Tennessee Valley Showcase, Battle of the Bands

Written by Hannah Cutshall, Reporter

Tennessee Valley Showcase is a band competition hosted by Dobyns-Bennett. There were 10 schools in total that competed in TVS, as well as an exhibition performance by DB. This is the 4^th annual Tennessee Valley Showcase.             It was a reasonably warm day, Saturday September 25^th. The stands starting to fill as people began arriving from all around to watch the bands compete. At 5:15 to kick off the show the John Sevier, Ross N. Robinson, Dobyns-Bennett combined and played the “Star Spangled Banner”. As well as “Rocky Top” by the Dobyns-Bennett band to celebrate the UT win earlier that day. After that the Dobyns-Bennett marching band showed off their half time show, titled “The Journey Begins,” featuring “Anyway you want it,” “Separate Ways,” “Faithfully,” and “Don’t stop believing.”             With that performance the competition began. In class A there were 4 competitors. The first competitor was South Greene High School, with 30 members; this band is directed by Michael Douty. This year’s theme for them was “Introducing: The Band of Rebels,” consisting of “Born to be Wild,” “Son of the South,” “Desperados,” and “Rebel Yell.” Next up at 6:15 was Smoky Mountain High school, with 50 members, directed by Andrew Umphlett. Their performance involved the audience by performing “Chicken Dance,” they also performed “Green Acres,” “Chicken Reel,” “Magnificent Seven” and “Hoe Down.” Following them was Clinton High School, with 68 members, directed by Daniel Stone. Their program consisted of “The Who’s ‘Tommy,” “Go to the Mirror Boy,” “Sparks” and “Pinball Wizard.” Finishing off Class A was Tuscola High School, with 80 members, directed by Tim Wise. Their program was titled “Year of the Tiger.”             The next class up was class AA. Starting up this class was Patrick Henry High School, with 79 members, directed by Justin Camacho. Their program this year was titled “Music from ‘West Side Story,” this included “Maria,” “Gee Officer Krupke,” “One hand, one heart,” and “Cool.” Following them, now at 7:30, was Tennessee High School. Tom Padgett directed this 99 member band. Their program was titled “Streets of London.” Finishing off class AA was Halls High School, with 140 members, directed by Eric Bacumgardner. “Groove!” this was a unique performance split up into to movements. Movement one was “Let’s Dance,” movement two was “Tango,” and movement three was “dance, dance, dance.”              The final class was class AAA. Starting off class AAA was Grissom High school. Grissom finished 2^nd overall in the competition. It was also the 4^th largest band in the competition with 129 members. Directing this band was Bill Connell. Their program was titled “Tutankahmen.” This performance was also split into 3 movements. Movement 1 was Howard Carter’s Discovery; movement 2 was Carter’s first impression along with the song “Wonderful Things”. Last but not least movement 3 was the curse claims 11. Next up in class AAA was Science Hill High School. They were the 2nd largest band there with 193 members. Science hill finished 3^rd overall in the competition. Science Hill High school band is directed by Dr. Carson Vermillion. Their performance was titled “The road not taken.” They displayed 3 different songs, “Two Roads,” “Another Day” and “All the Difference”. Finally the last performance of the night was James F. Byrnes High school. They got 1^st overall in the competition and also had the largest membership aside from Dobyns-Bennett of course. James F. Byrne’s band was directed by C. Phillip Mclntyre. Their program was titled “To Boldly Go.” They also performed three pieces. The 1^st was “Star Trek”- “Enterprising Young Men”. 2^nd was “Hope” from “Prayer Cycle” and for their closer they presented “Nero Sighted”- “To Boldly Go.”             To finish off a night of awesome bands Dobyns-Bennett performed the exhibition, displaying their competition show for the first time to the public. Lafe Cook directed this of course, and proud to say our band was the largest there with a total of 240 members!! The program is titled “In to the Light.” In this year’s show they display “Do not go Gentle into That Good Night” by Elliot Del Bargo and “Aurora Awakes” by John Mackey.             The awards ceremony took place at 9:15. Basically rounding off the perfect day for music and marching. It was a tough competition and it was great to watch all the other bands from out of state come to compete here in Kingsport. Final Results are: Grand Champion: James F. Byrnes                          Reserve Grand Champion: Grissom                         Honorable Mention: Science Hill                         Mayor’s Award: Grissom                         Class A Champion: Tuscola                         Class AA Champion: Halls                         Class AAA Champion: James F. Byrnes

