Teen Scene

Sponsored by IGA and the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Task Force

Features, Announcements, Hallway Buzz, Drug Prevention Lady,
Your Opinion, Reviews by You, Of Interest

~~~~~~~ Features ~~~~~~~

Lincoln High School and The Oasis team up for Senior Dance 2003

[MARCH 14, 2003] Think spring. Think high school. Think prom. This year, however, the seniors are senior citizens, not high school seniors looking forward to a spring dance. Lincoln Community High School students are inviting the seniors for a shindig scheduled for later this month. Young and old alike, everyone likes to kick up their heels sometimes. This time they’ll be doing it together.

Students from the music department, student government, culinary arts class and the cheerleading group will be offering their talents for the event. The students will play music, decorate, provide dance partners, prepare and serve refreshments.

The Senior Dance is scheduled at LCHS from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 29.

7-7:30 p.m. -- There will be taped music from the Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey era.

7:30-8:30 p.m. -- Live music will be provided by the jazz band, with a mixture of tunes from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. Most music will be slow, with an upbeat tune every once in a while.

8:30-9 p.m. -- The dance will finish with soft recorded music from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s.

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Seniors, do not miss this opportunity to enjoy an evening of music, snacks and camaraderie. It is sure to be lots fun. If you or your friends and neighbors are interested in attending the dance, please call The Oasis, 732-6132, so they can give the high school an idea of how many people to expect.

There will not be a charge, only a donation if you wish to contribute.

[LDN]

Lincoln youth help African students

[MARCH 14, 2003] Barb O’Donohue is the kind of person we all wish we could be. She is the most giving, caring, Christian woman Lincoln has to offer. O’Donohue went to Kenya, Africa, recently with as many supplies as the law would allow her to take with her. She will be living and working with the Pokot community in Kenya, helping them learn survival skills, educating their children, and bringing health and joy to the community. O’Donohue is a very special person, but she couldn’t have done this alone.

Many people went out of their way to donate things for O’Donohue to take with her. One group that took up that cause was the Lincoln Area YMCA Leaders Club. The Y Leaders Club is made up of 11 young people between 13 and 18 years old. Their purpose is to learn to become community leaders by serving their community and participating in leadership opportunities.

The group is preparing to go to Prague in the Czech Republic this summer for a youth convention, so they have been working long and hard to earn money for their trip.

However, upon hearing of O’Donohue’s work, this dedicated group of young leaders decided to donate one night of fund-raising receipts, equaling $100, to buy school supplies for the young Pokot children. With their money they were able to purchase supplies such as crayons, rulers and paper. They also threw in numerous packages of individually wrapped Life Savers just for the joy of the treat.

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This community can be very proud of their Y Leaders Club: Emily and Ashley Roderick, Cara Slack, Jordan Tabb, Kelsey Washam, Rachel Tibbs, Andrew Stephenson, Whitney Kinchelor, Mallory Hinton, Alicia Wilson and Ebony King.

If anyone is interested in helping the club with their trip to Prague, please contact the Lincoln Area YMCA.

[Press release from Linda Marini,
Lincoln Area YMCA]

Last week:

Introducing a new page with special features for, about, from local teens

Attention, seniors: You could be facing personal financial stress when you go to college

~~~~~~~ Announcements ~~~~~~~

Youth invited to take the 'Current River Challenge'

[MARCH 7, 2003] University of Illinois Extension invites anyone 15-18 years old from Logan, Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford, Mason and Fulton counties to join them for the "Current River Float Challenge" from July 11 to 13. Those who take the challenge will have their choice of canoes or tubes to experience the Current River in Eminence, Mo.

Participants will be grouped into tribes, which will be rewarded during the survival ceremony at the end of the trip. They will also have the opportunity to camp, swim, float, have fun and meet new friends.

Space is limited. Cost for the trip is $140 per person. Half of the fee is required by April 1. To register or receive further information, call (309) 547-3711.

U of I Extension provides out-of-the-classroom educational opportunities that help people deal with the critical issues impacting their daily lives. We think that there is no challenge more important than preparing our young people for the world they will inherit. U of I Extension meets this challenge in a fun, action-oriented and practical manner.

