Former Miss America Contestant Passes Away

Former Miss America contestant, Cara McCollum, passed away this past week. The week before, she was driving down a wet highway when her car spun out and crashed into trees. McCollum was originally from Forrest City, Arkansas but was in the Miss America pageant representing New Jersey. She was an anchor on “SNJ Today”. Her co-worker and chief operating officer of the station, Frank DiMauro, had to confirm on air that McCollum had, in fact, passes away. Soon following her death, the family posted on Facebook, "We've prayed constantly for a miracle, and we believe God has answered our prayers. Although it's not the miracle that we first envisioned, it's a miracle nonetheless." By saying this, the family is acknowledging that though this was a horrible tragedy, God was ultimately in control and knew what was going on. He knew it was better for her to leave this Earth.

Written by Ashley Burnette

Movie of the Week: Disney's Mulan

Mulan is a very old Disney movie that came out in 1998. It is about a girl, named Mulan, who is not quite sure who she is. She struggles to bring honor to her family while trying to become confident in herself.

Mulan’s father is called to war, but he is too old to fight. To save her father’s life, Mulan cuts her hair and takes his place in the army. Mulan’s ancestors decide to send Mulan some help. They send their servant Mushu, a tiny dragon, to summon the greatest guardian.  Mushu accidentally destroys the guardian and rushes at the chance to earn the respect of the ancestor’s. He sneaks off to the soldier’s camp and helps Mulan with her charade.

Together with the help of some new friend’s Mulan is able to save all of China including the emperor himself.

Mulan is a female empowering movie that teaches young girls that they are allowed to be tough. Plus it has some pretty amazing songs. Overall, I would suggest watching it. Or, if you’ve already seen it, give it a rewatch.

Written by Jasmine Bonner

Book Review? Book Review.

The Fault in Our Stars is a young adult novel written by John Green. John Green has a particular writing style that involves a lot of metaphors and similes. The main character of the book is a girl named Hazel Grace. She was diagnosed with lung cancer when she was a child. For all of her life she’s been dealing with this deadly illness. Hazel does not have any friends and the only time she sees other people her own age is it at the group for cancer patients her parents make her attend.

One day she meets a boy named Augustus Waters. Gus carries a pack of unsmoked cigarettes and only has one leg. He gives Hazel’s life new meaning and shows her the time of her life. Together with their friend Isaac they try to live life to the fullest.

This is definitely a really emotional book. The metaphors aren't difficult to understand.It is for mature teenagers.

Written by Jasmine Bonner

18 Year Old Claims to be a Doctor

A boy in South Florida by the name of Malachi Love-Robinson actually managed to pose as a doctor. The sad part is, people actually believe him. He had his own medical center and all the tools he needed. He had just about everything but a license to be doing what he was doing.

He claims he received his Ph.D in a completely different field from a private Christian college he won't say the name of. He was arrested a few months before for being accused of using medicine without a real license. He also claims he was able to provide alternative health care. Doing what Love-Robinson has done is a 3rd Degree Felony in the state of Florida. He posed as a 25 year old doctor so i have no doubt that the consequences of his actions will be harsh.

Written by Emily Taylor

Two LA Police Officers Charged With Sexual Assault While on Duty

Two L.A police officers have been charged with several repeated sexual assault charges on four women while they were on duty. A count of 18 criminal complaints were filed on Tuesday charging both of the officers with numerous instances of forcible rape, by threat to arrest or deportation along with sexual battery and oral copulation among other offenses.

The complaint said two men were armed during majority of the alleged assaults and most occurred while they were on the clock. If they are to be convicted the two men will each face a maximum sentence of life in prison. The Times cited a search warrant affidavit as alleging that after forcing the women to get into their squad car with threats of jail, the officers drove victims to secluded areas where one would demand sex while the other kept watch. In other cases, the men acted alone.

