Siegel Stars' Football Season Ends

By Caleb Gillespie

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The fifth-seeded Siegel Stars Lost 35-0 in the TSSAA State Football Playoffs to the one-seeded Oakland Patriots on Nov. 15 at a cold, rainy and packed Patriot Stadium in Murfreesboro.

            This was the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The first contest occurred in week three of the District 7-AAA regular season and was contrastingly different. The quarterback of Siegel High, Dakota Crane, led a valiant charge in the eventual 35-25 loss. That was a regular season game though, and it had been played on the Stars home field. An unbeaten Patriots team at home in the playoffs is an entirely different beast.

            The Pats came out and dominated the first half. Both the defensive and offensive line had their way with Siegel’s front. Dakota Crane and the offense could not get anything going, as Oakland’s d-line was practically living in the backfield. DL Jack Jones and Kevin Yates were able to overpower the Stars with brute strength and experience, as they have District 7-AAA all season. After an early rushing touchdown by Oakland’s Fred Wade, and an interception by the Oakland defense that killed a Siegel drive, helped the Patriots jump out to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

            The second quarter featured more of the same from the Patriots. The offensive line created huge holes for Patriot running back Fred Wade to abuse, and Fred Wade did. The Patriots run game would amass almost 200 yards rushing in the first half, with the majority of yards gained by either Wade or quarterback Rhett Stacey. Siegel would go on to fumble the ball to kill another drive, as Oakland went to the half up 28-0.

            The second half was slow and defensive. Both teams’ kept making great defensive plays until late in the third, after Dakota’s second interception set up a Rhett Stacey rushing touchdown to make it 35-0 Patriots. Both teams would go scoreless in the fourth, and that would stand as the final score.

            Oakland would wind up amassing 299 rushing yards on 30 carries. That’s 9.69 yards per carry, or basically, a first down every time the Pats rushed the ball. It is a sad send-off for the seniors on the Stars team, as they had battled up and down all season, but hung tough throughout. Not many thought this young team would make the second  round of the state playoffs, and it is a testament to the players’ will that they advanced that far.

            “It’s disappointing,” Coach Greg Wyant said. “These kids have had a great season regardless. Oakland’s an outstanding football team.”

The Stars finish the season at 8-4, with a 3-3 District 7-AAA record. Coming in to the season, the Stars were replacing mega-talent quarterback Brent Stockstill and wide receiver/defensive back Taye Martin, two of the best to ever play for the stars.

            “The kids stepped up this year,” Wyant said. “We have such tough games week in, week out in the District, some radio host for 104.5 the zone compared the division to the SEC, and it felt like it this year.”

 With so much youth gaining valuable experience and the continued progression of the Stars Knox brothers, the future looks bright for the stars.

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Chance the Rapper Returns to Nashville with Headlining Tour

By Eryka Hammonds

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--- Chance the Rapper performed for a sold-out crowd on Nov. 26 at The Cannery Ballroom in Nashville as part of his first headlining show, “The Social Experiment Tour”.

Chance the Rapper is an independent Hip-Hop artist from Chicago who recently rose to fame following the release of his second mixtape “Acid Rap” in April. He has toured with artists such as Mac Miller, Childish Gambino and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Chance has recently appeared on the cover of Dazed and Confused Magazine as well as Complex Magazine. The success of his mixtape led to Chance embarking on his first headlining tour.

Chance first came to Nashville in July as part of Mac Miller’s “Space Migration Tour” performance at Marathon Music Works. This performance at The Cannery Ballroom is the 20-year-old artist’s second time performing in the city.

The “Social Experiment Tour” is an energizing show that had the crowd fighting to get to the front of the stage. DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn, also Chicago natives, were featured as opening acts.

Also featured in the show was trumpeter Nico Segal. Segal has recently toured with Grammy-Award-winning artist Frank Ocean and released his own project “Donnie Trumpet”, which features a collaboration with Chance the Rapper.

Peter Cottontale, who produced some of the songs on “Acid Rap,” also supported Chance during the performance as his keyboardist.

