Last Friday, January 20, 2017, Mr. Doug Golden passed away in his home. The news of his passing came as a shock to members of a community who loved him. On Tuesday, January 20, 2017, employees of Down’s Funeral Home witnessed one of the largest gatherings of people they had ever seen for a visitation. The line of people waiting to pay their respects to the Golden family wound outside of the building with people waiting hours to walk through. The turnout was a tribute to the man Doug Golden was and the impact he made on this small community. “He watched me grow up,” junior Frankazia Boyd said. “He watched all of us grow up,” added junior Annabelle Ellis. The funeral was a combination of tears and laughter as memories were shared by Mr. Golden’s oldest son, Donny. He spoke about growing up with a father who loved him, taught him about Jesus, and could appreciate a good prank every now and then. Family was a constant theme throughout the service, and it was made clear that Mr. Golden loved nothing more than spending time with his wife, children, and precious grandchildren. Mr. Golden was survived by his wife of 43 years, Beth Golden; sons Donny and wife, Kayla, Danny and wife, Jessica, Dusty and wife, Megan; grandchildren, Zachary, Grayson, Rylie, Easton, Laney, and Leah; sister, Linda and husband, Jim Ware, brother, Carroll and wife, Sue Golden, sister, Pam and husband, Sam Lawless, sister, Barbara and husband, Butch Hickey. He had numerous nieces and nephews and an entire community of friends.
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By: Kelsie Marcantel
The pressure, the passion, the paint. It’s time for the artists of Elysian Fields to show their skills again at V.A.S.E. V.A.S.E. is an acronym for Visual Arts Scholastic Event. It’s a competitive art event which many creative students from different schools attend. Individual artists will be judged on their piece/pieces on a scale of 1-4 (1 being the lowest, 4 being the highest). Those who receive a 4 have a chance to go to state. Any form of art may be entered, from photography to sculptures to digital art. V.A.S.E. will be February 11, and students are preparing and trying to get their work to perfection. “I’m doing a sculpture for V.A.S.E., boi,” juniour Vivian Woods said. “I’m making a dog from styrofoam because I like dogs. I went to V.A.S.E. before, so I guess I feel good. I have to cut the fur, so I don’t know.” Vivian may be doing a sculpture, but many other forms of art will be taken to V.A.S.E., including graphic design pieces. “I will be taking graphic design for V.A.S.E. this year,” sophomore Taylor Stapleton said. “I will be doing a picture where your friend stabs you in the back. I have gone to V.A.S.E. before. I feel way more calm than last year, and trust me, it’s a big improvement.” All forms and fashions of art are being prepared to shine at the competition, even photography. “I’ll be at V.A.S.E.,” sophomore Harleigh Whitehead said. “I will be taking a picture of my cats. The reason I chose my cats is because they are honestly my best friends. I have never been to V.A.S.E. before. I have had an opportunity to go before, but I didn’t. I feel excited because I get to do something I’m passionate about. Hopefully, the judges will like what I bring.” The Visual Arts Scholastic Event will truly be raining cats and dogs this year, and those attending can’t wait to show their passion and talent to the judges. Whether they snap a photo, put pictures together, or draw a meaningful image, V.A.S.E. is the chance for artists in school to truly express themselves and show people what they have to offer. By: G. Cupp
Everyday, animal rescue teams fight to put an end to puppy mills. A puppy mill is a large scale, commercial dog breeding facility where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. According to the ASPCA, Humane Society, and countless other animal cruelty organizations, there are 10,000 estimated puppy mills in the U.S., and out of those, 500,000 puppies are born and sold in pet stores a day. You may be asking, what is so bad about these mills? In puppy mills, dogs can spend most of their lives in cramped cages with no room to play or exercise. Often times, the water and food, if provided, is contaminated with bugs crawling in it. Most puppies in these mills are malnourished. It is also common to find the dogs with collars fastened so tight they are embedded in the dogs’ necks and have to be carefully cut out. A shocking fact is, in most states, puppy mills are legal. The ASPCA states, “A major key to shutting down puppy mills is to shelter adopt.” Adopting dogs and puppies from shelter takes money from the puppy mills while also giving a happy home to a dog who desperately needs one. So, my question for you is, are you ready and willing to JOIN THE FIGHT? Ugh! Valentine's Day… The time of year where couples come together and treat and shower each other with love. Like they don't do that on a daily basis!
Couples give each other candy, roses, fancy dinners, and huge teddy bears on this particular day, but why? “Valentine's day is amazing, if you have you have someone to spend it with,” sophomore Brenaaya Patterson said. “ I plan on spending it with my boyfriend, and [I want] to go somewhere special. I do believe in celebrating Valentine's day because I love the chocolates and roses that my boyfriend gets me!” Should Valentine’s just be about relationships? It should also celebrate the love between family and friends. “Well, I do believe in celebrating it, but I don't believe that it has to necessarily revolve around couples,” sophomore Haley Horton said. “ Valentine's Day could be about celebrating your friendships and the bonds you have with your family.” Most of those that are flying solo this Valentine's plan to just be with family and friends, but they can also look forward to food! “My thoughts about Valentine’s is that it is just another day,” junior Makayla Fitzgerald said. “I plan on going to school and hanging out with my friends. Maybe I’ll try to spend the night with my best friend, Lauren, pig out on food, and watch Netflix. My best friend is my Valentine.” Whether you are taken or single, Valentines is apparently a day for love. So for the single people, run down to the nearest Dollar Store and buy yourself some chocolates and roses. By. H. Whitehead
Have you ever watched Star Wars? If you have, you probably have become a fan, and if you are a fan, you are familiar with the beautiful Princess Leia. Dont worry! She's not your typical Disney Princess, and the actress that played the outstanding Princess Leia was just as wonderful. Her name was Carrie Fisher. Unfortunately Fisher died last year December 27, 2016 due to cardiac arrest. Even though she has passed away, Carrie still lives on as a role model. In Fisher’s Star Wars years, she played a princess. This of the many reasons why she is such a great role model. This “princess” was a strong, powerful woman; she basically did what she wanted when she wanted. That was one of many features that made her different and stand out to everyone. In real life, Fisher helped inspire women to embrace their femininity and strength. Fisher took all of her work and words and made a book out of it. Most of the books she wrote were mainly about her and Star Wars, but who's complaining? Fisher lived with many struggles including health conditions, mental issues and depression. She took all of the problems she had and tried to make them something positive, something to be proud and not ashamed of. Fisher lived her life to the complete fullest and made everything she could out of it. She was beautiful and strong, which is why we will always remember her great life! R.I.P Carrie Fisher. By: Carly B and Morgan D.