Written by Carlos Marrow

Top 10 Things I'll Never Understand

1. Why can I never find what I’m looking for when I need it
1. I've spent hours searching for something i swear I just saw a few days ago. where could it possibly have gone ??
2. How to make a headband out of your own hair
1. I've seen pictures of these braid headbands on pinterest. I attempted it once and knotted my hair.
3. Why so many dog people hate cats
1. Cats are so cute and nice. But one bad interaction with a cat and suddenly cats are the devil’s advocate.
4. Why gym shorts are so unflattering
1. The shorts are very baggy and impossibly long. The waist is so wide you're practically swimming in them.
5. The ending of Allegiant
1. I refuse to give away the ending but seriously don't even pick the book up unless you want to be disappointed.
6. Why you need work experience for a job but you need a first job to get the work experience
1. I keep applying for jobs and 9 times out of 10 they require work experience. Don’t they understand that’s why I’m applying in the first place????
7. People who wear shorts in the winter
1. Just look at the temperature. There is literally snow falling from the sky are you out of your mind?
8. People who wear all black in the summer
1. In case you're unaware, black absorbs heat. So when the temperature is above 80 degrees I wouldn’t suggest your favorite band t shirt as summer appropriate clothing.
9. Who put cherries inside of chocolate
1. It's literally the grossest combination EVER. It's slimy and the cherry taste like a factory.
10. Why we have to go to school at 7 IN THE MORNING
1. Try waking up everyday at 6 a.m. There's nothing fun about it. Then I’m expected to concentrate properly in my first class. No.

These are just a few of the things that confuse me on any given day. What frustrates you? Comment down below!

Written by Jasmine Bonner

Russian Company Says Its Device Can Detect Snipers

Have you ever been almost shot by a sniper? Well you don’t have to worry about that anymore. A Russian company which specializes in tactical systems has created a device that can detect snipers. It reportedly looks like binoculars on a tripod and can detect the snipers up to 2.5 kilometers away.  So, if you haven’t felt safe, or you’re super paranoid, you should feel a little safer now. The device works by locating the sniper and once it has a laser paired with the device can be used  to blind the shooter. Technology is just getting better and better each day.

Written by Billy Coles

NBA All-Star Weekend

What an all-star weekend! The NBA stars put on one of the best performances in recent memory in Toronto this past weekend. We saw genuinely great performances on each different course of the show. The 3 point contest was fantastic, the skills challenge, the dunk contest and the all-star game were all great. The 3 point contest featured reigning champion Stephen Curry (Warriors), James Harden (Rockets), Klay Thompson (Warriors), Khris Middleton (Bucks), Kyle Lowry (Raptors), JJ Redick (Clippers), CJ McCollum (Trail Blazers), and Devin Booker (Suns). The finale of this contest was between regining champion Steph Curry and Klay Thompson who are regarded as 2 of the best shooters in history. Thompson came out on top with 27 points. The skill contest featured Emmanuel Mudiay (Nuggets), DeMarcus Cousins (Kings), Draymond Green (Warriors), Anthony Davis (Pelicans), CJ McCollum (Trail Blazers), Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves), Isaiah Thomas (Celtics) and Jordan Clarkson (Lakers). The skills challenge saw a big change this year with a big man winning the competition! Karl Anthony-Towns, center for the Minnesota Timberwolves became the first big man and the tallest player to ever win the competition (7 ft.). By far the best event was the Dunk contest. Will Barton, Andre Drummond, Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine put on a spectacle for the ages on Saturday that won’t be forgotten. Many believe that the greatest dunk contest of all time is the 1988 matchup between Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan, but after Saturday a lot of opinions changed. Drummond and Barton gave us a few good dunks, but Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine should both have walked out with a trophy. I mean this is the first contest where they had to have overtime because it was tied! In the end the final score was Gordon 49- LaVine 50. The All-Star game was really a tribute to Kobe. While the Black Mamba didn’t exactly have his best game (only 10 points), he did get a ton of respect when the crowd and players stopped the game and had a standing ovation as Kobe walked off the All-Star court for the last time ever. Some other highlights included LeBron James breaking Kobe’s record of points in all-star game history and Russell Westbrook came home with the MVP for the second year in a row.

