October 2012 - USD 428

Romney’s and Obama’s Views on Abortion (pg. 13) 

Tales 

P VOLUME 

50 

October 2012 

Homecoming 

(pg. 20) Homecoming Parade 

Pro Life? 

Pro Choice? 

Sports’ Legacies 

Do they run in families? 

(pg. 17-18) 

Pro-Life Silent Day of Solidarity 

(pg. 3) Hear their voice through the silence.

News Staff 

Editor 

Abigail Garcia 

Co-Editor 

Katie Meitner 

Cover 


Editorial 2 

Katie Meitner 

News 3,5 

Michael Gieck 

Cristy Jaquez 

Karah Stewart 

Features 6,8 

Daniella Vasquez 

Cristy Jaquez 

Activities 10 

Sarah Niederee 

Opinions 11 

Angel Serna 

Doubletruck 12,13 


Katie Meitner 

Sports 14,15,17,18 

Caleb Maneth 

Walter Helms 

Wyatt Bayless 

Entertainment 

19,20 

Emilie Murray 

Morgan Choitz 

Multicultural 21 

Savana Campbell 

Freshmen Focus 22 

Taylor Mohr 

Senior Spotlight 24 

Michael Gieck 

Morgan Choitz 

Ads 4,7,16,23 

Sarah Niederee 

Page Design 

Advisor 

Rachel Basden 

The Panther Tales news 

magazine is an online publication 

and can be found on the high 

school district website: Great- 

BendHighPanthers.net 

The staff encourages letters 

to the editor as a constructive 

avenue for student opinion, but 

reserves the right to edit any letter 

for libel or space limitations 

without changing meaning or 

content. The letter must be signed 

to be considered for publication. 

Submit letters to room 100 or to a 

newspaper staffer. 

The Panther Tales is a public 

forum of student expression and 

the opinions expressed are not 

necessarily those of the staff, 

administration, or USD 428. 

USD 428 does not discriminate 

on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, sex, disability 

or age. 

> Amy Christopher (Sr) 

and Hunter Middleton (So) 

dressed in neon, during 

Spirit Week. Photo By 

Maddie Vesta 

News 

Fast Forward 

October 

18- 11:30 am Dismissal 

18- Parent/Teacher Conf 12:30-3:30 pm 

19- No School 

22- No School 

25- HS Orch Concert, HS Aud 7 pm 

25- Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, HS Com 6:30 pm 

30- HS Vocal Concert, HS Aud 7:30 pm 

31- Class Ring Delivery Day 

November 

< Freshmen Jordan Ewing 

and Makayla Johnson at 

Freshman Orientation Day. 

Courtesy Photo 

1- Kay Area 6 Regional Conf, Halstead 

3- District KMEA Jazz Band, HS and MS Bands 

@ Dodge City 

5- HS Fall Sports Banquet, Highland Hotel, 

6:30pm 

9- Veterans Day Assembly 

10- FBLA Business/Craft Festival, PAC 9:30 am- 

2:30 pm 

4-10 HS Fall Play Tech Rehearsal Week 

5-11 KSHSAA Fall Athletic Buffer Week 

11- HS Fall Play, HS Aud, 2 pm 

12-13 HS Fall Play, HS Aud 7 pm 

< Senior guys, Daniel Herman, 

Kyle Riggs, Kole Stiner, Eric Ruiz, 

Chon Chavez, Tarrin Viegra, 

Anthony Valenzuela, Jonathan 

Baker, Claudio Sanchez, Brett 

Roberts, Zachary Gregg, and 

Austin Jacobs perform at the 

Homecoming pep rally. Photo 

By Cristy Jaquez 

Abortion 

By Katie Meitner 

Co-Editor 

While controversial 

issues are not always fun, 

they cannot be avoided. As 

long as there are humans, 

there will be pregnancies, 

and as long as there are 

pregnancies, abortion will 

be an issue. 

Many people question the 

morality of abortion, and 

believe me, so do I. Life, 

more often than not, isn’t 

fair, which can put women 

in the position to make an 

uneasy choice: life or death? 

I do not believe anyone 

is ever fully aware of the 

effects their decisions will 

make on their lives and 

the lives of others. But, no 

matter what, don’t we allhave 

the right to make those 

decisions? 

Essentially, I strongly 

believe in the rights and 

power we have, as Americans, 

to make choices and to 

live our lives as we each see 

fit. Although I would never 

have an abortion, or counsel 

someone to have an abortion, 

it should be available 

to the women who think and 

feel otherwise. 

Both the pro-life and 

pro-choice positions are 

understandable. I personally 

think that both sides 

should focus more on limiting 

the number of abortions 

occuring, instead of trying 

to make something that’s 

currently legal, illegal. 

Wherever the issue of 

abortion in this country 

winds up, it is up to our 

country’s individual citizens 

to stand up for what they 

believe in. 

2 October 2012

Michael Gieck 

Reporter 

News 

PRO-LIFE DAY OF SILENT SOLIDARITY 

Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity 

happens every year, on 

the third Thursday in October. 

It is a movement meant to 

stop abortion. According to 

www.SilentDay.org, more than 

50,000,000 babies have had 

their voices silenced, through 

abortion. 

This day is meant to 

remember the babies that 

never had a chance to live 

their lives. The slogan for the 

day, “Will you lose your voice 

“I’m against abortion, 

because it’s still a human 

life, even it its an unborn 

child.” 

- Emerson Campbell (Sr.) 

Facing the Fair 

Cristy Jaquez 

Reporter 

On Monday, September 10, 

the newspaper had the opportunity 

to go to the Kansas 

State Fair , on its 100th anniversary, 

for the News Print 

Competition. 

When they arrived, they 

were eager to get started. 

Editor, Abigail Garcia (Sr.), 

was joined by journalism 

students, Cristy Jaquez (Jr.), 

Sarah Niederee (So.), Michael 

Gieck (Jr.) and Sara Sandoval 

(Sr.), along with newspaper 

teacher, Mrs. Basden. They 

had no idea what to expect, 

but quickly got to work. 

One story assignment was 

for one day, for those who 

never had one?” On this day, 

people use duct tape and arm 

bands to show that they are 

against abortion. 

The duct tape, if chosen, is 

put across the mouth, symbolizing 

the aborted baby’s voice, 

which never had a chance to 

speak. The arm bands worn 

are typically red. 

Now, you may ask why 

would you even think about 

getting involved with this. It’s 

a day for you to show your 

opinion and support for the 

What is your view on abortion? 

“I am pro-abortion for 

certain circumstances, like 

rape and health.” 

- Mrs. Bentley (Teacher) 

given to the team, prior to 

arrival, one was given to them 

that day, and the ideas for 

stories, had to come from the 

students, themselves. Then, it 

was time to interview people, 

get photos, and hopefully 

create a newspaper about that 

day at the fair, which would 

win the competition. 

The stress started to kick 

in, during the final hours 

of production, when everyone 

hurried to get every line 

perfect, choose just the right 

photos and redesign layouts 

that needed some more work. 

“I was crying on the outside 

and dying on the inside!” 

said Gieck, remembering how 

babies who never lose their 

opportunity to speak, every 

day. 