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One Link At A Time

Written by Nathan Skeens, Editor-in-Chief

If you’ve dropped by Mr. Fielden’s classroom lately, you may have noticed the hulking mass of interlinked staples tacked up on the wall. This is the work of Senior Justin Osborne, who, on September 30^th, 2010, beat the Guinness World Record for largest staple chain.    For a little over a month, Osborne has been diligently working on this chain, quickly linking staples into short lengths that are then tacked up with the rest of the lengths.    Currently, this record is held by Kandakhar Shihab Ahmed of Bangledesh. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Ahmed submitted his chain on November 3^rd, 2007. Khandakar’s chain measured out to be 182.37 meters, or 422 feet and 4 inches, in length.    Osborne has beaten this record. Currently, his chain is almost 600 feet in length, now taller than the Statue of Liberty. But, the challenge isn’t over for Osborne. Osborne has paperwork to be filled and submitted. Meanwhile, Ahmed still holds the record and will hold it until Osborne’s chain is measured.    It may take some time yet for the record to become official, but what Osborne has accomplished so far is impressive in its own right. Kevin Fielden is very impressed with Osborne’s accomplishments.  Fielden stated “No matter what happens, the coolest thing is that the largest staple chain in the world was completed in this room.”    According to Fielden, Osborne is already a champion regardless of what happens. “[The record] could be beaten tomorrow, but no one will ever take it away from him,” Fielden said     Until Osborne’s record becomes official, he says that he will continue to work on the chain. Osborne is also dedicating the staple chain to the memory of Jerry Adams.    Justin Osborne’s accomplishment is definitely going to be one for the history books. However, records come and go. Records are constantly being broken and then broken again. Osborne’s record could be broken tomorrow. But, no matter what, the Jerry Adams Memorial Staple Chain will always be remembered by the Dobyns-Bennett Class of ’11.

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Philip Habegger

The Dobyns-Bennett swim team will officially be kicking their season off on November 16, at D-B starting at 6:00.  The swim coaches are head coach Nathan Love, assistant coaches Lora Fowler and Julie Rich, and volunteer coach Sara Wallingford.  Last year’s swim team “put the ‘Love’ back in swimming” and this year is hopefully going to be just as promising with a great team!  We got a chance to interview swimmer, Philip Habegger, and ask him some questions.  We asked him about his opinions on swimming and his experiences, and not to mention about this year’s team and upcoming season! Arrowhead:  How old were you when you started swimming? Philip Habegger:  9 years. AH:  What events do you compete in? PH:  50 free is number one. AH:  Have you ever shaved your legs? PH:  Who hasn’t? AH:  Have you ever won any medals or trophies? PH:  Medals the size of dinner plates! AH:  How great do you think the swim team is this year? PH:  I think you could expect some conference champs. AH:  What’s the earliest you’ve gotten up in the morning for practice? PH:  5:00 A.M. AH:  What’s your favorite food to eat before a meet? PH:  Power bars and lots of water. AH:  Do you ever get sick of water? PH:  I only get sick of chlorine, I’m a hydrophiliac. AH:  Do you think you’ll win a lot this year? PH:  With as much practice I do, I better! AH:  What is your top goal for this swim season? PH:  Break the 50 free record. AH:  What school is your biggest rival? PH:  Science Hill. AH:  What’s your favorite memory from swimming? PH:  Beating Science Hill’s 400 relay last year. AH:  Why swimming?  Why not another sport? PH:  Swimming is only for the pure of heart. AH:  What do you guys do to get pumped up for a swim meet? PH:  Bite each other. AH:  Are you going to continue swimming after high school? PH:  If I ever encounter water, swimming is a lifetime.

