schools. Being on the board takes a lot of preparation. Several people do not realize that members of the board have full time jobs.”

About the candidate: According to a Dec. 2, 2015 Courier-Journal article, Perkins pleaded guilty to a D-felony charge of shoplifting in Tennessee. She was sentenced to four years of probation and also had to pay $1,402.77 in restitution by Dec.15, 2014. Perkins is in the strategic planning committee and the education foundation within the school board.

Kelli Dattilo- “As an educator, I have many of the skills needed to understand the inner workings of a school district…I think it’s important that the needs of the students, teachers, and staff are understood by the Clark County community and taxpayers…Before becoming a teacher, I worked in the banking/business world for almost 20 years. My knowledge of business principles, management of people and resources, as well as problem-solving skills are talents I would bring to the GCCS school board.”

About the candidate: Dattilo works at Doss High School, a high school in Louisville, Ky. She has been a teacher there for nine years.

“I think that what’s important is one [ a member  of the school board ] who wants to work hard,  is open minded,  and a collaborative team player,” Deputy Superintendent Travis Haire said.  

by hayleehedrick