THE TIGER’S ROAR

A Benton Middle-Senior High School Publication

2019-20 Edition #4

A Benton Area Middle High School Student Publication

Virtual Proms (continued from page 1)

We do not know what the future currently holds when it comes to going back to school. If we get the news we aren’t going back, then these games give you the options to have a memorable virtual prom. All the games I listed are free to download and easy to make an account for, but as always get a parents permission before logging on to internet games.

Virtual Proms? By: Lucky Laubach

The idea of not going back to school because of the current global pandemic may seem great for some kids, but for seniors it’s a different story. Their graduation and prom are at stake. If we do not go back to school, these things could occur digitally. Although I can’t help with virtual graduation, I definitely have some ideas for virtual prom. It can happen through a variety of different games, and I’m here to tell you which ones could host your next prom.

Option one is Roblox. Yes, Roblox. This site has many different outfit options to choose from, and many different hangout places too. You have the option to get differ-ent hairstyles or scroll through the catalog to get the perfect outfit. While this all sounds great, it can be quite pricey. If you’re willing to pay money for some Robux, this site is perfect! If you don’t feel like wasting money for a video game, I completely under-stand. That is the reason I chose Club Penguin as option two!

Club Penguin is back, and still as popular as ever. You can earn coins by playing differ-ent games, so there is no issue when it comes to not having enough coins to buy that snail costume you’ve been looking at. This game has tons of different outfits and wigs to make sure you’re looking your best! You can even bring along a puffle friend! The only issue I can see with this game is that you all are going to be doing the same dance, but who really pays attention to how you’re dancing anyway. Dance your heart out!

This last option is definitely controversial—Fortnite. This free to download game could

be perfect for a small group of party goers as it can only hold a small number of people in a squad. You can suit up in different skins and express yourself with a variety of emotes and dances! If you don’t have Fortnite, then you will have to buy some V-bucks in order to get those cool skins and dances. Maybe you can get someone to gift you want you want. Just remember to change that solo option to a creative one. The creative option gives you the freedom to make your own prom setup! Put down that pickaxe and do the orange justice on your own dance floor!

(continued on page 2)

A Reflection on Centralia

By Erik Weibel

As you might have heard recently, the town of Centralia - if it can still be called that - is burying

its famous graffiti highway with loads of dirt. The move is being made in response to COVID-19

and hundreds of tourists ignoring stay-at-home orders and causing liability issues. While cover-

ing the highway is completely justified, it is a bittersweet action for many. The graffiti highway

was a place out of time, almost reverent with its crude images and overgrown wildlife.

The first time I went to the graffiti highway was the only time I’ll ever go. My family went to see

it in early March, before any mandated stay-at-home orders were in place. Walking down the

highway, we passed by groups sight-seeing, graffitiing, and (most interestingly) four-wheeling. It

almost feels like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie, with riders doing wheelies through

crowds, spray paint covering the entire road, and miscellaneous sidewalks and steps the only

markers of houses that used to stand there.

The one thing that truly stood out to me as I was walking down the highway last month, was the

odd irony that in the time of COVID-19 and social distancing, the place with the most life was a

ghost town. The graffiti highway was as much a work of art as it was a testament to the history

and future of the people of Centralia. With it gone, we are closing a chapter in that history and

moving on to the next scene, whatever it may look like.

Graffiti Highway being covered

earlier this week.

Photo from Fox News

Athletes Give Back During Quarantine

By Clay Farley

As most of us know all the sports right now are all canceled due to Covid 19, but most of

the sport athletes are making good out of this bad time. The quarterback for the New Orle-

ans Saints Drew Brees gave a 5 million dollar check to his hometown to help them out

during this pandemic. As the Red Cross is in need of blood right now, a lot of athletes are

either donating blood or making monetary donations. Basketball player Lebron James set

up a food drive in his hometown to help out kids' families who do not have money for

groceries during this difficult time. Many sports athletes are posting things on social media

that are funny or things you can do to relieve stress stay busy if you're bored while at

home with family. Keep an eye on your local news to see how other athlete's are giving

back to their community.