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Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell

Written by Ashley Lovin, Reporter

Song of the Sparrow is one of the great pieces written by Lisa Ann Sandell that focuses on a life’s journey in perspective of a knight-to-be, Arthur. His decision of enlisting in his village’s military forces turns out to be the best choice of his life.  During this time, he falls in love with Lady Gwenivere, the princess of Camelot. In the end, they find themselves risking their lives for the safety of the other. Song of the Sparrow is written as a verse novel to intertwine with the romantic language that is used within the chapters. The romantic language of medieval times plays a role in creating a setting with the poetic format. The description of each narration places a small piece of imagery in the reader’s head. This imagery includes many metaphors and similes that relate to the beauty and drama of nature in comparison with difficult decisions of life and love, such as “We live here, in this army encampment, where drums beat and beat in my dreams and over breakfast, at sunrise and sundown. The here and home I speak of is no more than the collection of dirty, foul-smelling tents.” Readers of this book will enjoy the humor and sarcasm that goes along with the journey that Arthur takes. This book shows, by the capture of Lady Gwenivere, that women, as well as men, can accomplish anything they set their minds and hearts to. The situation results in the true beauty and reality of love and the challenges that we face to get to the point in life where we know that we will always be with the one person we truly love. In the end, romance, language, and beauty coincide to create a beautiful life story that all young adults who read this book will fall in love with the characters, setting, and difficulties of choosing love over life. Song of the Sparrow is one of the few books I would recommend for all readers looking for a good book!

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Halloween Memories!

Written by Candace Chatman, Editor-in-Chief

Halloween, a holiday where children of all ages dress up in costumes and go door-to-door saying, “Trick-or-treat!?”  According to www.history.com, the holiday, Halloween, first originated from Ireland and actually wasn’t celebrated like children do today.  The Celts, as they were called, celebrated November 1^st as their new year which was their harvest time.  They believed on October 31^st the ghosts of the dead would return to the earth to cause mayhem and destroy their crops.  In today’s time though, Halloween is just a holiday where you can dress up and eat tons of candy until you’re sick!  Everyone has several, if not one, Halloween memory.  I asked different people about their favorite Halloween memories and they were more than happy to share them with us.    “When I was in 4^th grade, after over two hours of running around my neighborhood, my friends and I headed back to my house.  I looked in the distance, down my street, and saw a tiny shadow.  My friends insisted it was a mailbox, but I knew something was off.  I walked slowly up to the shadow, and suddenly it ran.  To my surprise, I realized it was a kitten.  My friend, Alex, picked it up, and we took our little orange Halloween kitten home.”                                                                                     -Tori Fleury, Senior    “My favorite Halloween memory was last year’s.  Brad, Breven, Chris, Crum, Spinney, and I built a catapult. It contained two springs each with a spring constant of 20,000, capable of launching us at a Vo of 600 m/s with a 1 meter compression.  So Breven, Brad, Crum, and I loaded up into the launching apparatus of the catapult without parachutes on.  Then, Chris and Spinney released the tension and sent us flying away east.  So we flew for hours, our harnesses keeping us together and we deployed our chutes.  We landed on a small island and the natives made Brad their leader.  After several days of relaxing we sailed back to Maryland and caught an air balloon to Kingsport, TN.  Later that evening we wrote of our adventures, and it was good.”                                                                                     -Michael Stallard, Senior    “My cousin and I were at our grandmother’s in Greenville and decorated the house.  We rented two caskets and put them at the bottom of the outside stairs and on both sides of the sidewalk.  We both played dead in them and when people said, ‘trick-or-treat,’ we would rise up slowly and stair at them then scream.  It scared so many people.”                                                                                     -Glenn Stewart, Junior    “I, and three of my friends, went to roll a house.  We had just finished the house, when a large man holding a paintball gun came out on his front porch.  I was shot in the chest by a frozen paintball then we ran. The scar is still there to this day.”                                                                                     -Anonymous, Sophomore     “Once, my dad hid under the steps and scared kids by grabbing their legs and making them scream.  He grabbed this kid’s leg and he kicked my dad, and called him some names I am pretty sure I can’t say in here.  Then that same night, some of my friends and I went wild.  We put on our woodland camo’s and got in trees and airsoft snipered our other friends.  Afterwards, we gathered all of our friends up and hung out at my friend’s house. Good times, good times.”                                                                                     -Chance Lawson, Freshman    “One year, my brother cut a hole in the center of a cardboard box and put it around his waist with a tablecloth over it.  He then put a lampshade on his head and wore a sign around his neck that said, ‘One nightstand.’”                                                                                     -Mrs. Haren, Teacher