All-in-all, I think that it was just a fantastic all star weekend. What do you think? Comment your thoughts below!

Written by Kenny Quinn

The Easiest Brownies Ever

We can all agree that brownies are pretty awesome. However, actually making good brownies take soooo much effort. So, whether you can’t cook to save your life or just lazy like most of us, hear is a great recipe for a low-effort high-chocolate mug brownie. Plus, for the super lazy, you can get a brownie mix instead of trying to find all of these ingredients.

Ingredients you’ll need:

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 dash salt
• 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Mix all those ingredients together and pour it into a normal size, 12 oz mug. Stick it in the microwave for a minute to a minute and a half. If you decided to use the boxed mix, put only enough mixture to fill the mug ¼ or half. Once the brownie is done, get a spoon and enjoy!!

Written by Keira Zirkle

MLB Power Rankings

So for the next few days I’m going to rank the best teams in baseball heading into the 2016 season.

30. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies this year are my worst team in baseball. The once mighty Phillies have fallen a long way since their 2008 world series win. This team right now is a disaster and it’s going to take a lot to fix this ball club.

The Good: The Phillies have some talented young prospects like Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco and JP Crawford, so maybe the Phillies have a plan to build this young team back to what it once was.

The Bad: These guys have a lot of work to do on this pitching staff. When a guy like Jeremy Hellickson is vying to be your ace, your club is in deep trouble. And not to mention this bullpen, which is just awful.

29.            Atlanta Braves

The Braves are definitely a rebuilding ballclub. The Braves are another team that used to be on top of the division, but they too have lost a ton of talent and not to mention they also play in a division with the Nationals and the NL Champion Mets.

The Good: The Braves have the best farm system in the game according to Keith Law. They picked up the number one draft pick in Dansby Swanson and a top pitching prospect in Sean Newcomb. Not to mention some talented young MLB pitchers

The Bad: This offense is bad, they can’t put up runs and they can’t consistently keep their pitchers in the game.

28. Cincinnati Reds

The worst team in the NL Central is the Reds. A well below offense and sub-par defense, plus a bad pitching staff=losses

The Good: The Reds still have Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips. Those are 3 talented guys that can keep this offense going for a while, but how long is a while?

The Bad: The Reds final 64 games last year were started by rookies, yes you read that right, and that is a record that no one wants to break, not to mention a garbage bullpen, this is a disaster.

27. San Diego Padres

The Padres have never won a world series and they aren’t going to anytime soon. With a team of bad players can you really expect to win games?

The Good: They still have Matt Kemp and James Shields. Those 2 are the clear cut leaders in this club and will have to carry the weight. Plus they have multiple 1st round picks this year to try and rebuild.

The Bad: A team that plays in a pitchers park without pitching, or offense, or talent       

26. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies were once a world series team, just let that sink in.

The Good: The rookies play at Coors Field, so naturally their offense is going to be great

The Bad: They play at Coors Field so their pitching is terrible.

These are just my picks, but what do you think? Any teams you think deserve to make the list? Comment below!

Written by Kenny Quinn

Man Who Skipped Work For Six Years Was Paid the Whole Time

A building supervisor in Spain by the name of Joaquín García was recently fined $30,000 for skipping work for six years straight. He somehow managed to receive his paycheck even though he never showed up for work. The only reason people noticed he hadn't been working was because they showed up at his office to award him and found that it had been abandoned. Ironically, the award he was supposed to receive was to honor him for 20 years of service to the company.

Over the course of the six years he missed work, he received his usual $41,500 salary. According to people who were close to him in his life, he started studying philosophy. He claimed that he was being bullied at his workplace but he never reported it for fear of being fired. A $30,000 fine was the highest penalty the government could give him.

