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For Christie Gangwes, her brother James’ death is crystal clear in her mind. Her stepmother delivered the shocking news
to her.

“She said, ‘JR’s been in an accident.’ I said, ‘Is he okay,’ and she just looked at me, then said, ‘He’s dead.’ I just didn’t know where to go from there,” said the senior at Kickapoo High School.

Her brother and three of his friends hit high speeds at the top of a notorious, steep hill just southeast of the city. They lost control, the car hit a tree and split in two. All four boys perished. Mehleena Edmonds and Alex Tabor covered the one-year anniversary of the crash in late January
for HTV.

The boys lost in the wreck, in addition to Christie’s brother, were James Robinson, Zach Whittet and Young Kim. Hillcrest senior Stuart Bailey could have been the fifth victim. He was close friends with Robinson.

“The day of the accident he called me when they were going to the car, and I was supposed to go with them out where they were going. But there was no room in the car,” said Bailey.

Teens all over the Ozarks were shaken by the news of the crash. It made national headlines. For Highway Patrol officer Dan Bracker, it was an all-too-familiar scenario as hilltopping, despite its risks, claimed four young lives.

“Teens have to see it and they have to live it, and sometimes it takes one of your friends being killed to really understand it,” said Bracker.

All four boys had their seat belts buckled, but the impact was too severe. Bracker said, “There are some crashes that are just not survivable, and that was one of them.”

Edmonds and Tabor wanted to cover the story of the crash’s one-year anniversary, and hoped it would serve as a reminder to teens to drive safely and avoid hilltopping. They visited the site of the accident, and found the tree where friends and loved ones continue to leave momentos today, 12 months after the wreck.

The story features an original song by Christie, sung acapello, and dedicated to the memory of her brother.

“Never thought I’d have to say goodbye/In my mind all I ask is why/My heart is breaking, every morning just awaking, knowing you’re not doing the same”

The broadcast facility at Hillcrest has been under renovation since last summer, and some students are wondering if there really is an end in site.

“I think it’s ridiculous that things aren’t done, and I don’t think they are going to be done by the time we graduate,” said junior Chelsy Rea. “I think it’s a big letdown for our seniors, because they were really excited about having the studio finished for their senior year. We have to wear coats and layers in our edit bays.”

Ben Ballhorn, a member of the class of 2009, confirms Rea’s thoughts about the lack of heat.

“It’s an uncomfortable environment to work in when you have to drag in a space heater so you can edit.” The heating unit is supposed to be ready to install the third week of February, according to adviser Dave Davis.

“I have asked and asked, and that’s the latest information I have,” said the long-time HTV adviser. “We have been extremely patient. It’s obvious we have been at the bottom of the list, but I do know there are people working on the things that need to be finished.”

The long-awaited trophy case, which will house numerous national awards, is in place, but has no shelves or lighting. That has kept the staff and Davis from using the HTV office, a frequent site of small group meetings, and the home of the HTV Hall of Fame.

Staff reporter Olivia Tinkler said, “It’s a shame to have a nationally known program that can’t display its awards. You walk through the hall to the HTV room and there are cardboard boxes and trash laying around.”

When the facility improvements are completed, an Open House is planned for current students, past students, parents and supporters.

“I just hope we get to have it this school year,” said Tinkler.

From a small Missouri town to a big-time football program. That’s the journey Tyler Evans is taking in the fall when he leaves Strafford, MO for Norman, OK, where he will join one of the nation’s top teams.

Reporter Rob Lyons found out just how big you have to be to play on the offensive line for the Oklahoma Sooners when he stood next to Tyler during the taping of a feature for “HTV Magazine.”

“He 6-feet six, he weighs 305 pounds, and they want him to put on another. I’m glad I’m not lining up against him,” said Lyons, who played football for Hillcrest.

The story reveals how proud the town of Strafford, and the school are of their “gentle giant.” People in the community told Lyons, “He’s a very, very nice guy.” “Down to earth.” “He wouldn’t hurt a fly at all.”