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The New Asylum Album by Disturbed

Written by Wilson McNair, Reporter

The metal band, disturbed, came out with a new album by the name of Asylum on August 31, 2010. The album consists of a total of sixteen songs on the original CD or seventeen on the special edition which are: “Remnants,” “Asylum,” “Another Way to Die,” “Serpentine,” “The Animal,” “My Child,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I Am Looking For,” “Down With Sickness (live),” “The Infection,” “Warrior,” “Never Again,” “Crucified,” “Sacrifice,” “Innocence,” “Leave It Alone” “Stricken (Live),” and “Living After Midnight (Special Edition).” All the songs on the Asylum album were worth listening to. The two live songs, “Down with the Sickness” and “Stricken” sounded differently than the recorded versions, there is a bunch of annoying clapping in the middle of the songs, but other than that the songs do sound better than they did. The album is one of the popular Disturbed has ever released, if not it is the most popular they have released ever since their formation. The Asylum album is worth buying and I encourage anyone that listens to Disturbed, any kind of metal, hard rock, or alternative, such as Nickelback, to buy this newly released album. Also if you listen to a band that screams all the time, like Red, you might want to consider buying the album because there is a lot of screaming towards the end of most of the songs. Before the vocalist, David Draiman joined Disturbed, the band was called Brawl. The band members were: Erich Awalt, Dan Donegan, Mike Wengren, and Steve "Fuzz" Kmak. Before changing their name, Donegan mentioned in the band's DVD, Decade of Disturbed, that the name was originally going to be named "Crawl" but switched it to "Brawl." Awalt left the band after recording a demo tape and the other three members went on advertising for a singer.

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Top Ten Youtube Videos of All Time*

Written by Emily Garrison, Graphic/Layout Editor

1.   Justin Bieber - Baby ft. Ludacris

•   322,547,086 views
• From the time he first appeared in magazines and on the radio and television, Justin Bieber was a huge hit. This #1 Youtube video is a music video of one of Justin Bieber’s top songs—Baby. It is a song about first loves and first break-ups, which is the center of most teen girls’ worlds.

2.   Lady Gaga - Bad Romance

•  277,411,523 views
• Crazy hair-do’s, out-of-this-world clothing, and videos that shock the worldwide internet are what Lady Gaga is all about. This music video tells a story of a “bad romance” between a man and a woman, and portrays her anger and plans for revenge.

3.   Charlie bit my finger - again !

• 229,001,457 views
• “Charlie, that really hurt!” At first, you see two boys, most likely brothers, sitting in a recliner together. The baby brother bites the older boy’s finger and the boy says, in a very cute English accent, “Ouch, Charlie, that really hurt!” It is a slightly pointless video, but very cute.

4.   Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official Music Video by Shakira featuring Freshlyground)

• 184,257,238 views
• This music video and song were made for the FIFA World Cup 2010. It features clips from the games, Shakira singing and dancing with other African women, and clips from South Africa, where the games were held this year.

5.   Eminem- Love The Way You Lie ft. Rihanna

• 171,952,200 views
• "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem was a hit song in the fall of 2010, reverberating catchy tunes and relatable lyrics through the minds of young lovers. The music video is based around the lyrics of the song, which are about two angered lovers.

6.   Miley Cyrus - Party In the U.S.A. - Official Music Video

• 156,220,037 views
• For some, this music video for Miley Cyrus’s summer hit Party in the USA was her first step out of her pre-teen Hannah Montana shell. The video features Miley at an outdoor party with cowboys, pick-up trucks, short shorts, and a huge American flag. The dancing is a little different than Hannah’s more pre-teen friendly choreography, which enraged many parents across America.

