By Coral Consylman

We have all heard of energy drinks and possibly have tried them. Popular energy drinks are Red Bull, Full Throttle and Monster. But this year a new energy drink has been sweeping colleges and high schools.

It’s called Verve, and according to its makers, it is a healthy alternative energy drink that is nutritious. Verve was created by Vemma Company that has brand partners buy a monthly supply of Verve and get paid to spread the word to friends so the business becomes successful.

Brand partners earn points when people in their network sign-up to get more products which then turn into paychecks. Shipments are not cheap, because two cases of Verve cost $150. Most partners sign through builder packs with more product and marketing supplies that can cost $500 and even $1,000 a month.

If partners stack up enough points and keep up with shipments, they can move up company ranks.

Eric Shetrompf is a brand partner for Verve and a junior at Penn Manor.

“I love the product and how healthy it is and the brand partner aspect of everything is a lot of work but totally worth it,” said Shetrompf.

Daily meetings are held for brand partners. Each meeting consists of 10 to 60 people, and there are always new people showing up.

“The usual meeting consists of brand partners listening to up lines from higher brand partners, trying product and looking at new cars that brand partners can earn,” said Shetrompf.

Brand partners who purchase and sell enough product earn Platinum Status with Verve and have the option to purchase a car.

Penn Manor’s Mrs.Christa Craig, who teaches entrepreneurship, is not convinced by Verve.

“I haven’t heard of Verve, and I would be extremely skeptical of this. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” said Craig. “This seems like a marketing ploy to me- they are trying to get their name out to as many outlets as possible. Reaching “diamond” level is probably difficult, so few do.”

The new Spooky Nook sports complex contains courts for a number of sports and hosts many sports teams. (Photo from spookynooksports.com)

By Addie Porter

Lancaster County is now home to one of the largest sports complexes in North America, and the home training facility for USA Field Hockey team, Spooky Nook Sports Complex in East Hempfield Township.

The privately-funded, multi-million dollar project, which began in 2011, has officially put Lancaster on the map for something other than rolling cornfields and horse-and-buggies.

Chosen after a long search for the perfect location, the original building used to be used as an Armstrong World Industries distribution center. The current facility will include over 800,000 indoor square feet and sits on 65 acres of land, and the accommodations include fitness centers, brand new fields and courts for team sports such as volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, field hockey, basketball, tennis and lacrosse, locker and team facilities, summer camps, party rooms, a food court and smoothie bar, and much more.

Though the complex is not entirely finished just yet, several sports teams have been made available to local athletes to participate in for the 2013 season, such as basketball, field hockey and volleyball.

“I’m excited to see where the season takes us,” said freshman Ellie Barley, a member of the ninth-grade Elite basketball team. “We’re a new team, and I think we have a lot of potential.”  Barley also mentioned how nice the brand new courts are.

By Cici Padua

Spring is here and even though it brings nice weather, some people dread the fact that trees and shrubs are blooming because all they’re doing is causing irritation to people’s daily activities, especially outdoor activities.

According to Mrs. Anne Butterfield, school nurse, allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, stuffy nose, or not being able to see because of constant rubbing are common. That all can go away as long as you take an antihistamine. An antihistamine is a drug used to counteract with histamine in allergies.

Sarah Giuffrida, a senior at Penn Manor says she has allergies, and most of the time she can’t see well. She said her face can sometime get itchy and nose stuffs up. To help with her allergies she takes Claritin D. Even though allergies may come and go, it doesn’t affect her daily activities.

Trenta Blount 22, a Lancaster resident, says he has allergies, but its not as severe. Even though he does have them he doesn’t take anything for it.

“It just comes and goes,” said Blount.

People who have severe allergies can check the Local & National Allergy Forecast to see when and where pollen is at its worst in certain cities and when its city is at its best.  It can help people who like to travel and can be well prepared.

Catalina Torres, a 2009 Penn Manor graduate, currently serves in the US Marine Corps. She will finish her contract in June.

By Michelle Zercher

Women in the military is not a new idea, but it has become an increasingly more accepted one, especially as the military officially opens combat roles to women.

In January, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel remarked at his confirmation hearing that “I will work with the service chiefs as we officially open combat positions to women, a decision I strongly support.” This comment has led to increased discussion of the role of women in the military.