Written by Emily Taylor

Pacquiao: Anti-Gay

Boxer turned politician, Manny Pacquiao, has probably destroyed his image with the LGBT community. Pacquiao, who is running for Senate in his home country of the Philippines, compared gay people with animals, and then stated animals are better than gay individuals. Like many others, I'm wondering how this is going to affect his political influence. Since it is Pacquiao, I feel that he will get a seat in the Senate just off of the power of his boxing career, and all he did for the Philippines. On the flip side; however, he is going to take a lot of heat from Americans for his harsh comments. This is already pretty clear, since Nike just announced they were dropping their sponsorship of Pacquiao.

All in all we shouldn't judge others or throw the Bible at homosexuals. God stated that no sin was greater than the other, and Christians all over sin hundreds to thousands of times a day. Who really has the right to judge? If someone likes the same sex let them take that up with God and let Christians pray for deliverance. Not only for theirs, but for ours that we commit on a daily basis. The Lord said he who hath not sinned cast the first stone. We all have sinned. Therefore, let us not judge others for the lifestyle they live.

Written by Josh Lewis

Interview: Mike Westfield

The journalism class interviewed an American contractor, who has worked in Afghanistan for six and half years alongside the military and other contractors. Mike Westfield is a facilities manager for one of the military base camps in Kabul, Afghanistan. His job is to keep account of who lives in his camp and to make sure that the plumbing, lights, AC, food, hot water and cleaning are all taken care of. Underneath him are other American contractors and Afghani civilians. Whenever there's a bombing or an attack on his camp, one of his jobs is to count up all the people working underneath him. He spoke to us about the struggle in Afghanistan and how it feels to live there.  

One of the first things Mile talked about was the differences between the media coverage and truth of the situation in Kabul and other cities. Mike talked about the way United States media had a “cookie cutter view” in order to “not let the terrorists get off on that (the violence).” “In order to protect the foreigners within Afghanistan and to not let the terrorists from the Taliban and Al Qaida get off on their violence, the media will not say all of the casualties. When a bomb goes off on a square block, the ENTIRE block goes up. They will say there were 12 deaths when in reality, there could be 50 or more.” He also said that media will make it seem that there is death and destruction everyone. In reality, it's not the case, “The smaller villages do not have the violence that major cities have because they run the opium fields. Kabul is the city with major United States and NATO presence, and along with that major violence and destruction.” The media almost never covers the American and NATO camps because there's such a normal occurrence of bombings on them that it doesn't make sense to cover it anymore. Or it least to the large camps, but to the small camp, they do not have it so easy. “Large camps are huge with airfields inside security fences. The camps could have thousands of people inside, with foreign soldiers, contractors, and Afghani workers. The large camps are often bombarded with rockets. The small camps are seriously small with tents with only a couple hundred people. The fences are still there but not as fortified as the larger camps. The small camps have rockets, and at times, organized attacks at night...Soldiers on missions and people at small camps are the ones who are more likely to die. Contractors have choice during a small camp attack. Hide or take a gun and fight with the military.”

The brunt truth of it all makes it more shocking, but Mike continues on talking about his own experiences in Kabul and bombings on his facilities. “I have never been in an attack, but once a rocket landed not 50 feet away from me. The Taliban like to shoot from the mountains [surrounding the base]. A rocket hit the office I was in. So a rocket landed 50 feet away from me. I was on the ground the whole time before the all clear. Rockets have three bombs; each bomb has a timer. When it first lands, that's the first bomb. The second bomb, *boom*, the third bomb *boom*. I stayed down the whole time and was safe but a soldier died...To hear a rocket is the best and worst thing, best because it isn't you, worst because it was your friend.” He never stated why he became a contractor, but he explained the process of becoming a contract and working overseas. “My friends got out of the military in 2009 and they immediately became contractors to go back over. It’s great money. It’s like any job, just a little more dangerous than others. You apply online, get a screen check, have a boot camp to train you in situational awareness and how to be safe in bombs, then they drop you and your boys at a camp and just *shrugs*.” Westfield mostly works in large camps versus the small ones.”