7.   Evolution of Dance - By Judson Laipply

• 151,804,709 views
• From the Twist to the Tootsie Roll and beyond, this guys does it all. The title of this video, Evolution of Dance, basically describes what’s going on. Judson does one long dance of many bits of popular dances across recent decades. This top hit is a must see.

8.   Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)

• 142,570,685 views
• For a reason as to why this music video is one of the top ten, I can not think of. The song is catchy, but the video is simple. The video is full of half-naked women dancing around in a seductive manner. I would only recommend this to those who enjoy watching inappropriate videos.

9.   Hahaha

• 137,035,542 views
• This home video is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I laugh tremendously every time I watch it. This video shows a baby sitting it its highchair, laughing hysterically every time their parent makes a certain noise. If ever you need a pick-me-up, watch this video.

10.   Miley Cyrus - 7 Things - Official Music Video (HQ)

• 131,640,690 views
• “7 Things” is a pop song performed by Miley Cyrus. The song was written as if a girlfriend was talking to her boyfriend about the way he hurt her and the seven things she hated about him. The song takes a turn for the better at the end, though, when she decides to mention the seven things she likes about him.

*As of October 25, 2010. http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views?t=a

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Be Careful What You Shriek For

Written by Emily Garrison, Graphic/Layout Editor

Vampires, witches, and goblins are not the only things to be afraid of when it comes to Halloween. The possibility of accidents can increase when there are tons of children and parents running around door-to-door that evening. Here are a few tips to ensure not only your safety, but the safety of others as well while trick-or-treating:

 

• When choosing a costume, think practicality over cuteness.
• Eat a good meal before leaving your house.
• Drive slowly in neighborhoods.
• Give trick-or-treaters the right-of-way.
• If you are driving, be prepared for stopping often.
• Only go to neighborhoods you are familiar with.
• Wear comfortable shoes if you plan on walking a lot.
• Only go to houses that are lit. Unlit houses mean the owners are either not home or they do not want to hand out candy.
• Assign a curfew. Do not be out too late.
• Watch out for kids who are trick-or-treating. They tend to get overexcited and like to run from house to house.
• Keep yourself hydrated. Drink lots of water if you are walking.
• Avoid wearing a costume that will drag on the ground. This will help you avoid tripping.
• Plan a route ahead of time, so you will not get lost.
• Don't go alone! Always have a trick-or-treating buddy, group, or parent.
• Use the restroom before leaving your house.
• Always walk, never run.
• Don't enter anyone's house unless you know them.
• Out of respect, stay on sidewalks and driveways. Do not walk through roads or the grass.
• Respect other peoples' properties.
• If a house looks suspicious, don't go to it!
• Carry a cell phone with you at all times, and be sure to secure it to you, so you will not lose it.
• Don't approach animals and pets that you do not know.
• Only cross the street when it is safe and you know the drivers on both sides of the road can see you.
• Inspect your candy for rips, tears, or abnormalities before eating it.

 

• Remember to always say, "Thank you!"

