Digital Dispatch Sept. 9, 2026
Tag: Jeff High
Class of 2027 celebrates Senior Sunrise
by Areli Hernandez
The Class of 2027 celebrated Senior Sunrise on the football field on Sept. 4. Seniors prepare for future events during their final year of high school to create memorable memories with their classmates as they approach graduation.
Music fans review ‘Dancing Queen’
by Natalie Creagh and Aurora Grisham
Whether it’s on the radio, on their phones, or live right in front of them, music is a part of people’s lives. It’s been around for centuries, entertaining and teaching people.
There is such a large variety of styles of music. The Swedish band ABBA just celebrated the 50th anniversary of one of their most popular songs, “Dancing Queen.” The song has become such an iconic tune with its high energy and catchy lyrics.
What do the students of Jeff High think of “Dancing Queen,” and what type of music do they enjoy?
Senior Lily Morrill gave “Dancing Queen” an 8.2 rating: “I love this song; it reminds me of being carefree and spending time with friends.” When asked, her favorite song right now is “The One” by Taylor Swift.
“I like how the melody was layered to create a peaceful vibe,” said junior Jose Silva Garcia when asked about “Dancing Queen”, who said his favorite song right now is “Øutro” by Tezzus.
“It’s (“Dancing Queen”) very groovy; I give it an 8.5,” said sophomore Roberto Castro. His favorite song right now is “100 Sleepless Nights” by Pierce the Veil.
Freshman Evan Austin, whose favorite song right now is Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” gave “Dancing Queen” an 8.5, saying, “I like the start and rhythm as well as the notes.”
Resource Officer Tyler Robinson said, “I’m going to have to give it (“Dancing Queen”) a solid 6; it doesn’t excite me as much as others.” He added that his favorite song right now is “God I’m Just Grateful” by Chandler Moore.
Basketball coach Sherron Wilkerson said he thinks “Dancing Queen” is a classic and gave it a 7. His favorite song right now is “Faith Under Construction” by Holy Disciples.
It’s easy to say that the people of Jeff High have quite the taste for tunes.
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City council approves one-year moratorium on data centers
by Nora Horton and Kinley Homeister
On Monday, August 3 the Jeffersonville City Council, in an 8-0 vote, approved a one-year moratorium on any data centers in the city. This comes as the topic of data centers has become contentious across the country.
Jeffersonville joins Charlestown, Clarksville, and New Albany, which have all approved one-year moratoriums on data centers.
City Councilman Evan Stoner said the community should be cautious with adding data centers.
“To me, it would make sense that data centers are restricted from building near homes or residential buildings, parks, etc., and include strong policies requiring transparency with water and electric usage,” said Stoner. “I also do not believe it is appropriate to provide data centers tax money to build in our city. Jeffersonville doesn’t have a lot of additional land for new large-scale data centers, but without the moratorium and new updates to our UDO, smaller or medium-scale facilities could sneak in.”
AI Data Centers are facilities that host IT infrastructure that train, deploy, and deliver AI services and applications. The centers house computer systems that manage, store, and distribute data.
Data centers store data and have many power generators, including backups in case those go out. 70-90% of data centers use a water-based cooling method, with 10-25% using air or refrigerants. Most data centers source water from community drinking water utilities. Many data centers use evaporative cooling to cool their facilities, a process in which hot air is cooled by cold water, which forms steam and pushes hot air out of the data center.
Stoner said residents have a number of worries.
“Constituents have expressed concerns stemming from water and electricity usage of data centers, proximity to neighborhoods and parks, and perceived level of secrecy around data centers’ investment in our city and across the state,” he said. “The best way to address those concerns is through radical transparency and clear, credible information on this topic.”
Controversies have surrounded the new construction and ongoing buildings; many have spoken up across the community from both sides of the spectrum.
Currently, there are 23 data centers in Indiana, with 89 more planned. Jeffersonville has the largest, which operates at 108 megawatts. However, a center in Elkhart set to open in 2027 will be more than 13 times larger.
