Penn Points Online

Teens find Sexting not a Harmless Epidemic

By Chassidy Sowersby

Sexting – sexy pictures sent via text message or email. It starts out with a picture sent to a boyfriend or girlfriend, however, many times these pictures get passed around until everyone has seen the goods.

Penn Manor senior Elena Hart said she witnessed a bad sexting experience.

“I was with one of my friends when she took an inappropriate picture and sent it. It was nasty,” said Hart.

What teens think, at times, is careless fun, experts in the field of psychology warn that the effects can be lasting.

“On the one hand it can be kind of fun to get an erotic message over your email or on the phone,” said certified sex therapist Joyce Joseph, who writes a column online. “But on the other hand none of that is really safe nor private.”

“It’s possible that teens are doing this because (they think) it boosts their self esteem,” Joseph said.

The so-called ‘privacy’ may be what makes sexting appealing to teens, but what many fail to realize is that the pictures are far from private.

Senior Eric Gerlach said he thinks it happens more than people think.

“All the time,” Gerlach said. “My friends are always showing me pictures that girls have sent to them and there are always so many rumors about people sexting. It is definitely far from private!”

The practice of sexting can cause serious problems for many teens.

In Alabama, four middle school students were arrested for exchanging nude photos. In New York, a 16-year old boy is facing a possible seven-year sentence in prison for forwarding a nude photo of his 15-year old girlfriend to a buddy.

rachelrayshow.com — Receiving inappropriate images of minors through a cell phone can be considered child pornography. Photo by Chassidy Sowersby

And in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, eight teens were charged with child pornography after recording sex acts on their cell phones and sending them to friends.

Sexting has even caused tragedies such as the suicide of Jess Logan. Logan was an 18- year-old high school student from Cincinnati, Ohio. She took nude photos of herself and sent them to her boyfriend at the time. Once they broke up

he sent them around to other girls in school. The girls reportedly harassed her and called her nasty names.

Logan went on a local TV show to tell others about her story and make sure no one else would have to go through the torture she did. Two months later, she hanged herself in her bedroom.

It’s likely that most teens are not aware of the seriousness of sexting. But there are serious consequences.

If you are caught sending explicit pictures, you can be charged with manufacturing,disseminating and/or possessing child pornography. And if you are caught receiving these pictures, you can be charged with possession of child pornography, according to law enforcement officials.

“It is a federal crime, I think it happens a lot more than it is known,” said Penn Manor school resource officer Jason Hottenstein.”But as more and more kids get cell phones, it keeps becoming more popular.”

Comets Focus on Red Land in Playoffs

By Connor Rowe –

The Penn Manor (12) basketball squad prepares for Red Land (6) in their first playoff appearance this year. The game will take place Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Red Land, Lewisberry, Pa. at 7 p.m.

Penn Manor will be the true underdog in this matchup statistically, but Comets senior, captain, fan favorite and point guard, Brian Ramsey, sees the game differently.

Ramsey said he can’t wait for the coming contest.

They’ve got some big boys, but we are ready for them,” Ramsey said.

Basketball Team Sports — Head coach Charlie Detz is preparing Penn Manor basketball team for district playoffs. Photo by Connor Rowe

Red Land has two 6-11 players, Mike Zangari, a junior, and D1 commit to La Salle, senior Steve Zack.

Manor has a plan to get around these so-called, “big boys.”

“We have two new defensive sets and offensive play to move their big guys out,” said Ramsey.

Another way of achieving success by the Comets is by scrimmaging Manheim Township High School’s basketball team, where they executed their new tactics.

Brian Ramsey closed with, “I think we have a very good chance to win; (coach Charlie) Detz has been preparing us well. Everybody wants to win.”

Who Plays the Music Anyway?

By Sam Valentin –

Call her DJ PJ.

Most people know her as Mrs. PJ Peters, the secretary. But what most people don’t know is she also controls the music that periodically fills the halls of Penn Manor.

The hallway this year has become filled with the cacophony of noises and voices instead of past years when the music overpowered the usual sounds.

“It was love is in the air day yesterday,” Peters said of her most recent music selection. “Michael Buble was played for spirit week.”

Music was played for what some believe the first time this school year for spirit week.

Mrs. Peters prepares to play music. Photo by Sam Valentin

“A lot of students commented,” said Peters about students reaction to the music Thursday,” She added, “People missed the music.

“I was really busy early in the year,” says Peters.