“We treat it [abortion] as if 

there wasn’t a problem, but 

if we are losing 50,000,000 

lives, every day, it needs to 

be changed,” said CEO of the 

website. 

Supporting Silent Day is 

a stepping stone to preventing 

abortion, in the U.S. This 

day includes some of the most 

emotional stories and even 

more emotional losses. Every 

baby that loses its life is a 

“I’m against it, because everyone 

is a human being. It’s still 

wrong, even if it’s rape or 

health.” 

- Jacqueline Enriquez (Fr.) 

much he wanted their efforts 

to pay off, in the end. 

Right in time for deadline, 

the newspaper crew finished 

creating their publication, 

and they believe it turned out 

great. The crew all got closer 

to one another, with some new 

friendships, also forming. 

“When we got there, none 

of us knew each other, but 

after stressing, laughing 

and having a good time, we 

became great friends,” Garcia 

said. 

The results of the competition 

will be out at the end of 

October, at an awards dinner 

ceremony. Whether or not 

their efforts end up as a win 

young child that could enrich 

the world, with new ideas and 

even better inventions. 

The people who consider 

taking that road should take 

this day to realize it’s not just 

a baby. It’s a young human 

that we will all miss and need 

in the future. Pro-Life Day of 

Solidarity honors teh infants 

that lose their lives every day. 

If you are pro-life, this is a 

cause you can use to join with 

others, to try and make a difference. 

“I am against abortion, 

because it’s wrong. You 

don’t even give the baby a 

chance.” 

- Eric Alcala (So.) 

for our newspaper team, they 

are already geared up with 

ideas and enthusiasm for the 

chance to compete again, next 

year. 

Cristy Jaquez (Jr.), Michael Gieck 

(Jr.) and Sarah Niederee (So.) working 

hard to meet their deadline, with 

the help of editor Abigail Garcia 

(Sr.). Courtesy Photo 

Panther Tales 3

Advertising 


D.A.R.E. 

Karah Stewart 

Reporter 

Many have seen 

promotions for the 

D.A.R.E program 

or noticed the Great 

Bend D.A.R.E. vehicle 

riding around town. 

The name stands 

for Drug Abuse 

Resistance Education. 

It was started 

by Chief Daryl Gates. 

He founded the program 

in 1983 to help 

prevent drug abuse. 

Since then, D.A.R.E. 

police departments, 

across the U.S. and 43 

other countries around 

the world, have been 

teaching about the 

D.A.R.E. Program to 

kids. 

On October 3, 

D.A.R.E officers came 

and talked to students 

about the program, 

and what the effects of 

Karah Stewart 

Reporter 

Have you ever 

dreamed of becoming 

Miss America or Miss 

Universe? Well now it’s 

possible. With the help 

of Kristy Straub and 

Tina Mingenback, both 

former beauty contestants, 

joined forces to 

try and get the pageant 

here so that you may 

have a shot at to get 

to The Miss America 

drug and alcohol can 

do to someone. 

The D.A.R.E. officers 

also talked about bullying 

and how if someone 

was to be pushed to 

the edge, it could hurt 

someone for life. Even 

sometimes, it could 

push a person to even 

kill their bully. 

All over the world, 

people are bullied and 

too often, people are 

not understanding the 

effects it could have on 

someone. 

D.A.R.E. Officer 

Brain Doughtery said, 

“I started to teach 

D.A.R.E., nine years 

ago, since I’ve always 

liked working with 

kids and making a 

difference in their 

lives, whether they’re 

younger kids or teens.” 

Drugs and alcohol 

News 

Great Bend Beauty Pageant 

Pageant. 

According to the Great 

Bend Tribune, the Pageant 

will be held on March 9, 

2013 at the Crest Theater 

in Great Bend. 

They are wanting to have 

women that are seniors 

in high-school to women 

that are 25 years old. You 

need to be either registered 

or graduated from a high 

school in Barton County or 

use is a big part of 

some people’s lives. 

At the time, they may 

not understand the full 

effects of what they are 

doing to themselves. 

There is a simple way 

to not allow them to 

have a part in their 

lives. Just don’t start 

using them! 

It is up to people 

to make the choice to 

stay away from drugs 

and alcohol, for themsselves, 

those they care 

about and their future. 

D.A.R.E. is just one 

program that does 

what it can to help 

others, at a young age. 

As Officer Doughtery 

said, “D.A.R.E. 

is about teaching kids 

how to make good 

decisons in their lives.” 

National Crime 

Prevention Month 

The Facts 

• Founded in 1980 

• October became the offical month for 

reconizing crime prevention. 

• McGruff, the crime fighting dog celebrated 

his 30th birthday in 2010. 

• Today, they have thousdands of consulates. 

Cyberbullying 

from Barton County Community 

College. People 

wanting to attend the 

Pagent can buy a ticket at 

the door. 

The contestants will need 

to pay a $100 pay fee to 

participate. All of the funds 

go to the Children Miracle 

Network, where they need 

to choose a charitable organization 

to represent. 

The women will par- 

Information Source: ncpc.org 

If your having trouble with cyberbulling, 

heres some tips from the NCPC organization 

in what you can do: 

• Don’t respond to emails or messages 

• Don’t forward any email or messages 

that are mean or that spread rumors about 

other people. 

• Don’t open emails or messages from the 

bully 

• Block them 

• Save any messages and print the messages 

out and show them to an adult. 

Information Source: ncpc.org 

ticipate in four events: an 

interview, a swimsuit competition, 

an evening wear 

competition, and a talent 

show competition. 

For any person interested 

in becoming contestants 

or sponsors, call 

Kristy Straub at 620-786- 

4064 or you can call Tina 

Mingenback at 620-786- 

2330. 

Panther Tales 5

By: Daniella Gabrieli 

Reporter 

Have you ever had 

a hard time breathing, 

when your heart starts 

beating faster, and you 

feel anxious, because 

of a fear you have? 

Today is the day to 

face that fear, but can 

you really overcome 

all of your fears? 

“Not all fears can 

be overcome. Some 

fears you will just 

always have, like I 

will always be scared 

of spiders,” believes 

Michael Raymer (So.). 

National Face your 

Fears Day occurs the 

second Tuesday of 

October. This particular 

day is meant 

to encourage anyone, 

around the world, to 

face their fears and 

overcome them, no 

Photo by Daniella Gabrieli 

“I used to be afraid of 

heights, when, I was little, 

until my dad tricked me into 

going to the very top part of 

a building,” said Mrs. Baker 

(counselor). 

matter how impossible 

they may seem. 

It is possible to 

overcome fears. Most 

people can’t even 

come up with an 

explanation of why 

they are scared of 

something. 

Most people are 

scared of public speaking, 

while others are 

scared of bugs, closed 

spaces, storms, water, 

death, heights, losing 

their loved ones, and 

many other things, 

Feature 

Face Your Fears Now, or 

Regret it Later 

according to the 

Forbes website. 

“I think the biggest 

fear in high school is 

not being accepted,” 

said Taylor Latham 

(Jr.). 

Everyone has a fear, 

no matter how insignificant 

it may seem to 

you. 

Overcoming fear 

may be easy for many, 

What was a fear you overcame 

and how did you 

overcome it? 