While his job may seem behind the scenes, it seems dangerous when he answers one of the students from the class. “I probably have [met a Taliban or Al Qaida member without me knowing]. Like even if I haven't, some Afghani civilians might have relatives. They don't tell or they are dead or a family/friend is dead.” It's a sobering thought.

At the end of the interview, the students thanked Mike for coming. His time in the class was invaluable and definitely eye-opening.

Written by Keira Zirkle

Divison Open Beta Preload

A couple of weeks ago we had the division closed beta, and This weekend is the division open beta. Xbox one players can play on Thursday while PC and Ps4 players can play on friday. If you already played the closed beta and didn't delete it, then you will only have to download an update, but if you didn't participate in the closed beta or you deleted it then you will have to download the entire beta. If you feel like you're going to lose playing time on the beta just to download it don't worry, today you can preload the beta.


I'm happy that Ubisoft is doing an open beta for the division, because this will give me a chance to play with all of my friends so that I can see what it's like to play with a group of people. Also there is another mission added in the beta for more PvE content. Players who played in the closed beta will get some cool items during the open beta and they will also get them in the full game when it releases, and players in the open beta will get some cool stuff when the full game comes out as well.

Written by Dustin Jones

Girl Impaled By Piece of Wood

A young teenager was playing in a basketball tournament when an unexpected accident happened. She was running to the other side of the court when she slipped and fell onto the floor. When she fell she fell a piece of wood came out from the floor and impaled her. The game ended immediately and the gym was cleared within minutes and she was quickly rushed to the hospital.

Thankfully none of her vital organs were damaged and she only had to spend one night in the hospital. People at this High school in Wisconsin are surprised that this happened considering the floor is not that old. The family of the girl isn't pressing any charges against the school. The place where the board came up is blocked off currently and is to be fixed soon.

Written by Emily Taylor

Profile: Ashley Burnette

As you walk down the halls of Hampton Christian Academy, you are given a preview of many different kids from all walks of life. While there are many new faces every year, the halls also contain a plethora of “lifers,” kids who have attended the school since the beginning of their education. One of theses lifers is Ashley Burnette. Sixteen year old Ashley Burnette has attended Hampton Christian Academy since she was in kindergarten. Now in eleventh grade, Ashley stands out as a paragon of dedication to her varied and complicated life.

She is known by her varied friends by a plethora of nicknames, most of which are related to her long red hair, which is almost always perfectly curled. It’s pretty obvious, Ashley Burnette clearly likes to look good. Of course, she admits, there is obvious room for “chill days” where the outfit of choice involves sweatpants and a hoodie. However, for most days she chooses a more put-together look. As she put it, “ I always want to make a good first impression, even if it’s on someone that I’ll never see again.” From an outsider's point of view, Ashley Burnette makes one heck of an impression.

Like any normal teenager, Ashley fills her time with a variety of different activities. From sports, to music, to class time, there is rarely a dull moment. As an Honor Roll Student, Ashley has managed to balance her schedule and maintain her 4.02 G.PA. Her class schedule is fairly average, with basic classes such as History, Art, and the clearly dreaded Chemistry. However, for the lack of weighted classes, Ashley has still managed to remain third in her class ranking. She quotes her success to her attitude towards school, which she declares is “Always more important, no matter what.”

While it is clearly understood that school comes first in Ashley's life, volleyball is another important aspect that takes up her time. When asked to describe herself in the game, she quickly responded “,Competitive,” with a wry laugh. However, it is very clear that competitiveness is necessary in her particular circumstance.

Ashley plays the role of setter as a starter on her high school’s varsity team. As her position is an instrumental part in the success of each play, Ashley devotes a large chunk of her time to improving her skills. Even in the off season, she continues to train in order to maintain her abilities and grow in other areas. While not a part of any club team, Ashley practices almost every day, training hard to be ready for next year’s season.

