Author: baronmedianetwork

My POV on the Carolina Wildfires

Tyler Jordan

I’m going to be talking this week about 2 of the bigger Carolinas Wildfires and tell you about how they went.

The first wildfire I went to was the Covington Lake fire in Myrtle Beach, SC. My Sandhill Fire Department got mobilzed. We went down on a saturday morning and won’t return till wednesday of the next week. When we got there and got checked in we got sent on an assignment. From that point on we were working 24 hour shifts and resting about 6 hours then working again. We worked alongside Lugoff FD , Howe Springs FD, Pickens FD. Our group worked amazingly together and we were able to stop fire from spreading into this big area. These long nights and days were a killer but worth it.

The second fire I went to was the Table Rock Complex fire. This was a massive fire that’s still going. It’s roughly 13k acres big and only 30% contained at this time. We went to this one on a friday and came back on monday. Almost the same as the Myrtle Beach fires time as we got there we got sent on assignments. We worked through the whole first night and next day then finally rested for about 5 hours and then went back to work. We were on the frontline fighting fires and climbing the mountains to extinguish the fire. These were very long days walking 5-10 miles and runnin off energy drinks and not sleeping well. 

Although these fires were a lot of work and effort I wouldn’t have not gone now. The connections I made with outside people and new Fire Departments and some of the bonds made I wouldn’t change that experience for anything. I also would like to say none of this could have happened without community and brothership from around the state to help these people out in unfortunate times

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My Favorite Starbucks food and drinks

By: Anna Kate Coker

Starbucks - Wikipedia

Iced Chai Latte

This is my all time go to drink. I enjoy it with oat milk, cinnamon, and vanilla sweet cold foam. This drink makes my day automatically better and it is yummy to sip or chug. It has the perfect flavor of spices but more cinnamon based. The oat milk gives it almost more of a natural flavor instead of it becoming more bland with 2 percent milk. 

Pink Drink

This is my summer drink. I prefer it with coconut milk because if you just get water with it then it makes a lot of the flavor go away. I also remove the dried strawberry inclusions they add because the texture kind of freaks me out and I do not like them. With my special changes this drink is top tier. 

Vanilla Bean Frappuccino

This is the best basic drink there is. You can obviously add really anything to it if you want because it is such a versatile base for all. Even alone though with just the vanilla flavor, it is so good. I get this drink when I want something other than just an iced drink and I always end up finishing all of it.

Bacon Egg Bites

Although eggs are usually just associated with breakfast, these delicious bite sized treats are good for eating whenever and wherever. They are so fluffy and I genuinely savor every bite and get sad when I have none left. They are great if you are on the go and need a good little grab.

I hope they never get rid of these because they also have egg white ones but they do not hit the same.

Everything Bagels

I feel like these are extremely underrated but if you get this toasted and add cream cheese they are a perfect study snack. When I need to lock in to write a paper or get homework done, I take my stuff to starbucks and pair an everything bagel with the yummy cream cheese and get a chai latte and I cannot think of anything better. 

Ice Cream

By: Olivia Cogswell

One of the most common desserts that people enjoy is ice cream. There have been so many flavors created to meet different preferences, some being better than others. 

In last place is the flavor chocolate. Although it is a classic flavor that does have a variety of types to choose from, the richness and sweetness that most ice cream brands provide in this particular flavor, making it less appealing. Chocolate flavoring tends to be better when mixed with another flavor or topping, meaning it is not a stand alone flavor. Also due to it being such a common flavor people choose to switch it up when choosing to go for a dessert. 

In fourth place is vanilla. This is another classic flavor that many people reach for when choosing an ice cream. Vanilla is a pleasing and smooth flavor that is not overwhelming and is usually the safe choice. However, due to this blandness vanilla is not number one. Vanilla ice cream is usually picked to be eaten with something, like pie, brownies, or another dessert. So the flavor itself is plain, and is not the top choice when it comes to choosing ice cream.