[News release from the University of Illinois Extension, Logan County]

~~~~~~~ Hallway Buzz ~~~~~~~

Introducing the Hallway Buzz team

[MARCH 14, 2003] These are the students of the LCHS Advanced Public Speaking class.

How do you feel about living in Lincoln, Ill.?

“I find it quite boring.”

-- Tim Fak, senior at LCHS

“Growing up in a medium-sized town gives you some more diverse experiences than living in a small town. Although Lincoln doesn’t offer a lot to do for a teenager like myself, I still believe it is a good place to live.”

-- Brandon Judd, senior at LCHS

What are your thoughts on the Abe Lincoln statue?

“The Lincoln statue has really disappeared and I personally haven’t heard a lot about. I don’t even know if it is still being discussed. I would like to think it won’t happen, but who knows.”

-- Doug Rohrer, junior

”Well, I think that it’s stupid, but there are enough stupid things in the world that people want to see. So, it might be one of those crazy things that might attract people.”

-- Joel Andreasen, senior

“I think it is a ridiculous idea. It would make our town a laughingstock. They might as well put up a statue of John Wilkes Booth in Mount Pulaski.”

-- Brenton Saylor, junior

“I think that it will cost a lot of money to build. I don’t think that it will necessarily generate a lot of revenue for our town because not many people will stop to get a closer look at a roadside statue. I don’t think wasting taxpayers' money is necessary, but if they can do it through grants and other methods, then I am not against it.”

-- Julie Wood, senior

How has the conflict with Iraq affected your life?

”I have many friends involved with the conflict in Iraq. I am scared for and proud of them at the same time. The whole situation with Iraq seems impossible to be happening. I can only see the war on TV, so what the media is portraying is seemingly unreal.”

-- Abrigail Sasse, senior

“Several people I know are going to war and being shipped out. It is affecting me in the emotional aspect of my life more than anything. It scares me to know my friends might be in danger.”

-- Betsy Buttell, senior

“Not very much ... high prices are the only way.”

-- Colin Voyles, senior

“I’m lucky enough to not have any of my family members or friends in the military services, so it doesn’t affect me in that way. The only way it has directly affected me is by the higher gas prices. I live out of town, so I buy gas more frequently than others and have spent many, many extra dollars as a result of this conflict.”

-- Lindsay Struebing, senior

“As of this moment, I don’t feel directly affected. However, as I turn 18 at the end of the month and register for the Selective Service, I am concerned about how the conflict will be resolved. I understand that sometimes war is necessary, but personally I don’t want to put myself out there on the line.”

-- Ty Sank, senior

“My father is in the Reserves and a couple of weeks ago he was called up to serve. Because of this, my family has made many sacrifices, financial as well as emotional. The U.S. government isn’t organized because my father tells us he hears various renditions of what and where they are going every day.”

-- Deborah Martincic, senior

“Many people that I know, including friends, have been deployed. It has not affected me personally. As important as it is, I feel that it has been on the news too often. Even with as much as we see it, I am still not sure I understand what the whole conflict entails.”

-- Chelsea Jones, senior

~~ Teen or Teen Group of the Month ~~

Send us your nominations for teens doing good work as individual volunteers or for group efforts. E-mail ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com or call 732-7443.

~~~ Places to Go & Things to Do ~~~

Healthy living and fun too

Athletics

LCHS sports directory

Railer basketball

Chess

Tri-State Chess Tournament

Sunday, March 23

Registration from noon to 1 p.m.

Quincy Senior High School cafeteria, 33rd and Maine in Quincy

[LDN article with link to entry forms.]

Dance instruction

Audra's Studio of Dance, 214 S. Kickapoo, 732-9137

Susan Collier School of Dance, 726 S. Spring, Mount Pulaski, 792-5590 or 486-6252

LCHS clubs

Directory

Lincoln Gator Swim Club

Heidi Heidbreder, coach

Lincoln Park District

Primm Road, 732-8770

Lincoln Public Library

725 Pekin, 732-8878 or 732-5732

Martial arts

Lincoln Tae Kwon Do, 918 Woodlawn Road, 735-3363

YMCA

Activity center, 721 Wyatt Ave., 732-9935

Administrative office, 319 W. Kickapoo, 735-3915

Other lessons and activities

Send us the information to post

Entertainment

Free program March 27: "Songs of War and Songs of Peace," with Cat Catalani

Movies

For the latest local movies and videos, check these links:

Lincoln Cinemas

Family Video

Classic film series, sponsored by the Logan County Arts Association, at Lincoln Cinemas, monthly on the second Thursday, 7 p.m., (217) 735-4422

[Upcoming films]

Performances

High school and junior high plays, competitions

Send us the information to post.