“I used to be afraid of the 

dark, but I overcame it 

by walking around in the 

dark,” said Mr. Mazouch 

(teacher). 

but it can also be quite 

difficult. Some people 

cling to their fears, 

because it’s such a part 

of them. The best way 

to overcome one, is to 

put the worst case scenario 

into perspective 

and take action. 

Even though it may 

take some time, you 

can get better. It will 

help you feel more 

confident in yourself. 

“One of the ways 

I overcame my fear 

is by realizing that it 

wasn’t that scary,” said 

Jonathan Allende (Jr.). 

Spiders remain one of the top five 

most common fears, according to 

www.your-self-improvement-guidebook.com. 


“I used to be afraid of talking 

in front of people, but I 

overcame it by just talking 

to people,” said Makayla 

Johnson (Fr.). 


Advertising 

Panther Tales 7

By Cristy Jaquez 

Reporter 

• Student taught in Lyons 

• Taught 7th grade and 8th 

grade algebra 

• Wanted to be a teacher 

since 9th grade 

• Mrs. Mercer was her 

inspiration to teach 

• “I really like the administration. 

They made 

me feel comfortable, 

and I felt like I had support 

from them to teach 

here.” 

• Student taught here 

• Enjoys interacting with 

his students 

• Likes that he works close 

to home 

• “The students are 

enjoyable. I like that 

there’s a good staff, 

around me and that 

there is something different 

every day.” 

Feature 

Welcome to the 

Mrs. Burns 

(Math Teacher) 

Mr. Schneider 

(Math Teacher) 

Family! 

• Taught in Mississipi for 

6 years 

• Taught middle school 

and gifted education 

• Thinks our administrators 

and staff represent 

a positive educational 

environment 

• “The students are 

polite and a lot of 

fun. The high school’s 

activities are exciting 

and teachers are very 

supportive.” 

• Taught at Larned High 

School for 12 years 

and Coffeyville Middle 

School for 5 years 

• Taught for 7 years in 

other states 

• Taught P.E.and World 

History 

• “I enjoy seeing the creative 

lights on. I have 

also liked the opportunity 

get acquainted 

with new people.” 

Mrs. Ferguson 

(English Teacher) 

Mr. Mehringer 

(Art Teacher) 

• Taught in Ellinwood for 

16 years 

• Taught in Lebo for 4 

years 

• “I have had several 

GBHS teachers tell me 

over the years that they 

enjoyed teaching in 

Great Bend. They also 

said that the administration, 

along with the 

board of education, are 

very supportive of the 

students and staff.” 

• Taught a total of 8 years 

in Missouri & Oklahoma 

• Taught physical education 

and social studies 

• “This fantastic district 

offers so much to its 

students and teachers. 

alike. I have welcomed 

the opportunity to 

work as a member of 

this supportive and 

professional staff.” 

8 October 2012 

Mr. Maddy 

(ALC Teacher) 

Mrs. Adams 

(Social Studies Teacher)

Awaken 

By Sarah Niederee 

Reporter 

According to the See You at the 

Pole”s official website, www.syatp. 

com, this event is a global day for 

student prayer. It began in 1990, as a 

grassroots movement, with ten students 

praying at their school. More than two 

decades later, millions around the world 

pray on their campuses, on the fourth 

Wednesday in September. 

“See You at the Pole is simply a 

prayer rally where students meet at the 

school flagpole before school to lift up 

their friends, families, teachers, school, 

and nation to God. See You at the Pole 

is a student-initiated, student-organized, 

and student-led event,” according to 

their website. 

Each year has a theme, and the 2012 

See You at the Pole theme was Awaken, 

to awaken in young people a passion 

for the people they see and interact 

with, every day. 

This year’s Bible Scripture came 

from Ephesians 3:14–21, “For this 

reason I kneel before the Father, from 

whom every family in heaven and on 

earth derives its name. I pray that out of 

his glorious riches he may strengthen 

you with power through his Spirit in 

your inner being, so that Christ may 

dwell in your hearts through faith. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and 

established in love, may have power, 

together with all the Lord’s holy people, 

to grasp how wide and long and high 

and deep is the love of Christ, and to 

know this love that surpasses knowl- 

The worship band leading music at the See 

You At The Pole Youth Rally. Photo by 

Morgan Choitz 

Activities 

edge—that you may be filled to the 

measure of all the fullness of God. Now 

to him who is able to do immeasurably 

more than all we ask or imagine, according 

to his power that is at work within 

us, to him be glory in the church and in 

Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 

for ever and ever! Amen.” 

Great Bend High School did two different 

things to participate in See You 

At The Pole. The See You At The Pole 

Youth Rally was held on the night of 

September 25, as a way of getting ready 

for the next morning. At the Youth Rally, 

a band played which included Great 

Bend High School students. Audience 

members sang along with the band, 

praising God. 

The actual See You At The Pole 

gathering was on the Wednesday morning 

of September 26, at 7:00 a.m, around 

the Great Bend High School flag pole. 

At this gathering, freshmen Ian and 

Maxwell McGilber, performed and led 

everyone, in singing. Afterwards, there 

was a time of prayer, where anyone 

could step forward and pray out loud. 

After all of the activities were done, 

there was a social that provided donuts, 

who woke up early that day. 

Mrs. Heeke, GBHS teacher and 

adviser for Fellowship of Christian 

Athletes (FCA) said, “See You At The 

Pole is a really neat time for believers 

to come together to pray for their 

school, for the community, for teachers, 

for administrators, to see God do great 

things in the schools.” 

Ian and Maxwell McGilber (Fr.) leading songs 

at the See You At The Pole. Photo by Vianey 

Caraveo 

What does “See You At 

the Pole” mean to you? 

“See You At The Pole, to me, means being able to 

pray for our school freely without any restrictions and 

standing up for what you believe in.” 

-Leah Muiruri (Sr.) 

“See You At The Pole is a time that we, as students, can 

show our faith.” 

-Aaron Sanko (Jr.) 

“See You At The Pole, to me, is a time to share your 

faith with others. I think it’s awesome that we can 

have a day to come together and celebrate God in 

school. It is a privilege that many others do not get.” 

-Abigail Garcia (Sr.) 

“See You At The Pole is a time that everyone can 

gather together and be accepted and everyone has a 

place to pray for whatever they would like.” 

-Patrick McClusky (Sr.) 

“See You At The Pole is an opportunity for students 

to come together and share their faith and grow in 

their faith. It is a place to minister to each other and 

pray for one another. It is for everyone to pray for 

our country and the freedom our country has and be 

grateful for what we have.” 

-Selam Ball (Jr.) 

Photos by Sarah 

Niederee 

Panther Tales 9


Reporter 

Activities 

Ag-Tastic Day for Kids 

The nineteenth annual 

Kid’s Ag Day on August 5, 

was held at Brining Farms. 

Kid’s Ag Day educates 

4th grade students, in 

Barton County, on the 

importance of agriculture. 

They get to learn, while 

particpating in various 

events, including seven 

different talks for students 

Eisenhower students and FFA members ride on 

a trailer at Kid’s Ag Day. Courtesy Photo 

Smart Competitors 


Reporter 

Last June, six Great Bend 

High School students traveled 

to San Antonio, Texas, 

for the Future Business 

Leaders of America (FBLA) 

National Leadership Conference. 