Concerns surround these data centers, with residents worried about light pollution and water consumption. Yet, there are some positive notes as well, creating hundreds of job opportunities.
Jeffersonville City Council President Donna Reed shared her concerns about the data centers.
“My concerns rest in how fast this technology is growing, and we really needed a pause to allow our zoning codes to catch up,” Reed said.
Reed said these concerns led to her vote for the moratorium.
“I voted in favor of the temporary moratorium to allow time for our Planning and Zoning Department to complete additional research and create a strategy for our city growth with specific parameters and guidelines for any future proposals that fall into this distinction,” she said. “We can not ban data centers altogether based on state guidance, but we can ensure they play by the rules if they are considering Jeffersonville.”
Reed said data centers are a hot-button issue because people have taken notice.
“We live in a very connected world. Bad players can’t hide just because they are miles away, and some data centers have treated cities poorly. Those stories travel, and we have smart citizens who read about what is going on in other cities. They bring it to our attention, and we act. That is exactly how local government should work.”
Whether a long-term plan can be made remains to be seen. If the city council can find one, there will likely be either more data centers in Jeffersonville, but with more guardrails, or no more data centers in Jeffersonville. Either way, the choice lies with the city council, and ultimately they will answer to their constituents next November.
New dance class emphasizes creative expression
by Raven Baker
JHS students can now participate in dance class for 2026-27. This class offers an open learning experience for students of all backgrounds. Whether students have been dancing for years or are completely new to it, they will find a welcoming time in this class.
Dance class helps students have a brain break throughout their day and be more physically active. The class is designed to teach fundamental dance styles and build a strong foundation in choreography. Beyond learning routines, dancers also have opportunities to join the color guard.
Senior McKenzie Stubblefield said the opportunity to express herself led to taking the new class.
“I love the dance class so far this year,” she said. “I decided to join because dance is a good way to express your feelings and it’s fun. So far, we’ve learned a lot of the basics.”
Stubblefield described the class as a creative environment.
“By the end of the year, I hope to be able to create my own dance and help others who struggle with it,” she said.
Dance instructor Sidney McDonald personally requested the class because she has experience in the subject. She hopes to connect her dancers to color guard and teach the building steps to dance.
Bringing 17 years of personal experience to the subject, she has a well-rounded outlook on what students need to learn. By the end of the year, she wants her students to be able to give a confident performance and create strong choreography.
McDonald said her dancers will develop and present original dance pieces. This allows students to experiment with their own ideas and build confidence in their abilities, explore movement without the pressure of competition and to learn more about dance as an art form.
JHS defeats Seymour in soccer Tuesday night
All photos by Malachi Conrad, Isaiah Stewart, Mason Ridge, and Reilly Davis.
Educators adjust to new Indiana cell phone ban
by Parker Vibbert and Kaylee Borelli
July 30, 2026 ushered in a new school year at JHS. Along with hundreds of new students, there is a new policy here and in all Indiana high schools: no cell phones.
The Indiana State Senate passed Senate Bill 78 in February, instituting a statewide bell-to-bell cell phone ban in every public and charter school in the state.
Before SB 78, the Indiana Legislature passed Senate Enrolled Act 185 in 2024, which banned cell phone use during instructional time during the 2025-26 School year, but set clear exceptions for education, emergency, health care needs, and disability-related accommodations. However, it did not address how schools were to enforce the bans, nor did it address lunchtime or passing periods.
Under SB 78, cell phones are banned bell-to-bell, with minimal exceptions for health reasons. At JHS, teachers and staff confiscate student phones and turn them into the front office in yellow envelopes; students and eventually parents must pick confiscated phones up at the end of the school day or after school.
German Teacher Lisa Stumler said the ban is necessary and beneficial.
“I’ve noticed people looking each other in the eye more now, and in the hallway, they’re paying attention to where they’re going, and they’re not all looking down,” Stumler said.
“It’s easier in class to not be paranoid, ‘Are they just on TikTok?’ I don’t have to think about that at all,” she added.
Previously, the policy regarding phones at JHS was largely at each teacher’s discretion, with most simply forbidding phones during instruction, but allowing them after.