She said she was too busy to play music earlier this year. But she hopes to start playing more music especially when she’s not busy.

“I think kids enjoy it [music],” reflected Peters. “Most people like the fact that we have music here at Penn Manor and are used to it but students say jazz wouldn’t be their first choice but ‘it could be worse’ is the general response.

Peters noted that all music is approved by Principal Phil Gale.

Of course only school-appropriate lyrics are allowed which may be the reason jazz is a popular selection – mainly instrumental.

Don’t expect anything but instrumental music in the halls in the near future but expect it on Tuesday according to DJ PJ.

Black Knights Fight Through Tornadoes for League Title

By Brandon Bowers and Alicia Ygarza-

Friday night at Manheim Township High School, the Lancaster-Lebanon League Title was down to a hot contest between Hempfield’s Black Knights and the McCaskey Tornadoes.

It was the third time in as many weeks the two largest schools in the league have met with the 2-0 advantage going to McCaskey. Until Friday.

The first quarter was slow and low scoring but as the game progressed, the game became more intense.

“I knew it was going to be a close game, all of our games have been close but the players had to keep their composure,” said Hempfield coach Danny Walck.

During the second quarter McCaskey started to hit key shots to keep them in the game. Just seconds before half time, the score was deadlocked at 18-18 until the Knights’ Ethan Strayer hit a half court shot in the ending seconds of the second quarter.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — The game is tied in the 3rd quarter with 37.5 seconds left. Photo by Alicia Ygarza.

“We need to stick to the game plan and keep our focus and composure,” Walck said during his halftime talk. “We can’t let our guard down.”

Joey Farthing, a Hempfield senior, scored 25 points in his team’s victory over the Tornadoes and was named MVP of the game.

“I needed to help my team by making big plays and getting to the basket,” said Farthing. “Once I made my first two shots I knew I was going to be on fire.”

In the third quarter McCaskey sophomore Diante Cherry started to take over and bring the Tornadoes back within a few points of the Black Knights.

“We had to keep space between the Tornadoes offense and our defense because their two guards are so quick with the ball to the basket,” said Walck.

Going into the fourth quarter the Tornadoes trailed by a few points when calls didn’t go their way.

Hempfield’s offense came out explosively and the Tornadoes defense shut down, the Tornadoes defense allowed many easy layups and they couldn’t answer back on the offensive end.

Joey Farthing sealed the game with his free throws late in the game.

The end result of this matchup was won by the seven-time L-L League Champions Hempfield Black Knights 61-53.

“[Saturday] we head to Warwick to face a strong Southwestern team,” Walck said.

National Anthem Becomes Unrememberable

By Chelsea Miller-

Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early… wait, what? How does that next line go?

Millions of American viewers watched the Super Bowl XLV, on February 9. As the people in the stadium stood up and took off their hats, they listened to the National Anthem sung by Christina Aguilera. Unfortunately, Aguilera messed up and forget to sing a verse.

In a recent interview with Melissa Telesco, a music teacher at Penn Manor High School, Aguilera should be ashamed because she is a top singer. Telesco also knows the anthem, since she is a music teacher.

“There’s a lot of pressure with that; if I was singing in front of mad people I don’t know if I would say it right,” said Carly Rebman, a sophmore of Penn Manor.

Christina Aguilera Singing at The Super Bowl

Some people blame her for messing up and some don’t.

“No I don’t know the national anthem,” said Brianna Fisher.

Out of many random students polled at Penn Manor, only a few actually knew all the words to the national anthem. Many students only knew parts of the song. And a few just didn’t know any of it.

Nine out of 19 students didn’t know the national anthem. Out of the 10 students who knew it only 4 could recite the whole national anthem without a problem.

“I personally think you don’t have to know the national anthem,” said Felix Gonzalez.

The Fight for the Whoopie goes National

By Simon Zimmerman-

“Maine is a bunch of dirty, rotten, filthy liars,” said Penn Manor senior Eric Clark.

That is the consensus around Penn Manor High School and the rest of Lancaster County after the claim was made by the state of Maine that the whoopie pie, a prominently known Lancaster comfort food, was originated in the Pine Tree state, Lancaster locals’ tempers flared up.

“Whoopie pies are what defines Lancaster Countians, definitely didn’t come from Maine,” said Penn Manor senior Karly Wiest.

Whoopie pies can be purchased at a variety of local Lancaster businesses including Pine View Dairy, Central Market, John Herr’s and even big name grocery stores like Giant and Weis Markets.