Sarah Niederee (So.), 

Colton Lagerman (Jr.), 

Sara McAfee (Jr.), along 

with 2012 graduates Donna 

Craven, Dylan Dreiling, 

and Kevin Smith, represented 

their FBLA chapter 

and school district, proudly. 

There were also many 

students from nearby Ellinwood 

who qualified and 

attended, with them. 

The students gained many 

leadership skills, from the 

experience, as they com- 

to go to and three different 

stations. Kids are also able 

to enjoy hay rack rides, 

during the day, while learning 

more about agriculture. 

McKenzie Thornburg 

(Jr.), Great Bend Future 

Farmers of America (FFA) 

Officer said,”Kid’s Ag 

Day gives kids that aren’t 

around agriculture and 

FFA members and Mr. Brungardt serve lunch to 

students at Kid’s Ag Day. Courtesy Photo 

peted in their various competitive 

events. 

The events were were 

broken into three categories: 

individual, team, and 

chapter. Individual and team 

events focus on skills useful 

in leadership and career 

development. Chapter events 

recognize overall achievement 

and performance in 

chapter management and 

growth. 

In order to qualify for 

Nationals, FBLA students 

must compete at Districts 

and place in the top ten, as 

well as compete at State and 

place in the top two or three, 

at the State Leadership Conference. 

Great Bend High School 

animals a chance to experience 

it.” 

According to Mr. Peter, 

the FFA advisor, “Kid’s Ag 

Day is an opportunity for 

young students to get the 

true facts about agriculture, 

instead of the false information 

put out to them by the 

press.” 

Mr. Peter would also like 

congratulates these students 

for being such great 

leaders. The current FBLA 

students will continue to 

prepare, in hopes of sending 

more to Nationals, in 

the future. 

Sarah Neideree (So.), Dylan Dreiling 

(Grad.), Colton Lagerman (Jr.) 

and Sara McAfee (Jr.) excitedly wait 

for the leadership session to begin. 

Courtesy Photo 

to thank all of the community 

members that were 

involved or helped sponsor 

this event. Their efforts 

make a difference. 

Jefferson students pose for a picture, while 

attending Kid’s Ag Day. Courtesy Photo 

Great Bend FBLA members stand 

ready for their first full day in San 

Antonio. Courtesy Photo 

Enjoying some well deserved downtime, 

on the famous Riverwalk, in San 

Antonio. Courtesy Photo 


By Angel Serna 

Reporter 

What you do in your free 

time is your business. I get 

that. In light of this issue’s 

focus on abortion, it is a 

good time to focus on pregnancy 

prevention. 

Premarital sexual relationships 

lead to a whole 

bunch of consequences. 

Obviously, not all of them 

are bad. However, it’s not 

something that you should 

jump into blindly. 

First off, there are STDs 

to consider. According to 

www.teenhelp.com, every 

hour, two teens are infected 

with HIV. This statistic 

applies just to the United 

States! Condoms, although 

not one hundred percent 

reliable, are one way to 

protect your body. 

Then, there is pregnancy. 

Babies are a ton of work! 

After just three hours of 

babysitting, it’s always a 

huge relief when my aunt 

picks up her boys and pays 

me. 

Opinions 

Is it re ally worth it? 

Another piece of reality 

is that babies are expensive! 

Would you rather spend 

twenty dollars on diapers 

or on a trip to the movies? 

Even then, where are you 

going to get the money to 

afford diapers for your kid? 

When young people put 

themselves in this situation, 

too often, they end up needing 

to rely on the government 

to help them survive. 

In fact, teen pregnancy costs 

the United States nine billion 

dollars each year. This 

means nine billion dollars 

goes to programs including 

child welfare costs and 

health care. 

Honestly, prevention is 

much easier than dealing 

with the consequences. If 

you don’t want a little kid 

hanging on your hip, then 

don’t make one. If you 

aren’t going to remain abstinent, 

please use protection! 

It is no guarantee against 

pregnancy, but it can’t hurt. 

What is your 

opinion on sex before 

marriage? 

Photo by: Angel Serna 

“I think you shouldn’t have 

sex before you’re married. 

If you are going to do it, be 

safe and use protection.” 


Jack Pumford (Fr.) 

David Webster (Sr.) 

“If you are going to do it before you get 

married, be smart; don’t be stupid!” 

Phtoto by: Angel Serna 

Hannah Mauler (So.) 

“I feel premarital sex is wrong and is harmful 

to your health. It also can get you in 

trouble and ruin your dreams.“ 

Mary Beouy (Jr.) 

“I feel like premarital sex is harmful to a 

person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual 

being. There are so many consequences 

that remaining abstinent until marriage always 

seems like the best choice.” 


Panther Tales 11

The Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice 

By: Katie Meitner 

Co-Editor 

Essentially, the pro-life 

and pro-choice debate boils 

down to whether or not our 

government should continue 

to keep abortion legal. 

Although this may seem 

simple enough, it really 

isn’t. Each side has several 

substantial points to their 

arguments. You need to 

decide which side to agree 

with, on this issue. 

A person that says they 

are pro-life, typically 

believes the government 

and the people are obligated 

to protect all human 

life, no matter the circumstances. 

Often times, people 

question the morality of this 

practice. Religion, especially 

Christianity, plays a 

big part in this. One might 

believe that abortion is considered 

murder at any stage 

of pregnancy, even during 

the first weeks and that all 

human life is 

Debate 

precious, starting at the 

moment of conception. 

A person that claims to 

be pro-choice believes that 

abortion should continue 

to be kept legal and that 

women have the right to 

govern themselves and their 

bodies and reproductive 

systems. Having the right to 

make your own decisions, 

concerning child birth and 

the life of another, is a serious 

issue. A strong point in 

the pro-choice movement is 

that in certain cases, including 

rape, incest, endangerment 

to the baby or mother, 

etc., abortion may be best or 

necessary, for the baby and 

or mother. 

Although the sides to this 

argument have strong differences, 

they both have one 

common goal: keeping the 

amount and use of abortions 

to a minimum. 

Summary of 2011 U.S. Abortion Views - 

by Gender and Age 

Doubletruck 

What Side Are 

Chon Chavez 

(Sr.) 

You On? 

“I’m in the middle ground on this, but 

more pro-choice. What happens if you 

are raped? I don’t think any woman 

should be told they have to keep a 

baby from that. However, if the baby 

is functioning and developed, I don’t 

think it is right to abort. If you chose 

to abort before It’s developed, within 

the first weeks, It doesn’t seem as 

gruesome... Not everyone will agree 

with your life choices, but you still 

have the right to make them.” 

Mr. Bartel 

Math 

“I am personally against abortion, 

but I also believe it is a 

woman’s right to make that 

choice for herself. No one else 

has the right to make that 

choice for her.“ 

“I am pro-life, because I think 

it [abortion] is murder. You 

shouldn’t have the choice to 

stop a beating heart, no matter 

the situation. My motto is ‘You 

play, you pay.” 

Brooke Anderson 

(Jr.) 

“I am pro-choice in that I think a woman 

should be able to make decisions about 

her own body, especially in cases of rape, 

incest and when her life is endangered. 

Personally, I don’t think that I could ever 

counsel someone to choose to have 

an abortion. I don’t think it should be 

used as a safety value for irresponsible 

decision-making.” 