It was announced by The Cannery Ballroom through twitter that more than 100 tickets were still available for the show at 8:50 a.m. Nov. 26. Tickets sold out hours later.

Doors opened at 7:15 p.m. for the 8 o’clock show. Fans had no problem waiting in the cold to secure their spot in the line that had wrapped around the venue by 6:30 p.m.

During the show, Chance performed many crowd favorites from his “Acid Rap” mixtape, including “Juice”, “Pusha Man”, “Cocoa Butter Kisses”, and “Everybody’s Something.” He also previewed some new material for the sold-out crowd.    

“The concert overall was something that couldn’t be put in words,” said 19-year-old Alexis Morrison from Nashville. “It was such an energetic, mind-blowing experience. I swear Chance gets better every time I see him.”

The successful show left fans wanting more. Chance the Rapper performed a four-song encore before ending the concert. After the event, fans waited outside of the venue until 1 a.m. Wednesday to take pictures and get autographs from the young star.

“Can't believe 1,100 people in Nashville came out and rocked a […] sold out house with me tonight- so much love,” Chance posted on Facebook after his performance.

For more information on Chance the Rapper or “The Social Experiment Tour”, you can go to www.chanceraps.com.

For more information on The Cannery Ballroom venue, you can go to www.thecanneryballroom.com.

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MTSU Junior Seeks to Bring New Radio Station to Murfreesboro

By Elizabeth Tullos 

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Middle Tennessee State University junior Asher Johnson filed an application with the Federal Communication Commission on Nov. 14, to create a new non-profit radio station in Murfreesboro, Tenn. with the call letters WOAH-FM.

           Johnson, 27, discovered the once in a lifetime opportunity to bring a new non-profit community radio station from a "Democracy Now!" podcast on a new filing window with the FCC. Amy Goodman of "Democracy Now!" reported on a new campaign to challenge corporate media, led by the Prometheus Radio Project. The Prometheus Radio Project serves as a non-profit organization formed in 1998 to promote community radio stations across the country. Goodman reported that the FCC announced a short filing window for new low-power FM radio stations across the country. 

            “I heard about it and realized I had to do this," said Johnson. “The opportunity was right there. They announced the filing window in July, and I only had three months to get everything ready. I never heard of this happening before, and I knew if I didn’t do it, nobody would. During this

process I haven’t heard of anyone else in the state doing this.”

            Johnson began the filing process in August 2013 by forming a new non-profit organization, the Stones River Community Media Alliance in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The state of Tennessee officially recognized the non-profit in August, allowing him to continue the application process with the FCC. Johnson submitted the final paperwork in November 2013, and he expects to receive a reply from the FCC as early as December 2013.

            Once the application is approved, Johnson intends to begin working on establishing the station as soon as possible. The Stones River Community Media Alliance has already scouted a location, acquired a radio transmitter for the station, and begun benefit shows to raise funds for the station. Johnson intends to establish the station on the historic Murfreesboro downtown square as a publicly accessible building where the Stones River Community Media Alliance can host local music showcases, art classes, workshops, and record music.         

            “This is a new way of looking at radio, a way our generation has never seen,” said Johnson. “We grew up with radio being this thing in the air where pop music was played. We can use radio to build our community and create culture on a small scale.”

            The Prometheus Radio Project assisted Johnson and many other applicants across the country on filing the paperwork for new low-power FM stations. According to Johnson,  establishing a new Murfreesboro-centric radio station is similar to the Greek Myth of Prometheus. Instead of taking fire from the gods and giving it to mankind, Johnson wants to take the airwaves and give Murfreesboro citizens their own voice.

          Johnson is a junior at MTSU studying Music Business in the college of Mass Communications. He expects to graduate December 2014.

            For more information on the Stones River Community Media Alliance, go to http://www.srcma.org

            For more information on the Prometheus Radio Project, go to http://www.prometheusradio.org

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The East Nashville Harvest Hey Day Benefits Community

By Andrea Cano

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Local businessmen organized the “East Nashville Harvest HeyDay” on Nov. 23 where local artists showcased their products and helped raise funds to benefit the East Nashville Cooperative Ministry.