Stumler allowed students to use their phones during non-instructional time, or as a substitute for a Chromebook. Unfortunately, Stumler said they would often become distracted.
“They’d just want to scroll.”
English teacher Justin Linde is “not during instruction” policy worked for a short time, he said, but it ultimately fizzled when students stopped putting their phones in calculator pouches.
“After a couple of weeks, it became ‘I don’t have a phone,’ and I couldn’t accuse someone of not having a phone. It got to the point where everybody was on their phones. Regardless of it being an honors class or a regular class or AP,” Linde said.
The new legislation has significantly impacted media classes, designed to train future journalists to properly use technology.
Radio and broadcasting teacher Fred Cowgill said the statewide ban has heavily affected WJHI’s operations.
“The entire business of broadcast and communications and information, every major news organization is using smartphones. Our entire workflow from the moment we took over two years ago was using our students’ personal cellphones,” Cowgill said.
Cowgill said WJHI was unprepared for the outright ban.
“When we got wind of it this summer that the state was going to implement this bell-to-bell ban of phones in schools, we were told we’d get a ‘hall pass’ to still use them, but around July 1, we were told ‘No’.”
Cowgill’s words were echoed by principal Pam Hall, who said she was unaware the ban would be outright.
“When they were still talking about putting it into law, they talked about giving schools the autonomy to come up with their own plan on how to do it, whether that would be to allow phones in curricular classes. When the law was enacted, they took that away,” Hall explained.
Cowgill, Hall, Linde, Stumler, and freshman counselor Andrea Schedler all agreed the ban was necessary, but differed on the scope of exceptions.
Stumler, Schedler, and Linde said students should be allowed to have phones during lunch.
“If they can handle it, I think lunch should be a time when they can have it. It gives you downtime,” Schedler said.
Linde agreed. “I think the bill went from one extreme to the other. I don’t understand how you could regulate them in the hallway, or at lunch, and I think students should have access to their phones at those parts of the day.”
Cowgill said student journalism should have been exempt from the ban for curricular reasons.
“The State of Indiana barring smartphone use from its high school communication classes sends the wrong message. We were using them as tools, not as an entertainment device. What better way to teach the correct use of personal smartphones than by giving us the opportunity to do that?”
Hall added that the ban puts an unnecessary burden on emergencies and worried parents.
“I’m one of those parents; my advice to kids is to put it in your purse or in your pocket, turned off or silent at all times, in case something happens, and you have to get out. But don’t have it out. I think it’s important that students, in case of an emergency, have a way to communicate.”
Wrestling celebrates its 70th season this year
by Bryce Treat
As JHS wrestling enters its 70th season, the program continues to demonstrate why it has remained a cornerstone of the school’s athletic tradition. Through decades of change, the sport has endured and continues to shape the lives of student-athletes both on and off the mat.
Head Coach Daniel Struck, who also serves as a middle school football coach and teaches Sports Performance, reflected on the impact wrestling has had on his life.
“Wrestling and coaches in general made me who I am today,” Struck said. “Wrestling literally means ‘to struggle’, and learning to wrestle teaches you how to handle all the struggles of life.”
The program’s 70th anniversary carries special significance. While many sports have rich traditions, Struck emphasized wrestling’s unique place in history.
“Anything that can last this long, through wars, different presidents, different administrations, depressions, and more is special,” he said. “Wrestling is 3,500 years old. It is the world’s oldest sport and the only sport mentioned in the Bible. It has lasted millennia.”
The impact of wrestling extends beyond the mat. Assistant coach and English teacher Evan Myers credits the sport with shaping nearly every aspect of his life.
“It has improved every single area of my life because many of the lessons I’ve learned have carried over to my personal and professional life,” Myers said. “The discipline you learn in wrestling helps you everywhere.”
“Wrestling literally means ‘to struggle’, and learning to wrestle teaches you how to handle all the struggles of life.”