Mrs. Eyestone 

English 


Views on ABORTION 

By Abigail Garcia 

Editor 

Abortion is never a light topic, 

and the debates about it are endless. 

Choosing to be pro-life or pro-choice 

is a difficult decision. Is abortion 

right, or is it wrong? Can it sometimes 

be right, or is it always wrong? Does it 

depend on age or on martial status? Is 

it okay if someone was raped? There 

are several reasons and factors that 

can tie into choosing which side your 

on. 

There are those who take the prochoice 

side, and they argue that it is 

the woman’s body, and no one should 

be able to tell her what she can and 

cannot do to it. On the contrary, many 

also take the pro-life side and argue 

that abortion is taking a life and that it 

is never right. 

Nationwide Pole 

“Do you think abortion 

should be legal under any 

circumstances, legal 

only under certain 

circumstances, or illegal 

in all 

circumstances?” 

Always Legal- 35% 

Sometimes Legal- 47% 

Always Illegal- 15% 

Unsure- 2% 

SOURCE: CNN/ORC Poll. Aug. 22-23, 2012 

Some say it depends on a person’s 

age, whether or not they should have 

an abortion. They say if someone is 

young and becomes pregnant, then 

they should not be having children, 

because they are unfit to be a parent. 

Therefore, an abortion is appropriate. 

Others say that even though the 

pregnant person is young, they should 

not abort the child. She may be too 

young to take care of another life, but 

she could give it up for adoption. 

Being single or married also affects 

opinions on abortion. From that view, 

some would say that if you are not 

married, you should not have children, 

because you may not be able to 

provide for the child, so abortion is 

an option. On the corresponding side, 

2012 

Presidential Candidates Views on 

Abortion 

[President 

Obama’s statement 

marking 

the anniversary 

of Roe v. Wade, 

23 January 

2011] 

[Mitt Romney’scomments 

on 

“Meet the 

Press”, SundaySeptember 

9th on 

Roe v. Wade] 

Doubletruck 

people also say not to take the unborn 

child’s life, because married or not, it 

is still a baby. 

Another factor to look at is someone 

who has become pregnant, after 

being raped. 

Carly Spencer (Sr.) said, “In that 

situation or any situation. Abortion 

isn’t a choice for me, but I would 

support someone’s decision, if they 

wanted that.” 

Everyone has their own opinions 

and side. There is a lot that goes into 

helping a person decide upon which 

side to stand. No one rightfully can 

say which side is correct. You must 

decide for yourself whether you are 

pro-life or pro-choice. 

I am committed 

to protecting this constitutional 

right. I also remain committed to 

policies, initiatives, and programs 

that help prevent unintended pregnancies, 

support pregnant women 

and mothers, encourage healthy relationships, 

and promote 

adoption. 

It would be my 

preference that [The Supreme 

Court Justices] reverse Roe v. 

Wade and therefore return to the 

people and their elected representatives 

the decisions with 

regards to this important 

issue. 

Sources: 2012.candidate-comparison.org & washingtonpost.com 

Panther Tales 13

Sports 

Cross Country Girls Golf Girls tennis 

By Walter Helms 

Reporter 

The cross country team started their 

season off well, at the Great Bend Cross 

Country Invitational, with the Varsity men 

placing fourth, out of seven schools. Chon 

Chavez (Sr.), the team’s star runner, got 

2nd in the 5k Varsity race, with a time of 

17:15. 

The Varsity women placed second out 

of seven schools. The top two runners 

were Mary Williams (So.) with a time of 

17:42 in the 4k Varsity race and Kaitlyn 

Tuey(Sr.) with a time of 17:42 in the same 

race. The team will continue on to Emporia, 

Hays, and Rim Rock, the hardest 

Cross Country course in Kansas and the 

setting of the State Meet. Goodluck to the 

Cross Country Team. 

Mr. Meter, congratulates the Lady Panthers 

of our Cross Country Team, after a job well 

done,, at the Great Bend Invitational . Courtesy 

Photo 

The Girls Golf Team has had a good 

start to their season at the Hays Golf Invitational. 

The Panther Girls’ Golf team got 

sixth place out of ninth. McKenna Mauler 

shot a 55. Madison Werth shot a 57. Then 

the girls continued on to Salina, Dodge 

City, Garden City, Salina South, Liberal, 

and Hutchinson. Their season is almost 

up and they have done very well. All they 

need to do is go to regionals and do great! 

We wish them all the best! 

Girls’ Tennis had an amazing start to 

their season at the Lyons Varisty Tennis 

Tournament. They had a 3-way tie, then 

placed second overall, winning most of 

their games. 

The number one single, Becca Brining 

(Sr.) placed third, with a record of 1-3. 

The number two single Rebecca Dawson 

(Fr.)placed 3rd, with the same record of 

1-3. 

The number one doubles, seniors 

Estella Schumacher and Athena Vander- 

Meer, placed third with a record of 1-2. 

The number two doubles, Jessica Freund 

(Jr.) and Morgan McIntosh (So.) had a 

3-way tie for second, but lost a tough 

match in a tie breaker. Though almost 

done, they have had a great season. 

What do you think about your season this year? 

Cross Country 

“I think we will do pretty good, with the progress 

we have made and the progress we are capable of.” 

- Daniel Banda (Sr.) 

The Lady Panthers Golf Team getting ready to 

begin at the Hays Golf Invitational. Courtesy 

Photo 

“Our season is almost over, but we have done 

really well. We learned a lot and got better and 

better” 

- Jadin Boone (Fr.) 

Becca Brining (Sr.) getting ready to serve, during 

a tennis match . Photo by Peter Marston 

Golf Tennis 

“Even though our season is almost over, we’ve 

done really well this year, and we have a good 

chance, placing in regionals.” 

- Morgan Francis (So.) 


By Caleb Maneth 

Reporter 

Sports 

Football Volleyball boys soccer 

Fall has begun, and with fall 

comes football. After a 4-5 season 

last year, Coach Black thinks the 

2012 season has started well. 

He said, “We started out pretty 

good, with a 4-1 record. The kids 

are working hard, and we have a 

great class of senior leaders.” 

Homecoming was a confidence 

building game. The score, after 

four quarters of play, was 41-0 

against, Wichita North. 

Taylor Reed (Sr.) said, “We have 

a stronge defense that never gives 

up.” 

The Panther’s defense lining up against the 

Witchita North Offense. Photo by Caleb Maneth 

Football 

“We started out 2-0, but not with our full potential. 

We have to get better, every game, because 

the competition is getting tougher.” 

-Bryce Beck (Jr.) 

Photo by Michael Geick 

Accompanying the “boys of 

fall,” the volleyball, team of girls, 

has had a good year also. 

“We are doing pretty good, 

we are winning,”said Elizabeth 

Barber (Jr.). 

After a rough 8-24 season in 

2011, the team has rebuilt and 

reloaded in 2012. 

“The teams go up and down. 

When they play together they are 

good; when they don’t care, it’s 

bad,” said JV Coach Kroeker. 

The team is sitting at 11-8, 

which is a welcome change, from 

last year. 

