Ripley High School Fall Play

  It's that time of year again; hunting, fall sports, and, of course, the fall play! This year the Ripley High School Theater Club is putting on the play, “And Never Been Kissed.” Flory Patterson (played by Brooke King)  is almost sixteen and has never been kissed, but not for lack of trying. Young, romantic Flory spends every waking moment trying to make boys notice her. Also, there’s Flory’s best friend, Millie (played by Ramsey Monk), her patient mother (played by Samantha Wallace), her straight-shooting and ornery little sister Mavy (played by Bethanny Johnson), and, of course, the subjects of Flory’s infatuation, the boys: There’s stuck-up Charlie (Skye Stover), dreamy Douglass (played by Trinton Hilbert), eager Gilmore (played by Tyler Hilbert), and finally perfect Phillip (Jared Carr).  

  While “And Never Been Kissed” was originally set in 1928, director Christina Iman has modernized it and made it her own. Iman has taken it out of the flapper age and added brand names like Victoria’s Secret and Cosmopolitan.

  “These kids have really owned this play!” Iman said. The actors practice after school and during lunch, and really whenever they can. “And Never Been Kissed” will be showing November 20 for the school at 1 p.m., November 21 for the public at 7 p.m., and November 22 for the public at 3 p.m., and the cost to enter is only $1. All proceeds from the play go to the theater club at Ripley High School to fund future plays. While this play has some suggestive humor, it would not be offensive to small children, so overall Iman says it would be rated PG. “And Never Been Kissed” falls under the genre of romantic comedy, but is for anyone.

  “We have worked very hard on this and everyone will definitely be entertained!” Iman said, so bring your family and come support the Ripley High School Theater Club!

Q&A with Veteran Scarberry

By: Krissa Scarberry

Veteran Anthony Scarberry is 57 years old and served in the United States Army for 24 years. He also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom for one military term. Veteran Scarberry now suffers from PTSD.

Q: What made you join the military?
A: When I was 27 years old, I was part of a volunteer rescue squad and that really inspired me to become a medic in the armed forces.

Q: How old were you when you joined?
A: 27 years old.

Q: What branch of military did you serve in?
A: Army.

Q: Where were you stationed?
A: Walter Reed, Washington D.C.; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Camp Dawson, Kingwood, West Virginia.

Q: Were there any wars going on when you were in service? If so, What?
A: I was at boot camp in Fort Knox, KY when the Beirut bombing happened, and I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Q: Please share a memory.
A: The best memory I have from the military, was really coming home. I was relieved to get off the plane at Charleston and see my family there waiting for me with balloons, signs, and Toby Keith's "American Soldier" playing over speakers.

Q: How has serving affected your life outside of the military?
A: It changed my career, and it really made me appreciate the work that it takes to make this country free, and give us the liberties that the United States offers.

Q: What opportunities has the military provided that you might not have otherwise?
A: It provided my education, and it exposed me to not only a diversity of cultures around the world, but also other cultures in the United States.

Q&A with Staff Sergent Scot Blankenship

Scot Blankenship has lived Ripley for 15 years. He lives in Fairplain with his wife Beth and his two sons Lucas, a senior at Ripley High, and Gavin an 8th grader at Ripley Middle. He has been on the Charleston City Police force for 20 years. In his spare time he works on cars and golfs.

Q: What made you join the military?
A: I have always had a deep respect for the military. It was something I had always wanted to do.

Q: How old were you when you first joined?
A: I was 20. I was in college for two years and decided to go into the Air National Guard. I enlisted in December 1990.

Q: What brach of the military did you serve in?
A: I served in the Air National Guard until I was discharged in 2004.

Q: Where were you stationed?
A: I was stationed at Yeager Airport in Charleston for a long time. When I was deployed in 2003, I was stationed in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Q: Were there any wars going on when you were in service and if so which ones?
A: I was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom during the War on Terror in 2003.

Q: Please share a memory.
A: My favorite memory is when I finally got off the plane and saw my family on the runway after being gone for 7 months.

Q: How has serving affected your life outside of the military?
A: I feel it has taught me self-discipline and given me even more respect for authority and those who served. I also appreciate more the sacrifices others have made in the military.