But the Sooners are expecting him to play hard, and hit hard. Evans says he’s ready to do just that, especially when he considers the caliber of the players he will be surrounded by.

“I’ll be blocking for (OU quarterback) Sam Bradford next year,” said Evans, wearing a Sooners tee-shirt, and smiling from ear to ear.

The fact that Evans is going to play college football is a bit of a surprise when you consider how unaware he was of the sport, and his potential, when he started at Strafford.

“The coach told me I had the body build and opportunity to play college football. I was like, ‘College football. What the heck is that?’”

Now he knows about the sport, and what he hopes to accomplish as he becomes a part of it.

Evans said, “I want to help Oklahoma to another national championship.”

“You know, girls, they think it’s just for attention, just to look good for the dance, but it’s a real problem.”

Katie, a 17-year-old, knows first-hand about the myths surrounding eating disorders. On the next edition of “HTV Magazine,” she shares her story to help others who are facing similar battles.

“There was definitely a time frame of sadness, where nobody knew how to react or what to do, or what to say,” Katie told reporter Chelsea Peebles. “It shouldn’t be so taboo, because it’s a real mental
disorder. It effects the way you think, and your body, and how you act. It’s something that has so many more facets than the one label.”

Eventually Katie and her family made the decision to seek treatment, and that put them in touch with the McCallum Place in Webster Groves, MO. That’s where she worked with professionals like therapist Stephanie Whitney, who discussed some of the misconceptions surrounding eating disorders.

“You can’t tell whether or not someone has an eating disorder just by looking at their body shape or size. Whether you’re underweight, overweight, or at a normal weight, you could be at risk of dying from the disease,” said Whitney.

“Outsiders see it (eating disorders) as a problem for this person, but for that person, it’s a solution for them to another problem,” said Lynne Stark, who has been treating eating disorder patients for 20 years.

She often uses therapy dogs like “Flash,” who was at the shoot, to provide special care. “He sees a patient who cries and he walks over to comfort them,” said Stark. “Young ladies I can hardly get a word out of, if I sit and talk with Flash present, they just feel a lot more open, a lot more comfortable.”

Katie’s story has a happy ending, but she knows the challenges will continue now that she has completed daily sessions at the McCallum Place. To meet those challenges, she makes sure to keep her life structured, taking care of herself each day.

“Things get so hectic in the real world. You need to stay true to your recovery,” said Katie.

See this story on the brand new edition of “HTV Magazine” beginning February 12 on SPS channel 81.

Many classes paused to watch democracy in action on January 20 as Barack Obama was inaugurated in Washington D.C. He became the 44th man to take the oath of office.

“I felt like I was watching history in the making,” said freshman Nicholas Nutting.

Hillcrest principal Jay Rush gave teachers the green light to have their televisions on so students could watch the event, which was seen around the world. Unfortanately, reception is a problem with many of the TVs at HHS. Some entire hallways were unable to view any network coverage of the swearing in. For those who did watch, it the ceremony made an impact.

“I thought it was interesting because I’ve never seen one,” said freshman Rebecca McKnight. Freshman Dylan Walker said, “I thought it was interesting, but I didn’t much care for President Obama’s speech.”

The speech ran only about 20 minutes, much shorter than inaugural addresses of presidents past. He had strong words for American’s allies, and enemies, and voiced his belief in country’s ability to overcome its current problems. After his address, the huge crowd that blanketed the mall in front of the Capitol moved to get in position for the parade in honor of the new administration.

The inauguration was broadcast on every network, and coverage continued into the night as America’s peaceful change of power took place for all to see.

As a student standing in the lunch line at Hillcrest said, “It’s really goes fast. I almost missed it.”

Edward “Skiff” Skiffington was there for some of defining moments of World War II. His mind remains sharp, and his memories are specific and clear. The 90-year-old is the subject of a profile by reporter Lauren Dorris on the next edition of HTV.

Serving in the Third Army, Skiffington marched across France, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and liberated a concentration camp. He has little patience for those who claim the Holocaust never happened.