Varsity players, Bonny Boultinghouse (Sr.), Brenna 

Haines (Jr.) and Kaylie Doll (Jr.) celebrate. Photo by 

Dakota Sanders 

Volleyball 

“We’re doing really well, but we still have to work 

on things. Hopefully we will keep improving and 

win a lot more games.” 

-Regan Unruh (So.) 

Photo by Micheal Geick 

Soccer, the sport played across 

the world, has had a great start to 

the season, here in Great Bend. 

“We started strong and work 

really hard every day,” said Darian 

Guerra. (Fr.) 

The Varsity team is currently 

doing well. Rafael Arias (Jr.) says, 

“We are playing really well, but we 

need to condition in order to finish 

strong.” 

Following a 15-4 record last 

season and a state semifinal 

appearance in the 5A state playoffs, 

the soccer team’s goals and expectations 

are very high. 

Micheal Prieto (Sr.) defending the ball. Photo by 

Zaira Huitron 

How is your team doing? 

Soccer 

“Our team has began strong. We work hard every 

game. If we improve at the area we aren’t the 

best at, we will finish stronger than we started.” 

-Carlos Prado (So.) 

Photo by Cristy Jaquez 

Panther Tales 15

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Monday 9-4:30 

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(620) 793-1902 

Confidential • Minimal Cost 


By Wyatt Bayless 

Reporter 

Sports 

Represen ti ng Thei r Name 

Sometimes height, hair 

color, skin tone, or academic 

ability runs in the family, 

there are also families where 

athleticism is the dominant 

trait. Throughout Great Bend 

High School history, studentathletes 

have played a huge 

role. On any given day, athletes 

compete in many different 

sports with many different 

people. Few, however, can 

say that they compete with 

a brother, sister, or cousin. 

When Chris Burley (Sr.), 

Josh Lopez (Sr.), or McKenna 

Mauler (Jr.) take to the practice 

field every day, they are 

competing alongside they’re 

teammates, including their 

own brothers, or cousins. 

Josh, who plays Varsity 

football, has two brothers, 

Jermaine (Jr.) and Ramses 

(Fr.). Jermaine, a junior, plays 

tennis for GBHS. Ramses, a 

freshman, plays on the freshman 

football team for GBHS. 

Ramses says, “Watching 

Josh play on Friday nights 

gives me someone to look up 

to and helps me push myself 

to play to my potential and 

better myself.” 

Although the Lopez boys 

are not Great Bend natives, 

their presence in Great Bend 

athletics is well appreciated. 

A trio of brothers who are 

Great Bend natives include 

Greg (Jr.), Chris (Sr.), and 

Louis Burley (GBHS Grad.). 

The Burley boys have been 

active and successful in 

football, wrestling, and track 

and field. All three competed 

or are currently competing in 

Varsity football and Varsity 

wrestling. Chris also adds pole 

vaulting to his list of sports. 

Chris is one of the storied 

wrestlers who have made their 

way through Great Bend High. 

After placing 5th his freshman 

year, becoming the first State 

champion since Aron Elsen 

his sophomore year, and being 

How Has Having two brotHers 

Helped you excel in sports? 

“It’s a lot about competition, and who has 

the bragging rights in my family, so that 

makes you want to be the best.” 

-chris burley (sr.) 

FamilyFunction 

How Has Having older 

siblings cHanged your 

view on atHletics? 

“Having two older brothers made 

me a lot tougher. It also makes me 

want to represent my last name and 

make them proud .” 

- Mckenna Mauler (Jr.) 

state runner up his junior 

year, Chris has had his fair 

share of success. You can see 

that sports come naturally to 

these brothers. 

Another name that has 

shown up numerous times 

on our sports rosters, is 

Mauler. Currently, McKenna, 

Hannah, and Sarah, all 

cousins, compete in GBHS 

sports. Two older brothers of 

current Panther McKenna, 

Trent Mauler (Class of ‘08) 

and Brandon Mauler (Class 

of ‘02) also participated in 

football, basketball, and 

baseball at GBHS. Trent went 

on to play college baseball at 

FHSU, after he graduated in 

2008. Brandon played college 

football at MidAmerica Nazerene 

University. McKenna 

competes in softball, basketball, 

and golf. She has a Varsity 

letter in all three sports. 

The middle cousin Hannah 

believes that, “being cousins, 

we have a strong bond and 

wHat is your favorite 

sport to watcH 

your sons coMpete in? 

“I love to watch wrestling and football, 

even though it is difficult to watch 

sometimes hoping my boys don’t get 

hurt. Watching my boys really gets me 

into it.” 

-gui burley (Mother/gbHs staff) 

higher level of connection as 

teammates.” Hannah plays 

softball, volleyball, and golf. 

She has lettered in softball. 

Sarah, a freshman currently 

plays volleyball. 

When asked about her 

family’s outlook on athletics, 

Sarah said, “Our families support 

all of us and want everyone 

to succeed.” 

The Mauler girls always 

show grit and determination 

in everything they do, especially 

representing panther 

athletics. 

Great Bend is a well 

known town for sports and for 

big names in athletics. Often, 

a name sticks out due to their 

accomplishments, however 

there will always be those 

families that make their mark 

as a unit, like the Burley, 

Mauler, or Lopez families. 

Theses families know how to 

represent the great tradition of 

being a Great Bend Panther. 

wHat is it like to be 

tHe oldest atHlete? 

“I get a lot of attention, and 

my mom expects me to be a 

role model and example to my 

younger brothers.” 

-Josh lopez (sr.) 

Panther Tales 17

The highesT 

LeveL 

By Wyatt Bayless 

Reporter 

When people think 

of famous athletic families 

in professional sports, 

many think of the Manning, 

the Andretti, and 

the Petty family. The Petty 

and Andretti families have 

been known in the sport 

of NASCAR and IndyCar 

racing over the past 52 years. 

With the Petty family producing 

five drivers, and the 

Andretti family producing 

seven drivers, at one point in 

time, it was nearly impossible 

to be on a race track without 

one of the family members. 

Mario, the most storied of 

the Andretti family, has won 

the Formula One championship, 

the Daytona 500, 

and the IndyCar 500 four 

times, along with many other 

accomplishments, according 

to www.marioandretti. 

com. Richard Petty, the first 

generation of the Petty racing 

family, has won more than 

200 races. Petty has the most 

wins, most starts, and has 

won the most money of any 

stock car driver in racing 

history, according to www. 

Josh Lopez 

-2011 GBHS Football Underclassmen 

MVP 

-School Squat Record (605 lbs.) 

Greg Burley 

-2011 State Wrestling 6th Place 

-2012 State Wrestling 3rd Place 

biography.com. 

Richard Petty told fans 

after the Daytona 500, 

“Racing has carried over from 

me to my family.” 

Away from racing, the 

Manning family has made a 

huge impact on professional 

football. Archie, the father 

of Peyton, Cooper, and Eli, 

played for 14 years, and was a 

two time pro-bowler. Cooper 

is the oldest of the three 

Manning boys and played as 

wide receiver, at Ole Miss. 

Eli currently plays with the 

New York Giants and is a two 

time Super Bowl champion. 

Peyton Manning, the center 

of a lot of controversy in the 

last two years, is the newly 

signed Denver Broncos quarterback, 

and is a four time 

A.P. NFL MVP, who also has 

a super bowl ring. 