Lincoln Community Theatre, 735-2614

[2003 season schedule]

LDN Games Archive

~~~ Ask the Drug Prevention Lady ~~~

The "Drug Prevention Lady" is Kristi Lessen, substance abuse prevention specialist from Logan-Mason Mental Health (a division of Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois). She can be contacted at lessen.kristin@mhsil.com.

This feature is for educational purposes and not intended to be an alternative to emergency services. In case of emergency, dial 911.

[MARCH 14, 2003]

Dear Drug Prevention Lady --

I have a friend who knows this guy and I was with her when she was talking to him and she was having troubles with her boyfriend and this guy said he can help her with that. He said he would get her some Ecstasy. She asked me what Ecstasy is and I remember you talking about it in my class and that you said it was called a "love drug." So I told her it was called a "love drug." She thought that was cool. I told her that Ecstasy is a very dangerous drug. She said, "Well, I’m not wanting to live anymore anyway." But see, she is only 11 years old and her mom is a nurse. So my question is: Should I tell her mom about this or should I just keep it to myself?

Dear Student --

You should DEFINITELY tell her mom! Anytime a friend tells you that they no longer want to live, you need to let an adult know right away. I am happy you told your friend that Ecstasy is a dangerous drug. Regular use of Ecstasy can produce long-lasting, perhaps permanent damage to the brain’s ability to think and remember. Some of the effects of Ecstasy are confusion, depression, anxiety, paranoia and sleep problems. These effects can even occur weeks after the drug is taken. I hope you get your friend some help.

- - -

Dear Drug Prevention Lady --

Does marijuana affect you in a serious manner? Is it safe (besides driving with it)?

Dear Student --

Marijuana can affect you in a serious manner, and NO it is not safe.

The short-term effects of marijuana are:

--problems with memory and learning;

--distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch);

--trouble with thinking and problem solving;

--loss of motor coordination;

--increased heart rate, anxiety.

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Some users can get bad effects from marijuana. They may experience sudden feelings of anxiety and have paranoid thoughts. If you are high on marijuana, you are more likely to make unwise mistakes that could hurt you. Research also shows that regular use of marijuana may play a role in some kinds of cancer and in problems with the respiratory, immune and reproductive systems.

- - -

Dear Drug Prevention Lady --

What makes drugs so addictive and why is it so hard to stop taking them?

Dear Student --

Drugs affect different people in different ways. A lot of it has to do with our brains. Some people take longer to become addicted, and others can become addicted the very first time they try something; and nobody knows which category they fall into. Drugs (and this includes alcohol, tobacco and over-the-counter drugs) can be physically and psychologically addicting. This is also why it can be so difficult to quit.

Physical addiction deals with your body. Your body becomes so used to having the chemical (drug) in it that it needs to have that chemical in order to keep functioning the way it has become used to. Without that chemical, your body will have a physical reaction.

Psychological addiction deals with your brain. You keep taking a chemical and you think you have to keep taking it in order to function, and your brain is an extremely powerful instrument.

- - -

~ Substance Abuse Prevention Program is paid for in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Just out: results of the
Logan County substance use poll

[MARCH 7, 2003] The results are out! In October 2002, Lincoln Daily News and Logan-Mason Mental Health conducted an online community needs assessment. The findings below are taken from that survey.

89.5 percent of Logan County parents said they would do EVERYTHING possible to keep their child from using alcohol.

87.8 percent of Logan County parents say they would be upset if their child drank alcohol.

86.8 percent of Logan County parents said they feel their own use of alcohol influences their child.

83.3 percent of Logan County parents feel that adults who allow teens to drink in their homes should be arrested.

97.4 percent of Logan County parents say they would be upset if their child used marijuana.

92.1 percent of Logan County parents say that it is their job to keep their child from using marijuana.

91.9 percent of Logan County parents believe that it is NOT OK for adolescents to buy over-the-counter drugs to alter their moods.

If you are interested in getting a copy or copies of the statistics, you may contact Kristi Lessen, substance abuse prevention specialist, Logan-Mason Mental Health, a division of Mental Health Centers of Illinois, 304 Eighth St., Lincoln, IL 62656; phone (217) 735-2272; fax (217) 732-9847; lessen.kristin@mhsil.com.

~~~~~~~ Your Opinion ~~~~~~~

Question of the week

[MARCH 14, 2003] Do you agree with President Bush that Saddam Hussein is a threat to national security and we really don't need U.N. approval to go to war against Iraq?

E-mail: ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com