How to Help People with Weakened Immune Systems Deal with Covid-19

By Britny Earnest

This is a very difficult time for everyone, but especially people with weakened im-mune systems that more likely to get this virus. People that have any disease like dia-betes, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, chronic lung disease, people who live in a nursing home, and people who are 65 years or older are in more danger of getting

Covid-19. To help stop the spread of Covid-19 make sure you wash your hands, stay 6 ft apart, and stay home! Doing all of this will lower the spread of Covid-19. You are not just

helping yourself by following these guidelines; you are also helping people with weakened immune systems by staying home through this trying time. Remember-

there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

On The Bright Side By Norah Evans

Amberley Snyder is a 29-year-old barrel racer. She has faced many challenges over the past few years. Amberley was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident in 2010. She still today races all over the United States. Amberley competed in the American (a very elite barrel racing competition- the rodeo’s version of the Superbowl) as the fan exemption competitor. She has let the challenges she faces refine her, not define her. Currently we are in quarantine because of the coronavirus. As you all know there are terrible things happening to the USA and the world because of the virus. Let us all be strong and courageous like Amberley Snyder in our time of trouble and let the challenges we face refine us, not define us. We have to stay strong in our times of trouble as a community and as a nation, and fight for the people who can’t. We all are capable of stopping the virus from spreading, just with simple things like staying at home and/or wearing a mask in public. If Amberley can barrel race in The American paralyzed, what can’t we do?

Interested in

participating in The

Tiger’s Roar next

year?!

We are always looking

for new writers,

photographers, artists,

and more! Show us your

tiger pride. Email Mr.

Noss for more

information.

Fun and Games

Looking for something to do while you are stuck at

home? Use the links below for fun (and educational!) activities!

Complete this newspaper survey-Results will

be posted next edition!

Take virtual tours of the Smithsonian’s exhibits

Find online word searches for any topic at The Word Search

Explore your access to digital books from the

Library

Strategy, puzzle, and trivia games at Cool Math Games

Congratulations Cast and Crew of Cinderella

You did an amazing job!

Humor

Squirrels Return to Area

By Erik Weibel

In these days of social isolation, we can’t be too certain of what the future may hold for

us. A lot of strange and sad things are happening so fast, in the government, in the hospi-

tals, and even in the neighborhoods. Corona is affecting everyone’s lives in many ways

and it can sometimes be hard to find something to smile about.

If there is anything good going on in the world, it would be that nature is making a come-

back. Amid all the social distancing and isolation, we are starting to see a return of the

eastern gray squirrel to north eastern Pennsylvania.

With everyone staying at home, the squirrels are having more time to gather nuts, safely

cross a road, and congregate in formerly populated areas. If you look out your window,

you’ll be sure to see at least one of the squirrels scampering across your yard, clambering

into a tree, or scurrying over the horizon into the sunset.

Once popular in the area, eastern gray squirrels had declined in population after a much

debated legal trial in the 1820’s that I still can’t quite decipher much about but seemed to

be about taxes not being filed, with the squirrels claiming the insanity defense, arguing

that they were, in fact, nuts. After losing the case, the squirrel population slowly declined

over the years. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the squirrels have stealthily

snuck back into the area, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be leaving anytime soon.

Once the county’s population passed the 5,000-squirrel mark, the squirrels started setting

up their own form of democracy, with squirrel-mayors watching over local ordinances and

the New Federal Bank of Squirrels setting up branches in well-

populated areas. Soon they will be having recruitment assemblies

for their own militia. Laboratories are being built for research on

new squirrel science topics.

This is truly a marvelous time in our history as a human society

that we can be witnessing the rebirth of a long-forgotten

civilization while ours is falling apart at the seams.

Vote for BENTON in the 2020

Central Susquehanna Student Video Contest !!

Mrs. Aten’s team of 8th graders worked very hard to create a video

about CSS Industries.

Visit WhatSoCool.org to view the vid-eo and VOTE April 15-17!