Eli told Sports Illustrated, 

“Playing with my brother 

in the league (NFL), makes 

things that much more special.” 

Any reader can tell that 

football runs in this family. 

Sports 

Athletic Achievements 

Louis Burley 

-2010 State Wrestling 

5th Place 

Mario Andretti 

Courtesy Photos 

Chris Burley 

-2010 State Wrestling 5th Place, 2011 

-Wrestling State Champion, 2012 

-Wrestling State Runner-Up 

-2011 All WAC Defensive Back 

The Mannings 

Petty Racing 

Family 

The DirecTor’s cuT 

Do you t h i n k t h at 

at h letic s , a nd t he 

de si re for s por t s 

r u n s i n fam i l ie s? 

W hy do you 

t h i n k t here i s one 

sh i n i ng at h letic 

st ar i n a fam i ly, at 

times? 

“Children look to their parents 

as examples to follow. When 

a family introduces a child 

to sports, they feel sports are 

important to their family.” 

“I believe God given talent 

and desire is the main reason. 

Also, kids who excel usually 

have a social group who is 

interested in sports.” 

-Mr. Meter 

(sports Director) 

Mckenna Mauler 

-2011 1st Team All WAC 

Short Stop 

-2011 & 2012 Golf State Qualifier 

Trent Mauler 

-2008 Class 5A All-State 

Selection 3rd base 

Note: Not all achievements of athletes are noted in this graphic All stats taken from KHSAA website, and www.maxpreps.com 


Entertainment 

KSU Band Day Labor Day State Fair Jazz Band 

By Emilie Murray 

Reporter 

Concert 

On September 15, the Great 

Bend High School band got 

the opportunity to go to Manhattan, 

to be a part of KSU 

Band Day. 

“ I think KSU Band Day is a 

great experience, because you 

get to see what other bands 

are like, as well as what the 

K-State band is like,” head 

drum major, Taylor Lampe 

(Sr.) said, “It is definitely a 

different experience that every 

band should go and participate 

in.” 

The band left early Saturday 

morning, arrived in 

Manhattan and got ready to 

march through the streets of 

Aggieville. While marching, 

they played “Panther Fight 

Song” and “Firework.” 

After they marched through 

Aggieville, the band went 

to the K-State stadium and 

waited for the game to start. 

During half time, the Great 

Bend High School band, along 

with 38 other bands, joined 

the K-State band on the field 

and performed the songs 

“Build Me Up Buttercup,” 

“867-5309,” “Sweet Caroline,” 

“God Bless America,” “1812 

Overture,” and “Wildcat Victory.” 

The Great Bend High School band 

proudly displaying their red and 

black at KSU. Photo by Megan 

Durland 

On September 3, the Great 

Bend High School band went 

to march in the Labor Day 

parade. They had practiced 

since band camp, on August 6. 

The Labor Day parade was 

the first performance for the 

band, for the year, and the first 

marching performance for the 

freshmen. Everyone seemed 

to put their all into the performance. 

Megan Wesley (Sr.) said, 

“I felt like the freshmen that 

went to band camp did a good 

job.” 

The band, along with the 

colorguard team, did really 

well, as a unit. The band 

marched to the songs “Firework” 

and the “Panther Fight 

Song.” 

While the band was marching, 

an ambulance,blaring 

its sirens, came through the 

parade. 

The band dispersed, 

momentarily, before returning 

to formation right away, for 

their final part in the parade 

marching. 

Alexis Woods (Sr.) said, 

“The ambulance scared me, 

but I feel the band did a good 

job at handling the situation.” 

Our band’s labor, truly paid off, as 

they marched the streets of Hoisington, 

on Labor Day. Courtesy Photo 

After an early morning 

practice, on September 11, the 

band was ready to go to State 

Fair the next morning. 

After an early morning start 

in their travels, the band stopped 

in Hutchinson, so the band 

members could change into 

their band uniforms. Then, it 

was on to the fair. 

Mr. DeWald, the band 

director helped to make sure 

they were all ready for the 

day, once they arrived. Then 

the band marched through the 

streets of the State Fair, proudly 

representing Great Bend 

High School. 

They got to play the 

“Panther Fight Song” and 

“Firework,” until they reached 

The Bretz Law Arena. At the 

arena, the band played “Crazy 

in Love,” before returning to 

“Firework,” as the colorguards 

joined them. 

They were judged on how 

their marching, sound, and 

presentation. 

The band’s and colorguard’s 

hard work paid off. Mr. 

DeWald said, “The band did a 

great job, received a 1 rating, 

from the judges. They are a 

lot harder in judging than they 

used to be.” 

The band gathered for an aerial shot, 

after a long day of performing at the 

state fair. Courtesy Photo 

The jazz band had their 

first performance on October 

2. They had been preparing 

for this performance since the 

beggining of the school year. 

The jazz band meets every 

other day, for roughly 90 

minuets. 

Rachle Gross (Sr.) said, 

“We prepare by playing our 

songs over and over agian and 

working on certain sections of 

the songs, just like the band 

does.” 

They performed the songs 

“I Believe in Music,” “Hip to 

be Square,” “A Hard Day’s 

Night,” “All for Love,” 

“Spinning Wheel,” “Woodchoppers’s 

Ball,” “Over the 

Rainbow,” “Livin’ La Vida 

Loca,” “Forever in Love,” and 

“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ 

On.” 

The jazz band’s performance 

was extraodinary. 

Stephanie Langer (Sr.) 

said, “I feel like we did an 

awesome job and performed 

well. I think the audience 

really enjoyed hearing us and 

was pleased with our performance.” 

Once again, the jazz band 

shared their love for music and 

made GBHS proud. 

The jazz band, ready to show their 

audience what they are made of, for 

their first performance of the year. 

Photo by Abby Rose 

Panther Tales 19

GBHS colorguard members Melanie Maneth (Jr.) and 

Erin Bowers (Jr.), performing “Fight Song”. Photo by 

Matthew Black 

< 

Entertainment 

Homecoming 

Parade 

By Morgan Choitz 

Reporter 

Homecoming 

Abortion is a huge debate 

around the world. China 

has a one child policy 

that has been in effect since 

1979. 

They also have a preference 

for male babies, to 

carry on the family name. 

This means that if a woman 

gets pregnant, and does 

not have a boy, she most 

likely aborts it, even if it is 

her first pregnancy. Some 

women have six to seven 

abortions or more, trying to 

get a son. 

In 2009, stories leaked 

out about China’s increasing 

number of abortions, 

to comply with the one 

child law and preference of 

boys. There were reports of 

infants being injected with 

World Language Club 

Q: What changes have been made to the world language club? 

A: Spanish and German Club are now combined, we are focusing on different countries around the world, and trying to do a different 

country each month. 

Q: What are some things the club does? 

A: Cinco De Mayo, Santa’s Workshop, focus on different traditions, and focus on one country at a time. 

Q: Do you have to be in a language class to join the club? 

A: No. 

Q: What do you enjoy about the club? 

A: I get to see different kids that are not in any of my classes. 

Multicultural News 

Abortion Around The World 

By Savana Campbell 

Reporter 

poison during labor, or immediately 

after birth being 

thrown on the ground to 

kill them. Also, there were 

reports of infants being 

drowned in a bucket, and 

then being stepped on. 

