James Monroe High School - Echo Yearbook (Fredericksburg, VA)

Page 30 text:

VHSL first place gives incentive for Spotlight Little does the average JM student realize the thought, the planning, and the work that went into producingThe Spotlight before it reached his hands. While the pressure was on, all efforts were furiously directed toward the staff’s goal: a monthly newsmagazine which reflected fairly and realistically life at JM. There were, of course, lighter moments, few of which seemed humorous at the time. They included !Xj? ! from Mr. Massey, !Xj? ! back from Jacque . . . haunted typewriters which devoured Byrd’s pen . . . dis¬ secting and shrinking people in photographs . . . hearing Mr. Hall, Mr. Waddell, and Mr. Burch curse and growl as staffers would creep in with a late pass or an excuse for yesterday’s absence . . . Friday and Saturday night dates with The Spotlight . . . pleading with John, Mudd, and Doug to please take that one last minute picture . . . kissing the ground that the hard-working ad staff walked on to get the ads that would pay all the bills . . . watching Anita pull out her hair over checks that she didn ' t receive and balancing the books with Mrs. Wright ' s . . . massaging the fingers of the staff’s solitary Saturday typist Nancy—her reward will come in another world . . . hearing Diane’s cries when she was faced with the problem of eight and sixteen typewritten page stories from Mary and Mike—somehow they fit . . . and knowing that steady Savage would lead them through with his story and photographs (thanks Ernie and Tricia) on time. All and all, The Spotlight was a worthwhile experience, even if the staffers don’t get to prepare for Mrs. Casserly’s chemistry tests or to complete Mr. Nichol ' s trig homework as they had planned during the news¬ paper’s third period. Attending newspaper workshops in Charlottesville and Richmond helped to improve their journalistic skills, although King Kong battling Godzilla, UVa’s rugby team, and attempts to outwit the advisers were welcomed distractions. Winning First Place in the Virginia High School League Publications Contest provided needed inspiration. Spirits were further lifted by five exciting, fun-filled days in New York in March at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Convention. A w JA: I M ' 1 12 f jSmni ' % ' rrf 1 g£fk jSBWEBSS j WFjM S vr JJR RhE ¥[[ ' ‘Bn 1st row: Jeannette Rowe, Girls Sports Editor; Tom Savage, Boys Sports Editor; Diane Eager, Managing Editor; Jacque Mason, Editor-in- Chief; Byrd Oliver, Copy Editor; Joyia Zapantis, Feature Editor; Greg Surles, Layout Editor; 2nd row: Kathy Kubel, Mary Snead, Cathy Powell, Circulation Manager; Anita Terrell, Business Manager; Lynn Hamner, George Christoforatos, David Rouse, Melinda Treutle; 3rd row: Donna Kennon, Cindy Boumans, Nancy Smith, Annette O’Connor, Doug Kisamore, Chief Photographer; John Nunnally, Judd Skinker, Priscilla Carney, James Wise, Xavier Richardson; 4th row: Berdette Church, Mike Harper, Ruth Gray, Therease Freiling, Laura Elliott, Beth Merchent; 5th row Ernie Singleton, Martha Scott, Susan Hearne, Margery Vanover, Denise Willetts, Kathi Easley, Pat Pritchett, Noli Thomas. Not pictured: Donna Mitchell, Advertising Manager; Tricia Jagoda, Steve Steigleder, Darcel Snellings, Tina Egge, Business Adviser; Rodger Massey, Editorial Adviser. 26

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On Women Waiting For The Train Fat, juicy old women wrapped in stockings and arthritis sit impervious waiting for their lives to parade before them A batallion of prescription lenses perched on large, sensuous noses, black handbags clutched in wrinkled, twitching fingers, and soft double-chins wrapped tightly in flimsey scarves Widows with rotting, congested bodies, Unaware of the world Cuddling themselves Plump fruit ready to be plucked From the bench of life Waiting for the train Ruth Gray Class of ' 74 Basilisk forms creative outlet Through the efforts of the Basilisk staff a showcase for creative writing is formed. Any student can submit work through his English teacher or directly to the staff. The pieces are judged and then prizewinners selected.. Art work is combined and the finished product printed. iff,, ; ri i L - . § Basilisk: 1st row: Martha Scott, Roger McAughan, Janna Berry, John Atkins. 2nd row: Derrick Jones, Cathy Jones, Susan Milstead, Priscilla Carney, Marie Mitchell, Greg Anderson. 3rd row: Tony Walker, James Wise, Mary Snead. 25

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Staff support sparse for Echo nitty gritty Nobody knows the troubles we have seen . . . the nights we have stayed . . . the copy we have written . . . the tales we have told . . . Yet through laughter, headaches, and missed deadlines, Monroe Echo 1974 did emerge. Some will never forget weekends and endless nights spent at school. For most, year¬ book was just another activity to list behind their names. Frustration was working out of two boxes and a drawer in a file cabinet in the math office, no official school time for yearbook, no darkroom, one broken cropper, long-standing debts, an inex¬ perienced staff and a new sponsor who demanded reporting. Somehow the faithful few survived four nights a week of picture cropping, headline count¬ ing, layout drawing and still going to school. Needed reinforcement was provided by the support of community advertisers and by student support of the GAA and yearbook sponsored fifties sock hop. Enthusiasm was rejuvenated when the ’73 Echo received a first place rating in VFISL competition. 10:00 pm and a typical evening: Staff faithfuls Jay Flippo, Robert Cox and Raylene Decatur struggle with football layout. Later Sponsor Sharon Richmond suggests rewording of a cutline to Robert while Raylene waits for moral support. 1st row: Raylene Decatur: Editor-in-Chief; Theresa Soulier, Maria Snellings, Linda Ventura, Robert Cox: major staff: Pam White: major staff: Cindy Graves, Portia Payne, Joanne Wheeler, Susan Scaife; 2nd row: Kay Bays, Dolores Skinner, Annette O’Connor, Martha Scott, Nina Stevenson, Jean Chamberlain. Edith Isgrig, Diana Payne, Susan Hearne, Wendy Snyder, Lynn Hamner Business: Kathie Dane: major staff; Sharon Richmond: sponsor; 3rd row: Tony Harmon, Mike Perry: business; Paul Schutte: business; Angela Ryan, Renee Sullivan, Greg Surles, Marie Mitchell. Not pictured: Robert Belman: business; Nancy Dawson. Jay Flippo: major staff; Richard Pierson: business; Melinda Treutle: major staff; Mrs. Lil Maynard: sponsor; Mrs. Becky Sutherland: sponsor. 27