Head Wrestling Coach Danny Struck
As the program prepares for a new season, coaches have spent the offseason developing themselves as leaders. Myers attended coaching conferences, read books on leadership, and networked with other coaches and mentors to gain new perspectives. Struck similarly invested in his growth, reading nearly 30 books, attending six conferences, and recently visiting the Olympic Training Center.
This year’s team will look much different than last season’s. According to Struck, the program has grown significantly, featuring 12 seniors compared to just three a year ago, along with more than 20 incoming freshmen.
“Every year is different,” noted Struck. “Every team brings a different look and dynamic to the struggle.”
The increased experience has coaches optimistic. Last season, JHS surprised many by advancing further than expected despite being a relatively young team.
“None of us thought sectionals would be as close as they were,” Myers recalled. “We were young, despite having experience and intensity. Now we have more experience, and I think our varsity teams could be great this year.”
One of the program’s proudest accomplishments last season was having all 14 varsity starters qualify for regionals, a milestone that reflected the team’s depth and dedication.
Senior wrestler Jak Rose knows firsthand how much effort goes into reaching that level. Wrestling has taught him lessons that extend beyond competition.
“It’s taught me discipline, how to deal with losing, and the value of work ethic,” Rose explained. “If you want something, you’ve got to work for it.”
Rose’s offseason looked different than most. After dealing with injuries, he focused more on learning and refining technique than chasing victories.
“My offseason was mainly about learning rather than winning,” he said. “Getting back from injury helped me focus on technique.”
The lessons learned from adversity have fueled his motivation entering his final season.
“Last season was very humbling,” Rose said. “It was my first year on varsity and my first year dealing with injury during the season. It gave me motivation to give everything I’ve got this year.”
As he begins his senior campaign, Rose has ambitious goals.
“I planned to get in the best physical condition I can,” he stated. “I’m really set on being a sectional champion and making it to state this year. I’m going to leave it all on the mat.”
Among the program’s other senior leaders is Abi Lemon, who is looking forward to enjoying every moment of her final year as a student-athlete.
“I’m very excited to see how sports will go,” Lemon said. “All my clubs with my friends and teammates, especially this being my last time.”
Lemon said wrestling and other extracurricular activities have helped build her confidence and character.
“Participating in all these clubs has made me better as a person,” she explained. “I feel more confident because I did them.”
Like Rose, Lemon has both competitive and personal goals for the season.
Having previously competed at the state level, Lemon understands the challenge that comes with wrestling against Indiana’s best athletes.
“My goal for this season is to go far, obviously,” she said. “As a girl, I want to have as much fun with my teammates and coaches as I’ve known since freshman year.”
“Competition is definitely a lot tougher at state and more serious,” recalled Lemon. “It was a bunch of hard-working girls, and I felt very honored to be a part of that group.”
Balancing athletics, academics, and extracurricular activities remains one of the biggest challenges for student-athletes, but Lemon credits her support system for helping her succeed.
“It’s definitely difficult,” she said. “It’s great to have friends in both because even when I struggle in one, I have a great support system to help me.”
Looking back on her experience, Lemon encourages younger students to make the most of every opportunity available to them.
“Do as much as you can while you can,” advised Lemon. “Experience is very valuable because you can learn a lot of things and have fun.”
The coaching staff also has ambitious goals for the future. Myers hopes the team can contend for sectional titles while continuing to strengthen the growing girls wrestling program.
“I hope we push for sectional titles this year,” Myers said. “I also hope to see the women’s wrestling program continue to grow. I think it has developed a legacy, and I’d like to see that continue.”
As JHS wrestling celebrates its 70th season, the common theme among coaches and athletes remains clear: success is built through hard work, resilience, and a willingness to embrace struggle. Whether it is a coach learning new leadership skills, a wrestler overcoming injury, or a senior preparing for one final season, the lessons of wrestling continue to shape those who are part of the program and ensure its tradition will carry forward for years to come.
Digital Dispatch August 31, 2026
Junior varsity, freshman Red Devils played Seymour last Saturday
Photos by Mason Ridge.
Digital Dispatch August 31, 2026
JHS defeats Franklin on Saturday to improve to 5-1
All photos by Parker McCloskey.
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