According to the center 

for reproductive rights, 

different countries, like El 

Salvador, are completely 

different than China. Abortion 

in their country is 

completely illegal, no matter 

what. If a woman gets 

an abortion there, which is 

clearly done illegally, she 

is subject to six to twelve 

years in prison. 

According to silent voices.org 

in countries such 

as Russia and Romania, 

abortion is legal. In Russia 

abortions have been legal 

since 1921. About sixty 

percent of all pregnancies 

in Russia end in abortions. 

Abortions in Russia are too 

common and are not only 

performed on adult women. 

One out of every ten abortions 

are performed on a 

teenage girl. 

Romania has the highest 

abortion rates in the world. 

About three out of every 

four babies are aborted. 

With a population of about 

23million there are around 

800,000 abortions a year. If 

the United States had abortions 

at that rate then there 

would be about 8.5 million 

abortions a year. Abortions 

are so common that if there 

is a postitive pregnancy 

Q: What are some exciting things you guys are doing this year? 

A: Santa’s Workshop, Christmas ornaments from all different countries, and we are trying to get a Christmas tree. 

Q: Who is the student leader of the club? 

A: Selam Ball- President, Jun Rui Chen- Vice President, Colton Lagerman- Secretary of Treasure 

Q: For what reasons would you encourage someone to join World Language Club? 

A: To learn about different cultures. 

test doctors assume that the 

mother will abort the baby. 

Seventy- five percent of the 

time the baby is aborted. 

On the contrary abortion 

is illegal in many countries 

also. It is found illegal in 

places like Guetemala, 

Togo, Europe and Ireland. 

USA today says that the 

world as a whole has an 

abortion rate of 43.8 million 

abortions a year. In 

some countries it is illegal 

while in others it is legal. 

Some countries find abortions 

dangerous but others 

find it safe. Abortion has 

been a huge controversary 

for many countries for 

several years and most 

likely the contraversy will 

remain. 

Mrs. Clark, our German teacher, 

helps lead the World Language 

Club, along with Mrs. Thompson 

and Mrs. Pinillo. Photo By Savana 

Campbell 

Panther Tales 21

Freshmen Looking 

to the Future 

By Taylor Mohr 

Reporter 

Everyone knows the feeling 

of the first day of high school. 

Nerves and every emotion you 

can think of are run through 

your mind and body. There’s 

also an outfit to pick out, decisions 

on how to wear your 

hair, and most importantly, 

remembering which class to 

go to, and where they are. 

Freshmen often have an 

especially difficult time being 

the new students and not 

knowing what to do, as well 

as the other three grades of the 

student body. 

Most freshmen don’t know 

what their goals are for after 

high school. It is good to 

already have ideas in mind, 

in order to make the most of 

your time in high school, and 

in order to be prepared for the 

next stage of your life. 

Ian McGilber (Fr.) said, “I 

want to excel in sports, maintain 

a 3.4 GPA and do well 

enough to make it into a good 

college.” 

Other good goals to consider 

are to make sure you 

have fun, while still getting 

good grades. Also, get 

involved in clubs. Whatever 

your involvements, do your 

best, to get the most of them. 

Good areas to plan for are 

academics, sports, clubs, and 

also community service. All 

of them help to make you a 

more well rounded person, 

who will be better prepared for 

life after high school. 

It’s never too early to plan 

for college or whatever your 

future holds. Be sure not to 

base your decisions on your 

friends, or chances are good 

that you will be disappointed 

with the results. Talk to those 

who can help you. 

Make wise decisions. If you 

haven’t already, begin getting 

to know your guidance counselor. 

Your counselor, coupled 

with family members and 

others who are reliable, are 

good resources to steer you in 

the right direction. 

Through all the nerves, we 

all make it through this part of 

the journey of your life. 

Freshmen Focus 

How is high school a new start for you? 

Photo by: Taylor Mohr 

“There are a lot more people 

than last year,and classes are 

way different from middle 

school.” 

-Madison Murphy (Fr.) 

“It was a big change, with 

the classes and a lot new 

people” 

-Jose Batres (Fr.) 

Taylor’s Tips to Make the 

Most Out of Freshman 

Year: 

1. Don’t be scared. It can be overwhelming 

sometimes. 

2.Be prepared and ask questions. 

3. Have fun and make good memories. 

4. This is only your freshman year, so don’t 

get too stressed out. You will get the hang of 

it. 

5. Challenge yourself to do better than before. 

6. Learn from your mistakes. 

7. Be positive. 

8. Don’t give up, even when times get tough. 

Photo by: Taylor Mohr Photo by: Taylor Mohr 

“There are a lot more people 

and new teachers.” 

-Daniela Barragan (Fr.) 


Advertising 

Panther Tales 23

Remember These Dates! 

October 

22- KU senior day 

26- K-State senior day 

27- ACT test 

29- Business and music senior day at KU 

30- Family and consumer sciences career day at Pittsburg 

State 

November 

1- Deadline for applying and certain scholarships for 

K-State and KU 

1- Scholarships deadline for Wichita State 

1- Priority scholarship deadline for K-State and KU 

2- Registration deadline for December ACT 

2, 12, 16, 30- KU senior days 

6- Prudential Spirit of Community Awards deadline 

9- Pre-Health senior day at KU 

15- Priority scholarship deadline for Fort Hays 

15- Art Day at Pittsburg State 

15- Hagen Scholarship Foundation deadline 

By Michael Gieck 

Reporter 

Senior Spotlight 

By Morgan Choitz 

Reporter 

vip 

parking 

Have you ever wondered 

what the new 

VIP parking spots out 

front are for? They 

are spots students can 

win in a raffle. All the 

money earned goes 

toward the dance 

team’s trip to Memphis, 

Tennessee. Each 

semester students 

make a donation ,for 

a chance to win the 

parking spot. Two 

students have won 

the spot this semester. 

They are Olivia Ramey 

(Sr.) and MacKenzie 

Thornburg (Jr). 

There was also a raffle 

for parking spots for 

the football games. 

This raffle was for the 

whole community. 

The winners were Rob 

Morgan and Missy 

Amerine. 

The Spotlight Is On You! 

Each Senior Spotlight will feature an outstanding senior, recomended by the staff of GBHS. If you would like to 

be featured, don’t be afraid to let your teachers know something outstanding that you are doing and you could be 

next. This month, we feature Chad Touslee. 

Octobers Outstanding Senior: 

Chad Touslee 

- Wants to be a vet 

- Gets good grades 

- Plays Football, Basketball, and Baseball 

- Views himself as a leader 


Advertising 

WHAT DRIVES YOU? 

Come Visit Us! 

Tours are scheduled Monday through Friday, 

8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Tour times fill quickly, so don’t delay! 

Give us at least a week’s notice, and we’ll get your visit 

scheduled to fit YOUR needs! 

Call (800) 722-6842 to schedule a tour today! 

ATTENTION 

high school sophomores, 

juniors and seniors: 

Pay NO TUITION on 

select career programs 

at Barton! 

Call us 

for details! 

(800) 748-7594 

GoBarton.com 

245 NE 30 RD Great Bend, KS 67530 

Panther Tales 25

October 2012 - USD 428

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