“The German soldiers had fled, and when we approached, all these people came out, and they were so emaciated. They had apparently not been fed, and they looked so weak. We went over to these bulidings that had these ovens, and there were human beings in the ovens, being burned to death. An oh, did that upset us,” said Skiffington.
The famous speech by General George S. Patton, given to the Third Army in 1944, was immortalized on screen by actor George C. Scott in the film, “Patton.” Skiffington heard the speech first hand.

“He got out of his jeep and stood up. He had these two pearl-handled pistols. We were all sort of shaking, because here he was, here was the man,” said Skiff. “He was unbelievable. I had the opportunity to see him frequently….he was always on the road. He’d get out of his jeep and say, ‘Go get the SOBs, go get them, kill them.’ I saw him frequently in that pose.”

FIghting didn’t end for Skiff when World War II was over. He served in Korea for five years. There he came closer to death than he had in the previous war as his outfit took fire from both sides of a road, which ran between two hills. His unit was able to find cover in the ditch just in time.

After serving for 25 years, Skiffington, originally from Massachusetts, settled in Springfield and taught some business classes at Southwest Missouri State Unversity.

Dorris says the story should interest teen viewers.

“How often do we get to hear someone who was there talk about what World War II was really like? We were lucky to spend some time with Skiff, and his story should really help teens understand the circumstances he faced,” said Dorris.

The first Special Edition since 2005 was a first for “HTV Magazine.” It was all about staff members sounding off.

Students wrote and produced eight new commentaries about eight different topics, and each segment continued the tradition of making a serious point in a humorous way. This meant inserting short scenes that provided laughs and emphasis for varoius talking points.

Some student “commentators” took on social topics, others turned the focus inward, and all of them put their unique spin on the new segments, which ran from 90 seconds to over four minutes.

“We try to keep our regular opinion pieces to about two minutes, but this was a special show, and as long as the pacing was good, students had the freedom to go longer,” said HTV adviser Dave Davis. He said the commentaries all begin with a script, followed by decisions about those creative inserts HTV is known for.

The first commentary shown on “HTV Magazine” came in the fall of 1993 when reporter Valarie Poindexter complained about school lunches. Just under 100 commentaries have been featured on the program since then, according to Davis, who says the staff tries to come up with a new opinion segment each month. The original inspiration for the features came from a little-known Fox newsmagazine called “The Front Page,” which aired in mid-90s for a short time.

What were the topics on this special edition? Mehleena Edmonds touched on the importance of manners. Curtis Thomas explained to all how big a wimp he really is. Rob Lyons talked about the challenges of growing up with three sisters. Olivia Tinkler admitted her last name had caused her plenty of grief. Chelsy Rea proved being a junior was actually better than being a senior. Chelsea Peebles exposed the high school rumor mill. Caleb Hames took fair-weather sports fans to task, and Fran Olive and Sarah Skinner teamed up to examine painful break-ups.

The show will debut on SPS channel 81 on January 8, 2009. Mediacom recently moved all access channels into the 80’s. HTV had been shown on channel 25 for over ten years years after running on cable 19 orginally, beginning in 1989.

Cold weather did not put a freeze on school spirit during LPA Week 2008.

This was the first time in memory that the “Ladies Pay All” dance and celebration has taken place just before the holidays instead of after. “We had to do the dance in December because there are no Friday night home basketball games in January or February,” said Student Council President Fran Olive. The LPA dance traditionally follows a varsity home game at the end of the week.

The festivities included a spirit week with different themes, such as “Pajama Day,” inspiring each day’s wardrobe. At the annual LPA assembly the choir performed two numbers, including the “fruitcake song” with its unique choreography as vocalists acted out the lyrics of each verse. In the end, the group put all of it together for a energetic, gyrating finish.

The LPA court was introduced, including eventual King Logan Counts. He was flanked by attendants Curtis Thomas and Rob Lyons. As Assemblies Commissioner, Lyons was especially busy keeping the show moving along. One of the highlights was a funny “dating game” parody video, produced by Mehleena Edmonds, as the three King candidates answered questions about why students should vote for them. It was projected onto large screens hanging above the gym floor.