In third place is salted caramel. This flavor is very popular due to it not being overly sweet. Its salty component provides a balance making it more enjoyable for those who do not enjoy overpowering sweetness. The texture of this flavor also tends to be appealing to people, the smooth base mixed with the gooey caramel swirled together. Although this flavor does not place higher due to the strong caramel flavor, and the fact that the salt in the caramel makes the ice cream melt faster making it harder to enjoy. 

In second place is cookies and cream. This flavor has a nice mixture of vanilla base and crunchy chocolate cookie pieces. Making the texture appealing with the chunks paired with the smooth vanilla. This ice cream flavor is also a good stand alone flavor making it a quick and easy dessert. However, due to the cookies added into this it may be over sweet at times, and the chocolate cookie may overpower the vanilla flavor.

The best ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip. This flavor has a refreshing cool taste that is perfect for a hot day. It has the perfect blend of sweetness due to the chocolate bits added into the minty base. Also with the chocolate chunks added it has a great texture, smooth with little bits to enjoy. It is preferred to be eaten alone, making it a superior flavor. 

The Final Countdown 

By: Lucy Buxton

Since it is finally April, days are starting to fly by for us seniors. To put it into perspective the senior class gets out of school, “has their last day of school at Wilson Hall” on May 9th. Which is 36 days, counting the days we are out for spring break. There are seven school days til Spring break, 22 days in all til prom, and 56 days til graduation. Although the numbers might not seem that small, one thing I have learned as a senior is the days are long but the weeks fly back…and I am not sure how to feel. 

Starting off with the first “big last event” of being a senior, Spring Break. This year’s spring break is going to look a little different for some of us. I have grown up going to Litchfield by the Sea since I was in lower school, along with the rest of Sumter but this year a group of my friends and I are going to Montego Bay in Jamaica. There are still a lot of people that are going to Litchfield, although I am thrilled to be going to Jamaica, I am skeptical about being apart from everyone. 

Next in these sequence of events is prom. I may just have this view of prom because I am a girl and trust me, I know boys dont take it as seriously as girls, my brother has made me well aware, I do feel like it is so “highschool”. That might be worded weird but think about it. In every movie about highschool, there is a scene about prom most of the time. I have a feeling this will be the best prom yet for two reasons. Number one being, it is so late (April 25th) so the weather should and better be absolutely perfect, this ties into prom breakfast as well.  Number 2 being, over the years and especially this year the senior and junior class have become very close and this is kind of “one last hoorah” for us to be together. I hope everyone has the same mindset when it comes to the actual day of prom.

  Following that, the last day of school or some call it the senior lunch, I’m not going to touch on this too much because for one, it makes me sad and emotional and two, I have never done it so I am not sure what to expect. 

Lastly, “The lasts of lasts”, graduation. In one of my prior blogs I expressed a problem with the location and my opinions but I have learned to be okay with it…(okay, not highly pleased) but I am thankful the administration took our concerns into consideration. I am very excited for graduation and I know it is a time lot celebration but I am feeling weird about it, like most of my grade and I think one main reason we feel this is because our grade has always kind of been the “babies”. A lot of people have had older siblings go through Wilson Hall and we are the last class that will remember some of the past teachers Wilson Hall will have. 

I know I have expressed some worry in this blog, I also need to note how grateful I feel to be able to feel so strongly about leaving because not everyone got to enjoy highschool as much as I have and been with as good of people as I have been with.

Rating Seasons

By: Morgan Aycock

  1. Summer

Summer has to be the best season because there is no school. The weather is hot and it is the perfect time for going to the beach and vacations. The beach is definitely my favorite place to go, and I have a permanent tan for 3 months. Also, the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. I can hang out with my friends a lot more during the week, and I don’t have to worry about school or homework. I do have painting for cheer, though, but it allows me to see my friends and doesn’t last but 2 hours in the morning. I also love spending time on the lake and going boating, and playing pickleball with friends. 