Q: What opportunities have the military provided that you might not have otherwise?
A: Definitely travel. I was sent to Central America, Canada, Spain, Germany, France, Scotland, and the Middle East. That one was a little less pleasant.

Q: What was your job when you were deployed?
A: I was a C130 engine mechanic. I worked on airplane engines all day. I've used the experience gained from that to work on cars so I never have to take one to a shop.

Q&A with Veteran Derek Summers

By: Calista Boggess

Derek Summers served both active duty with the Marines and currently is part of the West Virginia National Guard.  He lives in Ripley WV.

Q: What made you join the military?

A: I wanted to have a purpose for my life, do something that mattered. I had a need to serve my country.

Q: How old were you when you first joined?

A: I was 18 when I officially signed my contract into service on Dec 24, 2003 and just turned 19 before I shipped out to basic training on Jan 26, 2004.

Q: What branch of military did you serve in?

A: I joined the United States Marine Corps and served eight years total, four years active duty and four years with the Reserves. I am currently serving in the United States Army National Guard.

Q: Where were you stationed?

A: I was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC  for my active service with the Marine Corps and for my Reserve years I was at Moundsville,WV and Monroeville, PA. My National Guard unit is in Eleanor, WV.

Q: Were there any wars going on when you were in the service and if so what?

A: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation New Dawn were the wars I served in.

Q: Please share a memory.

A: Well there's a lot of memories to share,  but during a mission near the Syrian border during my first deployment to Iraq. My unit was out in the desert for weeks securing a certain area for an ongoing operation. Our route was bombed, luckily missing our convoy, but it did enough damage to the bridge we just crossed to alter movement, so we were kind of stuck and cut off from supplies. We knew food and water would become scarce so we started finding, making routes to travel to search for these things as well as patrol the area to insure our security. After a week of traveling (by truck and on foot) in the 140 plus degree weather we found this one lonely building all by itself in the desert. We were cautious to check it out at first, not sure what was inside or why it was there, but finally did and boy were we glad we did! This random, desolate building was basically an ice factory, storing six foot long bricks of ice. We couldn't believe it, like it was a mirage or something from being out in the heat for so long with nothing else around. It was a comical, yet very relieving find to say the least. It's a memory I'll never forget!

Q: How has serving affected your life outside of the military?

A: Military affects on my life as a civilian, I guess I'd say it has shaped me to want to better myself, a sense of discipline, respect. The things I've learned and how I carry myself reflect my overall appearance and it's a noticed difference than from someone who hasn't served.

Q: What opportunities has the military provided that you might not have otherwise?

A: Being in the military has allowed me the chance to travel to many countries, I've trained/ trained with military forces from around the world. I'm a part of history for generations to read about in later years and I think that's pretty cool.

Underclassmen run at states

By: Haley Taylor

Underclassmen Dalton Fisher and Kelly Longanacre represented our school October 31 at the state cross country meet held at Cabell Midland. Fisher placed 27th overall while Longanacre placed 49th. Great job to both athletes!

Photo Caption: Fisher and Longanacre pose for a picture after they both crossed the finish line.

Photo Credits: Debbie Longanacre

Q&A with Veteran Jones

Roger Lee Jones Jr. is 42 years old and has lived in Ripley for 10 years.

Q: What made you join the military?

A: A sense of duty and my dad was in the military.

Q: How old were you when you first joined?

A: 21.

Q: What branch of the military did you serve in?

A: Navy.

Q: Where were you stationed?

A: Norfolk, Virginia.

Q: Were there any wars going on when you were in service and if so what?

A: There weren’t any wars going on, but there were conflicts.

Q: Please share a memory.

A: When helicopters would land on the ship, I would have to discharge the static created by the helicopters so they could land.

Q: How has serving affected your life outside of the military?

A: It hasn’t.

Q: What opportunities have the military provided that you might not have otherwise?

A: I got to see half of the world.

Q&A with Veteran Stemple

By: Haley Taylor

Veteran Tom Stemple served in the Navy 62 years ago. The 79-year-old male currently resides in Ripley, WV.

Q: What made you join the military?

A: I was 17 years old and couldn’t find a job. By the time you turned 18 you had to sign up, so I decided to sign up a year earlier since there was a lack of careers. The Korean War was also going on at the time, and they were taking everyone they could get.