Never one for conformity, Ashley continues to challenge the status quo in her music time as well. As a member of both the high school and youth group band, Ashley spends a lot of time playing the keyboard. However, she made it very clear that traditional music was not her cup of tea. When asked about classical church songs such as hymns, she emphatically protested, making it very clear she did not enjoy them. Rather, Ashley commented that she preferred newer upbeat songs as they are much more fun to play.

With all of these interesting and time consuming extracurriculars, it is a wonder that Ashley ever has any time to relax. However, somewhere in the midst of her busy schedule, she always manages to find time to hang out with her friends. When relaxing with other peers, her favorite movies to watch are romantic comedies.

“ I like them because there’s so much less drama than real life. I don’t have to really think about anything and can just enjoy it.” While rest with her friends is important to Ashley, she made it very clear that “me time” was just as vital. Ashley enjoys baking and considers it a great time to unwind from the day.

“It helps me to relax,” she said. “Everything is neat and orderly and precise.” Ashley’s favorite thing to bake are cookies and it's obvious that she's very talented at it. If you walk the hallways of Hampton Christian on any given day, you can see Ashley handing out dozens of her baked goods like a sugary fairy godmother. This act truly surmises how Ashley lives her life, completely and utterly dedicated, even in helping others.

Written by Zoe Jones

Profile: Zoe Jones

From her sassy attitude to her love of writing, there's no question that Zoe Jones is an amazing person with enough personality to go around.

Zoe Jones was born in 1998 in Okinawa, Japan. Both of her parents were in the military so she moved often. Though she has been living in Virginia since she was seven, she has moved multiple times throughout the state. Zoe attended Hampton Christian Academy from 3K to 5K and returned in Second grade.

According to Zoe, her life was pretty uneventful from second grade to senior year. Most of her time was spent with asthma attacks and just generally getting sick. She has always been smart, had good grades, and loved the friends she's made throughout the years.

Zoe is now a senior at Hampton Christian Academy and she is unsure of what college she will attend after graduation. Duke,William and Mary, and George Mason University are her top three choices at the moment. She has been accepted to George Mason but she hasn't heard from the other two. Her number one choice in colleges would be “wherever the money is” meaning she wants scholarships. Other than college, the main thing that brings her anxiety is not being able to re-do the past or control her future. After college, she is unsure about what she wants to do. All she knows is she doesn't want a meaningless job. She wants a fulfilling job where she is continuously challenged.

Some of Zoe’s favorite things to do are reading, writing, playing sports, and listening to music. She says, “I like words. Anything involving words sounds good to me.” Along with that, she says her favorite ways to relax include sitting silently in her room and listening to music. She is currently an intern at the publishing company, Morgan James Publishing. She has considered a career in writing since she has won many awards from her previous stories and essays.

Written by Ashley Burnette

Profile: Justin Philips

Justin Phillips was born in Newport News, Virginia, in 1999. When interviewing Justin, I noticed his bright personality, and I got endless conversation from him. What was amazing was the conversation flowed so well that it was like I’d known him for years. You can see that Christ is in him by his character and moral values. It is amazing to see a young man strong in the faith.

Justin's hobbies include basketball and soccer, in which he excels at very well. Last year, during basketball season, he scored a career high of 35 points. Justin was a pivotal key in the Hampton Christian Warriors offense, and wasn't afraid to show off his offensive repertoire. In Soccer he scored 8 goals and had 13 assists. Again, he was a pivotal key to his offense. Justin not only shows his love for Christ through his speech, but also in his athletic events, giving glory to God for his success. His love for soccer came from when his friend asked him to play for his team. He was then recruited to a recreational team. He then stopped playing soccer for two years, but then continued soccer in 8th.

In a couple of years he plans on going to Hampton University. He is going to major in Nursing, and also try to play sports. Knowing that his goal is not far away, he is working hard in the classroom as well as on the field.

Seeing his spirit, and having conversation with him, you can see the spirit in him. He has a bright future ahead, and will also be a big contributor to the world morally, physically, and spiritually.

Written by Josh Lewis