Top 5 Candy Ranking

By: Addie Griffin

Candy is one of everybody’s favorite treats. Some people like chocolate and some people prefer more sour or sweet candy. Today I will be ranking my top five favorite candies. 

5. To start off we have Snickers. Snickers used to be my favorite candy but as I’ve grown older I’ve realized there are many candies like it. This is what makes it more boring than the other candies listed and less unique. However I think it is still one of the best tasting candies which is why it deserves a spot on this list. 

4. Next we have gummy bears in the number four spot. Gummy bears are chewy, sweet,  and fun to eat. They come in many different colors and fruity flavors and are enjoyed by almost everyone. Gummy bears  are timeless and simple. 

3.  To start off the top three spot is Reece’s. is one thing that makes them special. 

The combination of the peanut butter and chocolate is smooth and delicious. They are the perfect blend of salty and sweet which is what makes this candy unique. They are a classic treat at Christmas and Easter time with the trees and the egg shaped chocolate which is another reason they are special. 

2. At the number two spot is Nerds Gummy Clusters. This candy is extremely unique and mixes a combination of crunchy and chewy which many other candies do not. They also come in many different varieties and flavors which is always a plus. The crunchy nerds are tangy and sweet while the gummy inside is soft and chewy making them have so much flavor packed into one little bite. 

1.Now the overall best candy is Sour Airhead Extremes. This may be considered controversial but they have all of the right things that you could want in a candy. They combine colors, flavors and textures all into one candy. Not to mention, each pack comes with a lot of them! This candy has just the right amount of sourness to make your mouth water but also just the right amount of sweetness. Every bite you take will leave you wanting more. 

My take on Manchester United

By: Milling Galloway

This year Manchester United has been anything but good. The coaching change has maybe affected me a bit. Ruben Amorim took over recently and yet nothing has changed. We might have gotten worse. Erin Ten Hag was most likely the worst coach the Premier League has seen. All the talent in the world has yet to be produced. Marcus Rashford is still one of the best players entering their prime and we just sent him away on loan to Aston Villa. Now he is starting to look like prime Ronaldo. That was an exaggeration but you get my point. United also has a powerful young group of guys. Yet they do not play and tare up the younger divisions. Alejandro Garnacho is arguably one of the best youngsters in the world. Last year he had seven goals and four assists. He even won the Puskas award. He did that at the age of nineteen and now he is twenty and is doing fine, but United is trying to sell him to a rival club. I just do not get all of these things that the club is doing. Every time we get a player they are either in their thirties or washed. Once Manchester United was the best club in the world and now they are fighting relegation. The fans are starting to get fed up with the club. Many of the original fans have never even seen a time in history where Manchester United has been this bad. Let’s get away from the negatives for a second and look at the positives. They do have one of the best teens in the world, who recently played in the Euros and lit it up. He even got to start in multiple games. Which is crazy as a teen. Also United has a ton of young talent that I have already mentioned. There over eighteen’s recently won the youth FA cup. That is a very big deal in soccer. With all this talent I am not too worried about Manchester United’s future, but you never know. The biggest hope is that United finishes strong through the season. To do that and have a good year next year, the coaching has to change again. The young talent can not be put to waste. 