  1. Fall

Although it’s the beginning of the school year, fall has the best sports. Football season is the best time of year, and you always have something to look forward to during the weekends. Cheering for football is one of my favorite things, and we organize fun pep rallies. The weather is not too hot and not too cold, and all the trees are turning different colors. It is also Halloween and Thanksgiving. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and I have a tradition of going to Kreepy Hallow every year with my friends. I usually go to the mountains with family for Thanksgiving, so it is a good time to gather with family and friends. 

  1. Winter

Although it is cold out, winter has some great seasons. Christmas is my favorite season because we get to celebrate Jesus’s birth with friends and family, and we get Christmas break. New Year’s is also one of my favorites because we get a fresh start, and I always spend New Year’s Eve with my friends. It brings me so much joy to see Christmas decorations and go look at Christmas lights. It is also my birthday in the wintertime. And if we are lucky, Sumter may get some snow. 

  1. Spring

I don’t enjoy spring that much. Everyone is ready to get out of school and there aren’t really any exciting sports to watch besides baseball. I usually am sick all season because of the pollen. The only thing that is good about spring to me is Spring Break, and it starts to warm up some. Also, it’s not daylight savings anymore.

Rating Crumbl Cookies

By: Morgan Aycock

  1. Original Pink Sugar

Even though I have never tried this cookie, it is an all-time fan favorite. The almond sugar cookie is different from all other cookies and pink is my favorite color, so I may be biased. They also just recently added it back to the menu, so people will be buying this like crazy. 

  1. Mallow Creme ft. Lucky Charms

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, this is a first time cookie for Crumbl. The marshmallow frosting and Lucky Charm marshmallows align perfectly together. Many people that have tried it have liked it. 

  1. Cookies and Creme Brownie

As always, every week there is a brownie instead of a cookie. I do think the chocolate could be a little over powering, but overall I think it would be good. I think the buttercream would be good and have a good mix in with the cookies and chocolate. 

  1. Milk Glaze ft. Fruity Pebbles

I think the milk flavor would be a little questionable, but a good idea to do with the Fruity Pebbles on top. I think it could be a little plain and I don’t think they should’ve done this because they already did the Lucky Charms cookie. I don’t like that it’s a plain cookie with a milky glaze, and I think it would be a better idea to do frosting and Fruity Pebbles on top of that. 

  1. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk

Even though they do this cookie every week, I still think it’s a good cookie, but they should definitely take it off the list. They should not add the sea salt and I don’t think it’s worth the 800 calories to buy when you can buy a lot of other cookies for the same price and amount of calories. 

  1. Wildberry Sugar

I do not think that this cookie would get a lot of sales. The strawberries and blueberries don’t belong in a cookie in my opinion. They have never had a cookie like this, which I think is good for them to try something new. However, I would not buy it and I don’t think others would either. 

  1. Chocolate Mint Cake ft. Andes 

I don’t think the cake is a good idea at all, and they should stick to selling only cookies. Many people don’t like mint flavored things, but I see what they were trying to do because of the green for St. Patrick’s Day. I don’t think adding the mints on top does this any better, and the mint frosting would not be good. 

Rating My Classes pt.2 

By: Alexis Dawkins

This is the continued version of rating my classes. Last week I rated first through fourth period. 

After digital media is my study hall which is fifth period so it runs into lunch. I love this because I have over an hour break in the middle of my day and it is what I need to have energy to finish my day. I usually spend this time eating lunch and relaxing at home finishing homework or studying if needed. Sometimes I have lunch with friends or family to catch up. I rate this a 100/10 and highly recommend it for upcoming seniors. 