There is also renewed debate about making women ages 18-25 enlist in a mandatory draft. Diane Mazur, a law professor at the University of Florida and a former Air Force Officer, told an Associated Press reporter, “Now that front-line infantry, armor, artillery and special operations jobs are open to female volunteers who can meet the physical requirements, it will be difficult for anyone to make a persuasive argument that women should continue to be exempt from registration.”

Greg Jacob, a former Marine Corps officer and policy director for the Service Women’s Action Network, was quoted in the Associated Press as saying women should have the same civic obligations as men.

“The idea that I could get drafted scares me,” says senior Danielle Johnson.

Amber Casey, a senior at Penn Manor High School, has already enlisted in the National Guard and will start basic training in October and plans to make a career out of the military.

“I think that women should have to enter a draft because now girls feel like they can defend themselves and if they can, then they should be able to put their big girl pants on and fight for the country that gave them the right to even have the ability to defend themselves,” said Casey.

Catalina Torres, Penn Manor class of 2009, is currently serving in the Marine Corps and will finish her contract in June. Torres has a different opinion of women in the draft.

“I don’t believe women should have a draft. The military is a cut throat world and if you don’t want to be there then life will be even more impossible,” said Torres. “Women have and will be looked down upon by men in the military especially in the Marines.”

The Eckman Road bridge is closed for repairs. (Photo from bridgehunter.com)

By Coral Consylman

The Eckman Road bridge in West Lampeter Township closed in early February due to rusting and deterioration of the steel beams. The bridge was built in 1935 and spans Millcreek at a total weight of four tons.

The rusting of the bridge was said to be worse due to the flood from Hurricane Irene two years ago.

Local residents reactions to the bridge shutdown vary.

“It’s about time the bridge is being redone,” said local resident Crystal Consylman. “It is a hazard and although it’s an inconvenience, it’s better than someone dying.”

Rachel Brenneman uses the bridge regularly and expressed frustration with the early closing of the bridge.

“I understand  that the bridge needs to be shut down for repairs, and can respect that, but I think its foolishness to shut it down so far ahead of the Township gaining the appropriate permits to begin construction,” said Brenneman. “Construction time will be lengthy enough, without these additional weeks and/or months prior to the replacement. In the meantime people detour unnecessarily.”

The township shut down the bridge due to too many complaints from residents.

The bridge was identified as one of the top replacement candidates for the Lancaster County Bridge Capital improvement plan. The Capital plan estimated the cost to replace this structure will be 1.4 million dollars.

Estimated time for the bridge to be completed will be about a year.

By Brandon Kauffman

The Susquehanna River, shown here in Bradford County, was not listed as impaired in a recent report but many say it should be. Photo source originally posted to Flickr as Meander via wikipedia.

According to the State Department of Environmental Protection, the Susquehanna’s main waters were not listed as impaired because of a lack of evidence that the waters are contaminated. The Susquehanna River has not been considered impaired under the Clean Water Act according the State Department of Environmental Protection.

However, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said in recent fishing reports that “fishing has been slow in the lower part of the susquehanna river.”  The Commission also released reports of smallmouth bass having black splotches, young ones dying off and fish having bacterial infections. The commission has caught some fish that exhibit the “Blotchly Bass” syndrome.

“I have fished the (Susquehanna) river for many years and have noticed a lot more trash, dead fish, and less  fish being caught in the last few years or so,” said Sam Brown of Holtwood who fishes the Susquehanna River often.

On change.org, there is a petition to the Pennsylvania senate created by Cynthia Lustig of Biglerville, Pa. She is trying to get the Susquehanna River listed as impaired. The petition has so far reached 750 signatures. If the Susquehanna River is on the Impaired list, there are certain legal actions the government must take to the clean up river.

In an interview with Pennlive.com, the Pennsylvania Boat and Fish Commission said that “The Susquehanna River is sick.”  In the same interview, John Arway, executive director of the commission discussed fish having both male and female characteristics, which is “not natural.”

In a 2009 report, the U.S. Geological Survey said that the oxygen levels are low in the river, which causes the fish to have bacterial diseases. The infection is caused by Flavobacterium columnare, a bacterial infection that affects stressed fish.

According to a USGS water report, in October 2009 the Susquehanna River was found to be low in oxygen and warm water was killing smallmouth bass.

According to Americanrivers.org, last year the Susquehanna River was named the “most endangered river in the nation.”  The reason for the endangerment was “Natural gas drilling posing unprecedented threat” in Bradford County.

The drilling has been going on for the past few years and is operated on mountains above the Susquehanna River in New York and Maryland causing the runoff to flow into the Susquehanna River according to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.