The Recruit by Milling Galloway

I would highly recommend this Netflix series. This show kept me up all night wanting to finish it very badly. Owen Hendricks, the main character or his real name Noah Centineo, plays the main character role perfectly. This action-packed thriller was well worth the wait. It’s a CIA-based Netflix show that has a ton of great ideas. Owen, who just came from law school, decides to not join a firm. Instead, he becomes a lawyer at the CIA. He has to go on many adventures and most of the stuff he does are completely different from what lawyers would do. It also gives a decent look into what happens at the CIA. He meets an asset. An asset is a person from another country who gets paid or is blackmailed into exposing the secrets of a terrorist group they are in. Max the asset from a Russian mob threatens to release special documents that would be very damaging to the CIA. They send the new lawyer hotshot Dylan to go make the situation ok. He ends up doing many illegal things, but he gets her out of jail and everything’s fine. Soon enough he has to go back to Phonix to help her out. He doesn’t want to. The only reason he went was because his boss made him. I think that he ends up falling in love with her but later she dies. You never get to find out. I would compare this show to Night Agent. Although they are similar, I think the Recruit is way better. To be honest there are just way more action-packed scenes that drive people to want more. So I would give this show a nine out of ten. My reasoning is just that there are many girls Owen has had feelings for. You think he just met the love of his life, but he meets another girl he likes. His roommate Hannah also dated him and you can easily tell the tension in the room. She even chases him to Geneva Switzerland to try and see if he is alright. Before they run into each other’s arms he gets kidnapped right in front of her. The next thing you know she never wants to see him again.

Atlanta Braves 2025 Preview

By: Benson Elmore

The Atlanta Braves are getting ready for the 2025 MLB season, and there’s a lot of excitement around the team. Last year, the Braves finished with a decent 89–73 record and made the playoffs as a Wild Card team. But they got knocked out right away by the San Diego Padres, which was a huge letdown. This year, they’re hoping to bounce back and go further in the playoffs.

The Braves made a few changes over the offseason. They lost some important players like Max Fried, Charlie Morton, A.J. Minter, and Travis d’Arnaud, who all signed with different teams. In return, they traded for pitcher Griffin Canning from the Los Angeles Angels. Canning had a rough 2024 season, but the Braves are hoping he can help their pitching staff. They also signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to a three-year deal. Profar had a solid year in 2024, and he should add some extra depth to the Braves’ lineup.

A big part of the Braves’ 2025 season will be getting some of their star players back from injury. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider both missed time last season because of injuries, but they’re expected to be healthy this year. Having them back should be a huge boost for the team, especially for the offense and the pitching staff.

The Braves also have some cool events lined up this season. One of the biggest ones is the MLB Speedway Classic on August 2, where they’ll play the Cincinnati Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. It’s going to be the first-ever regular-season MLB game in Tennessee, and it’s expected to draw a huge crowd. On top of that, the Braves will host the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 15. It’s going to be the third time the city has hosted the All-Star Game, with the last two being in 1972 and 2000.

Looking ahead, the Braves are expected to be one of the top teams in the National League East. Even though they didn’t make a ton of moves over the offseason, a lot of people think the team will improve in 2025. With their key players back and some new additions, the Braves should be in the mix for the division title. If they can stay healthy and play well, they could definitely make a deep playoff run this year.

Top 5 Candy

By: Benson Elmore

When it comes to candy rankings, this list is pretty solid, and each candy has its own charm. Here’s my breakdown of why I think these five deserve their spots, starting with the top choice.

**1. Flips Chocolate Covered Pretzels** – These are hands down the best. The combination of the salty pretzel and sweet chocolate is just perfect. The crunchy pretzel pairs so well with the creamy chocolate coating, and it’s not overly sweet, which makes it super addicting. You get the satisfying crunch and saltiness from the pretzel and the smooth chocolate, making each bite a balanced treat. Honestly, once you start eating them, it’s hard to stop.

**2. Nerds Gummy Clusters** – Coming in at number two, Nerds Gummy Clusters are a fun, fruity treat. The outside has a crunchy coating of Nerds, and the inside is a soft, chewy gummy candy. The mix of textures and the fruity flavors make them a great candy to munch on. They’re not as rich as the Flips, but they’re still super fun and flavorful, with just the right amount of sweetness and tang.

**3. Sour Patch Kids** – Sour Patch Kids are a classic candy that almost everyone loves. The sour coating gives you an intense burst of flavor at first, followed by the sweet, chewy candy inside. They’re a lot of fun and have that sour-sweet combo that’s hard to resist. However, they do lose a bit of their charm after a while. The sourness can get overwhelming, and once it fades, the candy doesn’t have as much excitement left, which is why they’re ranked third.