My sixth period is definitely my most stressful class with it being AP Psychology. Taught by Mrs. Sanders again. I like her a lot so I am glad to have her twice a day. I am her only student she has twice and it is a little difficult because there have been a couple times they overlapped and it was a bit confusing but it is still beneficial. This class is on the harder side due to it being the first year offered at Wilson Hall and College Board has changed the curriculum so it is trying to be figured out by everyone involved but it is a beneficial class to take for those interested in anything psychological or medical in the future. This class is a 7.9/10 for me.

 My last and final class is environmental science. This is my favorite class and it is taught by Mrs. Duke. This class is by far my best class and not necessarily because I love science because I do not but I do like Mrs. Duke a lot and she makes the class so much better. There are around fourteen boys in this class and only four girls so it is a rough class for her to handle seeing as the boys in there are the problematic ones but most of us girls help her with the boys and giver her relief when they are acting up. This class is definitely a 9.9/10. 

Ranking my Classes Pt.2

By: Logan Mims

   This weeks blog is part 2 of ranking my favorite classes from my favorite to my least favorite. So far I have Digital media as number 1, Engineering as number 2, and Senior Seminar at number 3. The three classes I have left are AP Bio, Brain Body and Balance (BBB), and AP Pre-Calc. 

   Ranked number 4 out of 6 is my 5th period class Brain, Body, and Balance (BBB). In this class we weight life on Monday Tuesday and Thursday. We don’t lift on Wednesday because it is a short scedual but we usually stretch on Wednesday and Friday is just out day off to catch up on all of the work from that week in our other classes. I actually do like this class it just isn’t in the top 3 because some days I really do not feel like lifting but I still have to. It is a pretty layed back class overall and we are aloud to talk with our friends so overall it’s a good class and I’m glad it’s on my scedual. 

   Ranked number 5 out of 6 is my 7th period class AP Pre Calc. This class isn’t ranked low because it’s one of those extremely boring classes. I actually like the class and enjoy my classmates and teacher in there. The work it just very hard. This is the first year that this class is a thing at Wilson Hall, but also a very new class overall. The ways the questions are asked are just different then most classes and it is much harder than any class I have ever taken. Usually math is my best subject but it has just been a little harder this year.    Lastly, ranked number 6 out of 6 is my 1st period class AP Bio. For some reason I just really do not like this class. It’s hard and really boring. Some people do enjoy the class but I guess I’m just not as interested in biology as some of the other people in my class are. I do like my teacher in that class so that is a plus and I sit beside my friends, but other than that there is nothing else good about this class. 

MLB Preview

By: Carson Wilsey

For baseball fans worldwide, the 2025 MLB season is looking to be an exciting year. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the new roster additions, trades, and intriguing prospects making their big league debuts as teams prepare for the upcoming season. In order to improve their offensive, add depth to their defensive groups, and boost their pitching rotations, teams made a number of high-profile offseason additions. The return of several of the league’s most dynamic players from injury, including great pitchers and power hitters, is one of the most exciting parts of the 2025 season. These players will be hoping to recover and reclaim their position as important contributors to their teams’ success. 

The postseason race will likely be intense as usual. Teams with established stars and deep rosters, such as the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves, continue to be the league favorites. Nonetheless, a number of up-and-coming teams, such as the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles, are hoping to advance and make a strong playoff run. Because more clubs will be able to compete for a position in October due to enlarged playoffs, the regular season is even more important. The division races will be fierce, particularly since some divisions appear to be as close as ever and a few significant victories could mean the difference between a wild card and a division title.

Beyond the team conflicts, the season’s plots will also heavily rely on individual players. There is always fierce competition for the MVP and Cy Young awards, and 2025 looks to be no exception. While seasoned veterans like Mike Trout and Mookie Betts are always a threat to regain the spotlight, young talents like Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Julio Rodríguez will continue to dominate headlines. As the MLB continues to enact rule changes intended to quicken play and produce a more thrilling brand of baseball, the game’s evolution will also be important this season. With anything from new hitting approaches to altering laws, fans can expect lots of shocks during the season.