They can cost anywhere from 50 cents to $1.75. Traditionally made with two circles of soft chocolate cake cradling gooey white cream, they can also be found in peanut butter, spice and pumpkin flavors.

“The whoopie pies from Pine View Dairy are the best,” said Junior Ian Toomey.

Some can’t even bear to enjoy their favorite Lancaster delicacy because of the ‘false’ claims made by the opposing state.

“Now whenever I eat a whoopie pie I’ll think about those thieves in Maine,” remarked Josh Carle, a distraught Penn Manor senior.

Across Lancaster County a petition is being signed to show support that the whoopie pie was created here. This petition has now been signed by more than 500 natives of Lancaster.

However, Maine will not be easy to persuade. They will still carry out their own argument that the whoopie pie is “Maine made.”

Still the fight continues for the right to name the whoopie pie as their own original treat and neither side looks close to giving up.

High School Locked Down for Drug Search

By Kendal Phillips and Sarah Garner –

“It was planned.”

The answer to the question that most Penn Manor students were wondering.

At the beginning of second block Friday, students and staff were notified by an announcement to go into a modified lock down. Teachers were to lock the doors and open the blinds. For students and staff it was unexpected and teachers were not made aware of the upcoming drug search.

Officers from Southern Regional Police Department and their canine unit searched the high school for evidence of contraband.

Teachers received an e-mail at 10:05 a.m. informing them of a random drug search, also at that time Penn Manor School District’s website had a banner describing that a drug search was going on and that students were not in any danger.

Screen shot district website — The district website described the drug search.

This drug search was free of cost and it was the first time Penn Manor participated in a random search, according to Principal Philip Gale.

“We met the officer who handles the dog at the end of January, January 25,” said Gale. “In December we actually had the officer do a demonstration for us [at Pequea Elementary school] and there were three school board members present with us to show how the dogs would detect. They brought drugs with them and put them in different places (for the dog to detect).”

With the support of the Millersville Borough and Southern Regional Police Departments, a search of all lockers, bathrooms and locker rooms was conducted with the use of the drug-detection canines.

The school administration made an announcement saying the hope is that students continue to be part of the solution in helping to make schools safe places to learn by reporting any drug use to an adult.

The use of the drug detection canines adds an additional element of security for all students and adults at Penn Manor High School according to the letter that was sent home with the students.

Penn Manor’s school resource officer was not involved with the search because, “his burden of proof is much higher than our burden of proof,” said Gale. “[School Administrators] have to have reasonable suspicion and [police] need probable cause.”

When dogs detected specific areas in the school, they were marked to be further investigated. After the search was completed and the canines left, administrators searched the marked areas. No lockers were opened while the police or canines were still in the school.

Several lockers were detected, about a dozen students were called out of class to watch their locker get searched, according to Gale. There were at least two administrators who searched each locker, along with the student, if a student occupied the locker.

The areas that were most frequently hit (indicated by the dog) were water fountains and door handles. These areas are commonly touched during the school day and traces of substances could be left on them.

Gale had three major reasons for the random drug search;

1. “We have had a number of drug violations over the drug and alcohol policy this year.”

2. Keeping the school a safe environment.

3. Southern Regional police are a part of our school district so we wanted to work with them.

“There were a number of hits due to the sensitivity of the dogs,” said Gale, “nothing was found.”

Stress, How do You Handle it?

By Lyta Ringo and Kayla Pagan –

High school can be a very stressful time for teenagers. Between handling school work, holding jobs and just having a life, stress can become a teenager’s best friend. There are many forms of stress, and not all of them have negative affects. According to About.com there are four main types of stress.

Eustress: A type of stress that is fun and exciting.

Acute Stress: Day-to-day short term stresses.

Episodic Acute Stress: Acute stress runs rampant creating a life of chaos.

Chronic Stress: Stress that seems never-ending.

After interviewing a couple high school students, it was found how teenagers deal with their day-to-day stress.

“I either exercise or listen to music,” said Caitlyn Whirt, “I like running, it relieves a lot of stress.”

Stress affects many teens through out the shool day.

Taylor Hager admitted to being stressed constantly, over many things.

“I listen to meditation, bite my nails, and listen to music,” said Hager.

As stated by holisticonline.com, Many experts suggest that it is the rhythm of the music or the beat that has a calming effect on us, although we may not be very conscious about it.

Shayna Sanchez said, “Music is my remedy.”