**4. Jolly Ranchers** – Jolly Ranchers are great for when you want something long-lasting. These hard candies have bold, fruity flavors that pack a punch, and they last a while, which is nice if you’re looking for something to suck on. The downside is that they’re not as fun to eat as the others. They’re hard and can be a bit tough on your teeth, especially if you bite into them too soon. While the flavors are strong, they don’t offer the same excitement as the others above them on the list.

**5. Hi-Chews** – Hi-Chews are a chewy, fruity candy, but they just don’t stand out as much compared to the others. The texture is great, and they have solid fruity flavors, but there’s not much else to make them more exciting. They’re reliable and tasty, but when placed next to candies like Flips or Nerds Gummy Clusters, they don’t have that same wow factor. They’re a simple, safe choice, but they don’t bring anything extra to the table.

In the end, this list mixes different textures and flavors that appeal to different tastes. Flips take the top spot, followed by the fun and tangy Nerds Gummy Clusters. Sour Patch Kids, Jolly Ranchers, and Hi-Chews round out the list, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Children v Adults

By: Campbell Cromer

When picking between working with kids or adults, many find that working with children is way more fulfilling. While both choices have their positives, working with children offers unique opportunities for making a difference, creativity, and joy that makes it a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.

One of the strongest most compelling reasons to work with children is the opportunity to shape their futures. Children are in the early stages of their life, and the guidance, education, and care they get can have a great impact on their life. Whether you’re a teacher, babysitter, or mentor, your influence can help mold them into confident, caring, and capable people.

Children bring an great level of energy and creativity to any place they go. Unlike adults, who can be more set in their ways, children are curious and ready to explore the world and come up with new ideas. This makes working with them a enjoyable experience filled with imagination, problem-solving, and playful interactions.

Children have the ability to find happiness in the smallest things. Their laughter, excitement, and appreciation for the little moments create an happy work environment. Unlike adults, who often have a lot of stress and worries, children see life with a fresh point of view, reminding the people who work with them to embrace joy and optimism.

When working with children, progress is often very noticeable. You see them as they learn a new skill, face a challenge, or find confidence. These small but important things provide a deep sense of fulfillment and validation that your efforts are truly making a difference in their lives.

The relationships formed while working with children are unique and special. Children are naturally caring and trusting, forming meaningful connections with people who support and care for them. Unlike adult relationships, which can be confusing and formal, working with children often brings ture and heartfelt interactions.

Working with children is a great experience that allows for creativity, important impacts on their life’s, and daily joy. For those who cherish making a difference and showing positivity, working with children is the best choice.

Sunshine v Rain

By: Campbell Cromer

Many people love the peace and coziness of a rainy day, but no one can say that sunny days are not the obvious winner when it comes to weather. Warm, sunny, and full of life, sunshine has many benefits that make life improved and fun. 

First of all, sun makes us happy. Sunlight naturally rises our levels of serotonin which does a great job promoting cheerfulness as well as loosing tension. So, sunny days are more stimulative and intriguing in comparison with drizzly and dull days. People feel healthier and even more sociable as long as there is sunshine, leading to the happiness of  living.

Sunny days also encourage outdoor activity. Whether a morning run, lunch in the park, or a day at the beach, the possibilities for exercise and enjoyment are are never ending. Rainy days, on the other hand keep people indoors, limiting exercise and activity’s .

Also, sunlight also carries vitamin D which is essential to our body’s, making bones denser and strengthening our immune systems. Only a couple minutes in the sun each day can benefit our health, whereas several rainy days may cause vitamin D deficiency.

Lastly, sunny weather is refreshing and cheerful. It is easy to plan events, travel, and live life when there is no chance of being soaked in the rain. While rain is important for nature, too much rain can lead to flooding and unexpected disruption.

In the fight between sunny and rainy days, sunshine clearly wins. It lifts moods, improves wellness, and makes daily life more lively and playfully.