Travis Brown and Todd Reynolds are the co-founders of East Nashville events and the organizers of “ The East Nashville Harvest HeyDay.” This was a family-friendly event that took place in the new retail location, Shoppers on Fatherland, where people had the opportunity to buy the products of local artists and vendors while benefiting the community.

More than 15 local businesses assisted with the event, sharing their talent and dedication to the community of East Nashville. Amog those businesses were Formed by Nature Finished by Hand, James Vavra Wood Turner, and East C.A.N.

Formed by Nature Finished by hand is a local company that fabricates unique jewelry pieces by combining different types of stones and also recycles glass bottles and turns them into bases for lamps.

Other interesting work at the event were created by James Vavra’s, a respected wood artist who turns pieces of wood into classic items and decorations for the home. A quality that distinguishes Vavra’s work from other artists is that all his wood comes from different areas of Tennessee, including his own backyard.

The East C.A.N was also present at “The East Nashville Harvest Heyday.” This organization located in East Nashville rescues dogs and serves as a temporary home until they get adopted.

Some 100 percent of all monetary donations, food donations, and the silent auction sales went to East Nashville Cooperative Ministry, a local Christian nonprofit organization that improves the lives of people in the East Nashville community.

Brown and Reynolds are the owners of ABODE and Baxter Bailey & Company located at Shoppers on Fatherland.

“As business owners ourselves, we strive to support shop local campaigns to help keep our local business owners growing,”said Brown.“Giving back is at the core of our personal businesses, so partnering with community organizations for our events is second nature.

East Nashville Events also held the first  "Boofest" in October, 2013, a Halloween- themed celebration. Events in Nashville will also have  the "Winter Wonder Fatherland" on Dec. 14, 2013, which will donate gift card and cash donations to "The Good Sheperd Children's Home."

"We are dedicated to providing venues for crafters and artists to showcase their unique products", said Brown.

For more infomation about future events please visit http://www.eastnashvilleevents.com/

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Kappa Delta Sorority Builds Confidence With Their Philanthropy

By Jessica Thomas

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Delta Pi Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority hosted the annual “International Girl’s Day” event on Nov. 16 when 154 Girl Scouts from across the Southeast visited Middle Tennessee State University.

“International Girl’s Day” is a day created by Kappa Delta sorority on behalf of the Confidence Coalition. Its purpose is to encourage confidence in girls of all ages around the world. Kappa Delta takes this day to interact with its philanthropy Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and teach them that “Girls Can Do Anything”, the holiday’s slogan.   

Girl Scouts from all over Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia traveled to Murfreesboro to participate in this year’s themed event, “Building Confidence and Muscles.” The girls were broken up into groups and sent to timed stations. At each station, Kappa Deltas did a short workout followed by a game with the Girl Scouts. Each Girl Scout who participated received water and their choice of an apple or a banana at the end of the event.            

“The purpose of this event was to install confidence in young girls and encourage healthy habits,” said International Girl’s Day Appointed Officer Cayla Newman. “I think my favorite thing was just seeing all the girl’s faces and knowing that planning this event for them was worth it, because they had a lot of fun with it all.”

Newman has been planning this event since June, and she worked on it up until the day of “International Girl’s Day.” Newman wanted this event to leave a lasting impression on the Girl Scouts.

“Kappa Delta sorority is passionate about helping girls discover that they can be confident,” said Newman.

“Did you know that 74 percent of girls say they are under pressure to please everyone?” said Martha Clark, a mother of a visiting Girl Scout. “I’m just so glad that Kappa Delta [sorority] takes the time out to be here for these girls and teach them that they are perfect just the way they are.”

There is no news on next year’s “International Girl’s Day” event at this time. However, all of the women in the Delta Pi Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority encourage all to come to their next philanthropy event “Wing Fling” on March 29, 2014 to ask them personally how they promote confidence in young girls.

To find more information on what other chapters did for “International Girl’s Day,” visit www.confidencecoalition.org/nationalgirlsday.

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