After 17 years of hard work and dedication, the only winter graduate of EFISD will start a new chapter of her life January 13, 2017. Senior graduate Bailey Ebarb has many reasons for being excited about graduating. “I won’t have anybody constantly breathing down my neck,” Bailey said. There are many emotions someone might feel when they graduate. As for Bailey, she is nervous. “I am nervous because it’s the first time I’ll be alone,” Bailey said. Graduating early is not easy. “I took a lot of college classes, and I had to sacrifice my elective classes for my core classes,” Bailey said. Bailey has already selected a college and will start the same month she graduates from high school. “I am going to Northwestern State University,” Bailey said. The staff wish Bailey an awesome start while she embarks on this new chapter of her life. By: B. Ebarb
The first flight is always the hardest. Sometimes things are left behind or lost in the process. Even a little push might be needed to set flight with your newfound wings. With the first flight, freedom and new responsibilities are uncovered. Much like learning to fly, leaving home for the first time can expose many untold secrets to some young adults. As for others, it allows room to be your own individual. Lets face it, leaving home sounds fun: no parents, no rules. This gives you the chance to experience freedom, like staying up until 2 a.m. stalking your new college crush on instagram, or having a full gallon of buttered pecan Blue Bell ice cream for breakfast. Freedom allows you to think for yourself, not having your mom think for you. You’ll face many new challenges with this freedom, like learning when to go to bed so you can wake up at a reasonable time to attend your 8 a.m. class Monday morning. But, with these new freedoms come new responsibilities. Ah, responsibilities! At home, you probably had chores like unloading/loading the dishwasher after dinner and feeding your mom’s four dogs that eat better than you do. Now you have new chores. You must learn how to sort whites from colored clothes, learning what you can and can’t use the washing machine to wash, and forcing yourself to pause your binge watching of Grey’s Anatomy even if you are 6 season deep. With leaving home, new responsibilities arise. Buying toilet paper and making your own doctor’s appointments. It all seems a little scary; the freedom, the responsibilities, not having your mom to answer all of the doctor’s questions. But just like the birds, it’s always okay to fly back home. Who doesn’t love sleeping in their own bed and eating a nice, warm home cooked bowl of chicken and dumplings? It’s important to always remember whose nest you came from and the people who helped you spread your wings and soar through this crazy journey for adulting. By: B. Patterson
In 1954, the supreme court ruled that blacks and whites could go to the same schools. This and many other accomplishments,including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, would have never been possible if it were not for the non-violent protest of Martin Luther King Jr. January 16 marks the birthday of this great hero. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr, and a day we should forever remember. One effect MLK made on our country was helping enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned discrimination in employment and public accommodations based on race, color, religion, or national origin. Because of this act racial boundaries were knocked down everywhere. Soon, people began to accept each other as equals, and life formed as we know it. Another accomplishment MLK made on our country was allowing everyone to feel equal to each other. Instead of only supporting African Americans, he pushed for equal rights for every race. Today, every school in America is racially diverse. An African American, Asian, Mexican, or anyone else can walk the halls of their school freely and safely without being ashamed of who they are, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. played a big role in making this reality possible. By A Ellis
Tension in the gym rises as the clock runs out. The only sounds are the bounce of the ball, squeak of the shoes, and the voices of the boys on the court. The Elysian Fields Jackets, led by Coach Chaston Pruitt, are currently 3-3 in district. “Both teams have lots of potential,” Coach Pruitt said. The varsity boys are working towards the playoffs, while the jv boys are striving to win the rest of their district games. “Hopefully, we’ll make it to state, but I’d like to at least win bi-district,” senior Robert Johnson said. Every little thing matters when the game is on the line, especially attitudes. “We all definitely have better attitudes than last year,” junior Jeremy Williams said. With hard work, dedication, and the will to win, the Jackets are reaching for the stars. Their next district game is Friday, the 20th, in new Diana. Be sure to come show your support! By A. Ellis
“All right, girls, we’ve got to get our stuff together and stomp them!” The girls basketball coach, Wayne Carter, enjoys giving his team a rousing pep talk before every game. He and the Lady Jackets plan on securing a spot in the playoffs and winning district 14-0. “We definitely have more to improve on than last year, but I think we can go at least two rounds into the playoffs, if not more,” Shayla Matthews said. Some of her teammates share similar views. “I feel like we’ve worked hard so far, and if we continue to work, we can go as far as we want, especially if we play as a team,” Chloe White said. Both jv and varsity girls are 8-0 in district. “I think we’ll do very well as district play progresses,” Haley Horton said. “We’ve played every other team once already, and I feel hopeful that we’ll continue our winning streak.” The next district game is Friday, the 20th, in New Diana for the varsity girls and both boys teams. Be sure to come and show your support! |
The StaffA heads up on the down low at EFHS. Archives
October 2022
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