One of the more bizarre elements of the program included males dressed as females, vying for the crown in a ficitional pageant. In addition to the lighter parts of the assembly, the winter sports teams were introduced, and everyone was reminded of the varsity basketball game, which Hillcrest won over Willard the night of the big dance.

The LPA dance is the school’s winter formal, although it’s considered more of a “semi-formal” affair compared to Homecoming in the fall and Prom in the late spring. The theme was “A Night In the Amazon,” so jungle and rain forest decorations abounded.

The next dance for the entire student body will be the “generic dance” later in the spring.

The HTV spring break trip became a little more “real” for the staff when they got their first look at the bus they will call “home” for 11 days in March.

“White Knight Coaches” out of Columbia, MO is providing the transportation, and driver Bob Veach brought the large bus to Hillcrest Friday morning for an inspection by the HTV gang.

“It was awesome,” said junior Chelsy Rea, who added that the leather seats, plasma screens, and overall size of the bus impressed her.

“We could not be happier with what we saw. Now we just have to keep working on our plans, and hoping this trip comes together,” said HTV adviser Dave Davis. The “Where In the World Is HTV?” trip is awaiting final approval from the school district. Fundraising is well underway, and the itinerary is set. Stops will include Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, Charlotte, Nashville and Memphis, with plenty of side trips along the way.

The trip will be a true “convergence” experience as the staff shoots three video stories a day to upload to the Internet. In addition, blogs and photos will also be uploaded by the staff of 19 so family and friends around the country can enjoy the tour via the HTV website.

“The kids have to be ready to work fast in the field, get what they need, and find time on the bus and in the hotel to put it all together. It’s far from a lazy vacation, because so much work will be taking place all the time,” said Davis, who adds that it will probably be HTV’s most educational spring trip ever.

Davis got the idea for the trip a year ago as he thought about doing something special during HTV’s 20th year of production. Now there are some obstacles to overcome, but everyone is pretty confident the trip will go off as planned.

“Today helped us realize what a great opportunity this could be. I’m sure we’ll get it done,” said senior News Director Mehleena Edmonds.

For the tenth time since 1996, “HTV Magazine” has earned the prestigious “Pacemaker” award.

The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) considers the Pacemaker its highest honor for overall shows. Kathy Huting, the NSPA Contest and Critique Coordinator, said, “The Pacemaker goes to the schools that set the tone for the entire nation. It’s honors the very best in scholastic broadcasting.” There were three winners this year, including Davison High School in Michigan, and McKinney High School in Texas.

“HTV Magazine” now has ten Pacemakers, the most won by any show in the nation. Washington High School (2006) and Liberty High School (2004) are the only other Missouri schools to win the honor.

A reception in the HTV studio gave students, parents, alumni and staff the chance to celebrate, and to congratulate the students who produced HTV’s winning entry. Graduated staff members Lillian Olive, Rachel Miles, Kendra Weatherford, Charles McDonald, Lauren Bishop, Jordan Fielding, Erin Freeman and Julie Wootton attended the party along with current staffers. The Pacemaker honor caps an incredible year by the 2007-2008 HTV staff, which also won the school’s third student Emmy, and fourth straight “STN Excellence Award,” which is the nation’s other top prize for overall shows.

Longtime HTV adviser Dave Davis said the Pacemaker awards are special because, after ten of them, they point to HTV’s consistency.

“We are proud of the awards, but mostly we are proud of what they mean. Our show has established a level of excellence that so many kids worked hard to achieve. I think this speaks to hard work, to teamwork, and to keeping the focus on telling great stories,” Davis said.

The reception was supported by the Hillcrest A+ program, and took place in a studio space that is being renovated. The improvements will wrap up in Demember, so there is one more party in the planning stages.

“Sometime early in 2009, we will host an open house, and hopefully a lot of alumni and supporters will come see what they made possible since we began HTV 20 years ago,” said Davis.