When dealing with stress not all teenagers take a positive way out. It is very common in young adults that things such as drugs, alcohol, or even self harm take a place in “stress relief”.

“I smoke marijuana,” said one student, “drugs are an easy way out of stress.”

However this isn’t the case, based upon abovetheinfluence.com, some people think that drug use will result in a decreased amount of stress. They think it helps them cope with stress, but in reality they don’t resolve stress issues, they create more.

And on top of that some students just avoid stress at all costs.

“I don’t really deal with stress, I don’t have a lot of it,” said Kyle Black, “I kick people out that cause me stress.”

Black explained how when people around him cause him stress he removes them from his surroundings.

Stress is an everyday thing, it happens to all of us. The way you cope with stress is your own decision. For some people a more positive solution may be needed. For more easy tips on stress relief check out: http://www.pamf.org/teen/life/stress/7stresstips.html.

Bath Salts – A New Danger

By Cassey Graeff –

Nothing better than enjoying a bath with some great smelling bath salts.

Right? Not anymore.

Instead of using bath salts for their proper use in the bath tub, people have recently used chemicals labeled as bath salts as a drug by injecting, snorting, eating or smoking them. This new drug is highly dangerous and emergency bans have been issued in Louisiana, North Dakota and Mississippi.

5167bath_salts — Warning: Bath salts may have severe side effects, including paranoia, hallucinations and sometimes violent behavior.

Penn Manor students Jaq Presbery and Maddy Hess have both heard about bath salts from either friends or the Internet, but don’t know much about them.

“My dad asked me about it,” said Hess.

Darrin Donmoyer the coordinator of the Student Assistant Program (SAP) at Penn Manor High School said, “It’s the same type of mentality, people are trying to find a way around the law and get the high.”

Calls regarding bath salts to poison control centers across the nation have skyrocketed in the past few weeks. According to USA TODAY, bath salts have been compared to cocaine and methamphetamine because of the addictive characteristics.

“One of the news channels did a story about it,” said Erin Hess a student at Penn Manor.

According to NPR, the chemical in bath salts is called MDPV, which is similar to cathinone and is found in khat an African plant that produces leaves that are then chewed. The chemical found in the khat plant are not organic, therefore are made in drug labs.

“I honestly wouldn’t have guessed that bath salts are dangerous,” said senior Sam Eshleman.

Donmoyer said he didn’t know of anyone at Penn Manor using the chemicals but warned students to be careful.

“The potential is there for that (the use) to happen,” he said.

“I have heard about somebody using it at a nearby high school,” said senior Samantha McCrery.

Word spreads like wildfire when new trends appear. Whether it is a trend of Ugg boots and The North Face coats or new drugs to try, students follow them and give whatever it is a whirl.

“They are willing to try anything to get a high,” said Donmoyer.

Comets Bowling Hard for Championship

By Brandon Bowers –

The Penn Manor Bowling team is looking to repeat their last year run with another district title and state champion.

But Comets junior Willie Welsh was having a hard time in the beginning to the middle of the season with low match ending numbers and having trouble finding the pocket.

“Well I seemed to struggle early because I knew` it was a big reason and we needed to win,” said Welsh. “It all so I guess got to my head and I was more worried that I would do bad rather than focusing on my bowling and doing well.”

After a couple bad matches, Coach Chris Vital benched Will so he could calm down and get his mind back.

“That was about the 21 of December and so I was at the bowling alley practicing everyday from the 22nd until our next match which was a week and a half later,” recalled Welsh. “I brought our team back where we belong, on top of course. I got great support and help from my teammates, Coty Johnson, Brendon Yarnell.”

Welsh had mixed feelings about all the pressure.

“I cant do it all myself ya know,” Welsh insisted. “(That’s) something I am both proud and ashamed of. Ashamed, because I brought our team down and proud because I was able to get past it. I even bowled Christmas eve and (Christmas) day. I had to make a statement so I put myself into my practice and finished out with a great season.

“There is no I in team and they made a great contribution to my success,” Welsh said.

Will successfully brought his numbers up and had Penn Manor back in the run for the first place title.

Former Penn Manor State Champion Coty Johnson, won at the LL League singles tournament Monday at Dutch Lanes which put Penn Manor in the team tournament this Friday.

“We made it to the regional team event, I expect us to win the team event and I will give it my all to help us do so,” said Welsh.

The Penn Manor Bowling team said they are looking forward to winning this big event so they can get into the state tournament to bring home another bowling title to Penn Manor.