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The Silent Suicide Epidemic

Written by Tori Fleury, New Editor

Around 10 o’ clock every night, most families sit down, get comfortable, and turn on the local evening news.  The usual appears before them: politics, war, meth labs, where to get your flu shots, the occasional “save our animal shelter” story.  Sometimes, there is a tragic account about the loss of a teen to suicide.  If you are over 13, it’s likely that you know someone who has considered or attempted suicide.  This is becoming a major issue in our country and must be recognized.  Recently, People magazine released an issue about those who have attempted and succeeded in committing suicide.  It included stories about teens who have been bullied because they are gay, of a different race, overweight, or for no apparent reason.  Kids in school must learn that what they see as playful, harmless teasing could actually be deeply hurting another person.  People are subject to all kinds of dark pasts, and what you say might trigger a horrible memory, causing much pain.  The statistics for teenagers who are bullied for these reasons are rising, and some of these students turn to what they see as their only way out, suicide. Contrary to what many believe, talking about suicide does not make people want to act on it.  Talking about it may actually save a teen’s life; and teachers, students, and parents must be aware of this fact.  The Jason Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide.  On its website, www.jasonfoundation.com, it explains that their goal is to assist as many at-risk youth as they can and make everyone aware of this “silent epidemic” of teen suicide.  Teachers in Tennessee are required to have in-service training each year in order to show them how to act when they are suspicious about a student’s depression.  This is very important because suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth in Tennessee.  What separates kids who are bullied and commit suicide and those who are bullied and do not?  According to Mr. McConnell, D-B’s school-based program coordinator, “Teenagers who commit suicide have a buildup of despair and hopelessness. Their perception of life is skewed; they do not have the experience to see that, over time, life does change.”  When they reach a point where they can’t take the bullying, the unstable home life, or the idea that life will always be this way, they choose death.  Teens that endure some of the same problems and do not choose suicide have someone that keeps them alive, such as a younger sibling, a strong spiritual rationale, a loving grandparent, or friend.  So, in all cases, be that friend. Do not be the cause of a fellow teenager’s death because you bullied them.  The old saying, “think about what you say before you say it,” may actually save a life. Surprisingly, many who know someone who committed suicide say that they were completely unaware of their friends’ intentions.  This is shocking because four out of five people will give warning signs before attempting.  Ten signs that should concern you are:

1. Talking about suicide
2. Making statements about feeling hopeless, helpless, or worthless
3. A deepening depression
4. Preoccupation with death
5. Taking unnecessary risks or exhibiting self-destructive behavior
6. Out of character behavior
7. A loss of interest in the things one cares about
8. Visiting or calling people one cares about
9. Making arrangements; setting one’s affairs in order
10. Giving prized possessions away Source: Jason Foundation Warning Signs

Some may also be surprised to learn that more males are prone to succeed in committing suicide than females.  Boys are naturally more impulsive; when they have a set motive it’s possible that there is no turning back.  They also are not as willing to ask for help, while girls will do many things to indirectly request help, such as not eating or cutting.  These factors also raise the probability of suicide:

• Perfectionist personalities
• Gay and Lesbian youth
• Learning Disabled youth
• Loners
• Youth with Low Self- Esteem
• Depressed Youth
• Students in Serious Trouble
• Abused, Molested or Neglected Youth
• Abusers of Drugs, Alcohol Source: Jason Foundation Risk Factors

Maybe you read this and had a friend in mind.  Maybe you were thinking of yourself.  Whatever the case, know that there is a way out that is not so permanent.  Do not think that suicide only affects you.  People do care, just give them the chance.  The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-TALK, but remember that teachers, counselors, or other students will always be there to help you.  Do not be another loss to the silent suicide epidemic.  Choose life.

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“Touchdown, Dobyns-Bennett!”

Written by Emily Garrison, Graphic/Layout Editor

Dobyns-Bennett High School: 9-0, tenth in the state. To say we trampled over Sullivan Central and put Sullivan South in their place is only scratching the surface of what a remarkable football season the Indians have had so far. With an amazing line-up of who are now star football players, the Indians were dressed for success at the beginning of the season. But before the first game, many students and fans were skeptical towards the outcome, considering the turn-out of last year's season (5-6-0). However, those boys rocked our socks off with a 28 to 7 win against Farragut, and what's even better is that we haven't lost a game since. Though I don't mean to add to any ego the players may already have, I think they deserve a huge round of applause for such an awesome season so far. Not only do they play so well because of their toned arms, rampant testosterone, and some years of experience, but they do it in part for their fans. The students and fans of the Tribe have been incredibly supportive and have yet to lose an ounce of their tribal spirit since that first "Touchdown!" The best part of it all is that the fans will always love their football team, win or lose. So, what's next for the Indians? State championships? Nationals? According to maxpreps.com, they’re ranked #200 in the nation as of October 19^{th, 2010. We'll just have to wait in all of our anticipation to see. But until then, let's hear it for the 2010-2011 Dobyns-Bennett Indians football team! Can I get a ROLL TRIBE, ROLL?}

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