Q: How old were you when you first joined?

A: I was 17 years old.

Q: What branch of military did you serve in?

A: I served in the Navy. My job was to maintain 600 steam pressures on the water. The highest ranking I ever got was third class boiler tender.

Q: Where were you stationed?

A: I did my training in Cambridge, Maryland. I have been as far south as the equator and as far north as the north pole. I have been to Cuba 14 times and the Mediterranean six times.

Q: Were there any wars going on when you were in the service and if so what?

A: The Korean War was going on at the time.

Q: Please share a memory.

A: I have lots of keepsakes and lots of memories. I got to go back to my ship, USS New Jersey, with my wife and some of my other family members. I got to show them around and even where I worked. When I was in the service, they took a picture of me and my buddies in the place we worked, and when I went back the second time I got another picture in that exact spot. It is fun to look back at the two pictures now.

Q: How has serving affected your life outside of the military?

A: It taught me responsibility.

Q: What opportunities have the military provided that you might not have otherwise?

A: I saw places I have never seen. Without the military I know I wouldn’t have gotten to see them.

Local charities give back to the community

By: Krissa Scarberry

   It’s about winter time in the U.S., and what does that mean? Charities! Although most charities can be donated to year round, many local and national charities particularly help out during the winter months. Christmas is all about giving, so what better way to give than to ensure that everyone is safe and warm?

   When giving to charities, you always want to make sure that the one you choose is trustworthy, and that what you give actually goes toward what it is supposed to. The most efficient way to do this is to start with local charities.

   Around Ripley, there are many families that have difficulty purchasing things like food and warm clothes for the winter, and there are many charities here also that help out with just that.

   The Salvation Army, one of the most popular charities in West Virginia, is an international charity program that “meets human needs without discrimination.” The Salvation Army first began in 1852, when a man named William Booth embarked upon a ministerial career in England, to preach the gospel to the poor, the homeless, the hungry, and the destitute. Today, The Salvation Army is at work in 127 different countries, and provides services in 175 different languages. The Salvation Army supports things like Veterans Affairs, prison ministries, elderly services, hunger relief, housing and homeless services, and many more.

   Although The Salvation Army is Christian-based, ANYBODY can volunteer and ANYBODY can donate. Approximately 30 million people received help from the Salvation Army just last year. So all this raises the question, how CAN you help? That’s easy! Around Christmas, The Salvation Army is stationed in front of places like Wal-Mart, Kroger, Rite-Aid, etc. There you can drop some money in the bin, and it will be sure to go to a great cause. You can also volunteer to ring the bell at those places, or work at their shelter in Parkersburg.

   Apart from the bigger charities, there are also smaller charities around our quiet little town that help those closer to home.

   The Christmas Closet is a charity that originates right here in Ripley, or at least nine miles from Ripley. A program that started at Mill Creek Baptist Church, the Christmas Closet provides food, clothes, miscellaneous items, and toys to those around the community that can’t quite afford it themselves. People around all parts of Jackson County donate to this charity, and it continues to grow every single year.

    The Christmas Closet has one give-out day this year, December 5, where families can show up and register with their name, age, and how many people they have in their family. After registration they can roam the room freely, picking out any clothes, used toys, or miscellaneous items that they want, with no limit. While they are out and about, volunteers make food boxes that accommodate the size of the family, and pick out a NEW toy for each child in the family that is appropriate for their age. When they are ready to leave, their items are placed in bags, and the food boxes with toys are given to them. Items can be donated to this charity year round, and are greatly appreciated.

   Last year, just over 500 families came through, and received exactly what they needed to get through the winter.

   These are just two of the charities around Jackson County that can be donated to, and there are many many more programs that take part in providing help for the needy. There is no limit on giving, so make sure you look around for ways you can help!

Student governor McDonald elected

As part of a state and local government project, students were split into teams to organize and run a mock campaign for West Virginia governor. The politicians researched current topics, chose stances, and held a mock debate on October 30. They also created commercials, advertisements, and wrote speeches that were posted on the school website. The debate was moderated by principal Will Hosaflook and covered topics such as the legalization of marijuana, education, and West Virginia economy and industries. Seniors voted the same day as the debate, and republican Joel McDonald was chosen and sworn in as our governor.