My Favorite Starbucks Food and Drinks

By: Anna Kate Coker

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. 

Starbucks - Wikipedia

Giving up Candy for Lent

By: Anna Kate Coker

I decided to give up all types of candy for lent. This has been challenging because I really do love a good sweet treat. I will be describing my journey of the first three days.

Day one I did not have too much trouble. I was not exposed to any candy options and had a pretty healthy day. I was not tempted into buying any so I was staying strong.

Day Two I almost broke. First period goes by, followed by second and then ten minute break. Just as I am bragging to my friends about how I will NOT mess it up, I walk into AP Literature. My good friend, Emily Mason, has blessed everyone in the class with a two pack of Reeses on our desk. This was so sweet but I could not give in. Abby Bradley looked at me knowing my promise that I was not going to eat it, so I slowly put it in my bookbag. I did not eat the Reeses and continued to stay serious. 

Day Three I made a mistake. I did not slip up at any time during the school day and enjoyed some delicious Chick Fil A with McKenzie Gray during my study hall. As the day progressed, it got more difficult. I was offered a piece of chocolate and without thinking I almost ate it. I caught myself last minute though and made a safe recovery of throwing it away. I was persistent on not eating any candy until I got distracted by the delicious taste of Cookout. Sophie and I decided we wanted a good Cookout treat when we were bored and had nothing to do. The woman working the drive thru asked me what I wanted and without thinking twice I said “an m&m Milkshake please”. I forgot that add-ins on milkshakes are candy. It was too late. I already paid and ate a spoonful. I can’t throw away such an amazing purchase so I guess I have to eat it. This left me with the question… do m&m’s count as candy in a milkshake or am I still following my path of lent?

Walt Disney World

By: Olivia Cogswell

Walt Disney was where the beginning of animation came to be. This industry was the first to begin filming movies in animation, and opened up a whole new type of entertainment for everyone of all ages. Now many of these types of movies hold memories for those who grew up enjoying them, and usually come back up when trying to watch a movie for the night. However some do rank higher than others.

Wreck it Ralph comes in last. Although this movie shows much creativity with the story line, with the transformation of the main character Ralph from being a “bad guy” to finding good. It also has a tone of memorable characters, and goes into something unlike any other movie and explores the inside of video games. The voices and animation are also very vibrant and entertaining to watch. However it is not a classic movie that people tend to want to watch over and over. Many disney movies have so much more life lessons and musical entertainment compared to this one, which is why Wreck it Ralph comes in last.

The Little Mermaid comes in third. This movie has a great story to tell. It follows a girl who wants to follow her heart and explore the world which many viewers can relate to. This movie also has songs that people of all ages have heard and know, like “Under the Sea” and “Part of your world.” However this classic movie does not rank higher because of how much Disney has improved its storytelling and animation since the making of this movie. Some may enjoy it for the fact that it is the movie they grew up watching, but there are so many more amazing movies since then, which is why this ranked third. 

Beauty and the Beast comes in second. This movie tells an important message about love and looking beyond appearances. The animation of this movie is very detailed and beautiful with each of the characters having unique personalities that help the story line. It also takes a creative approach by making the silverware and candles personality that become fan favorites. This movie also has classic music that everyone knows. However this movie comes in second due to its pacing. The storyline moves very slow in the beginning which makes it hard to stay entertained. 

Tangled comes in first. Rapunzel, who is the main character in this movie, is a strong and independent girl who wants to explore beyond her limits. Many young girls who watch this movie look up to her in these aspects. Also Flynn who helps her achieve her goals, adds humor which makes them an entertaining duo. While also having a good balance of humor and emotion making this movie both entertaining and touching. The animation of this movie provides so much entertainment and life. The colors are vibrant with a bunch of purples and yellows, and the lantern scene being one of the best scenes of the whole movie. It also has a very catchy soundtrack that everyone has heard before.