I Am Second, is a book that has had a huge impact on me, in a very positive way. First and fore most it places God first. Secondly, it has given others the ability to tell their personal encounters with God and how it changed their life around for the better. It also has a website where you can view the courageous people telling their stories so that it's more personable for you. Last but not least, the I Am Second website gives you the chance to take daily challenges and possibly become a group leader. I Am Second is a very empowering and positive book. I would recommend it to everyone, especially those who don't know God as first in their life. I know I am second!

Placing God first is the main focus of I Am Second. I can remember when I saw myself as being first and no one was above me. This way of thinking only worked for so long. I had to go through alot of ups and downs before I realized my way didn't work; I started reading self-help and spiritual healing books. As I started reading books I gained more knowledge, but was still stuck in the same mind-set. One day I picked up the book, I Am Second. Since I finished this book I haven't thought the same, fore God is first and always will be.

In this book it tells the powerful stories of real people, just like you and me. They tell of how their lives were going great, or so those on the outside thought. They tell of what was going on inside their lives that outsiders couldn't see. The stories range from racism, divorce, fame, drugs and alcohol, rejection all the way to sex and prostitution. These are real people with real stories, that will grab your attention, from famous people all the way to ordinary, unknown people that others may not even notice.

With the book comes a website that you can also join. It is www.iamsecond.com. This allows you, the reader, to be able to watch the many stories online. You can get a more personable feel from this, because you are watching the person tell their own story. From the book it could be anybody telling the story, but watching the videos you actually get to see the raw emotion of that person while they are telling their personal stories.

Once you're on the website you also have the chance to take daily challenges and even possibly become a group leader. The daily challenges have opened my eyes to see things more clearly. They challenge you to watch selected videos and pray for specific things for the day. It also challenges you to send the video for the day to someone who comes to mind, once you're done watching it. This is a very positive way to become involved in someone's life that might not reach out to you.

I am very blessed and thankful that I was introduced to this book. If not, I would have never chose to be selfless and place God as number one in my life. Also, it now allows me to reach out to others that need guidance, who may not have courage to open up and ask for guidance. I Am Second is a very powerful and positive form of outreach. I highly recommend everyone read this book!

--AMY BLACK--

The worse experience I ever had in my life is with Dave the monster. It all started the day Dave kicked me out of his class. He told me that I was not welcome in his class anymore. That night I started having nightmares that he was chasing me. Then everyday that I went to school he followed me around everywere I went. Then it went from bad to worse. he started calling me every morning between 6 and 8. He would ask me if I wanted to come back to his class and I would say yeah and then he'd laugh at me and say to bad and then hang up. Then I tried not answering the phone when he called, but he kept calling till I answered, and he would always say the same thing. Finally I went to the police and told them what was going on. I filed a complaint against Dave and he was arrested. He was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Since then life has been good for me. They replaced Dave with a new teacher and I got let back in the class. I hope I never have any experices again That I had with Dave the monster.

Lance Patton

Right or Wrong?

Many people have different opinions on how to deal with murderers. My own opinion is that they should be  punished! Some crimes should have death penalty; where as others may need a different approach. There are many who have a mental condition, that drive them mad. Also consider different age groups should vary on how they are delt with. There are many things to think about when dealing with murderers.

There are assorted murder cases you should reflect.Some crimes are more serious then others. They also have different consequences, for example rape, physical abuse, and being involved with gang activity. All these resaut in the death pentalty or a life time in jail. My opioun is that this is right. They deserve punishment.

People who have unstable brains are also involved with murders. I feel these people should be put in a high security mental hospital. Insanety is not something to joke about people are really sick and need help. They shouldn't be roaming free out and about. These people are confused and should be handled differently.

Now we must think of the different ages. I don't think you should punish a five-year-old the same as a fifty-year-old. Childerns mind maturity is lower and should be delt with to there understanding. Punish the person appropriately.

Crime, there are so many different ways to handle it, and speculate about. Consider what types of crimes and cases that should be on death pentalty or a life sentence. Think about the mental stability, and ages. There should be disiplen in the right way.  -Kelsey-

Kimberly Shigley


                   Being a good employee takes a lot of effort. You have to always show up when you are scheduled to and be on time. Employers don't like it when their employees are always late everyday; you might get fired because of it. Getting your  work done and staying out of trouble are major pluses. Employers will not hire you if you just waste time not doing anything. By doing these things right you will become a good employee.

My experience with Gustav

          Have you ever been in a hurricane? Well I have, many times. I have lived in Louisiana all of my life, until I moved to Kentucky in 2011. The last big hurricane I was in was Hurricane Gustav.

          It was the second most destructive hurricane in the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm was the seventh tropical cyclone, third hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the season. Gustav triggered the largest evacuation in United States history with more than 3 million fleeing.

          It formed on August 25, 2008, about 260 miles southeast of Haiti. It strengthened into a tropical storm that afternoon and into a hurricane the morning of August 26. Later that day it made landfall near a town in Jacmel. It inundated Jamaica and ravaged Western Cuba and moved across the Gulf of Mexico.

          When Gustav was in the Gulf it gradually weakened because of the high winds and dry air. It weakened to a category 2 hurricane late August 31, it remained its strength until it make landfall on the morning of September 1 near Cocodrie, Louisiana.

          By that time my family and I was already prepared for the storm. We went and helped a friend of the family with her house and land hoping to survive the hurricane. She lived with her daughter who had Down Syndrome. She asked if we would stay there and keep them company, so we did. People were calling Gustav “the storm of the century … the mother of all storms.” Everyone we knew was worried and was evacuating. But my father is a firefighter and we stayed to help others who were in need.

As the hurricane hit Plaquemine, it was rough. The wind was up to 115 mph and the rain was coming down hard. We watched as trees fell over and roofs flew off houses. One significant thing I remember is our neighbors shed tumbling through his yard and across the road into the river. The lady we were staying with was terrified. As her house shook the lights went out and her back porch tore into pieces. When everything calmed down we turned on the radio and listened to all that had happened.

         In the state of Louisiana, 34 parishes were declared as disaster areas. 48 deaths were blamed on Hurricane Gustav. Five were due to falling trees, two due to a tornado, and the rest were indirect deaths. In Baton Rouge, wind damage was the worst of any storm in memory. The damage was so severe to effectively shut the city down for over a week. Most schools were closed for a week, and many for two or three weeks while power was restored. Around 1.5 million people were without power in Louisiana in September.

           We were left without power for three weeks, living off of water and MRE’s. It was so hot and there was no way of getting cool while helping others save their homes and cleaning their yards of debris. The roads were covered with trees; it took all day and night clearing them out.

         When it was over we went to our house to see what damage was done. Our home was torn in two, it was no longer livable. My husband and I moved in with his family until we moved into our own house. My mother and father went and lived with a friend of theirs. Debris cleanup was still ongoing at the end of 2008, four months after the storm had passed.

Written By: Heather G.

A teacher who has made a difference.

          Sherry is an instructor at the Adult Learning Center in Ashland, KY. She always has a warm welcoming smile upon entering the classroom. Sherry has her own unique way of helping you understand the material that is being taught.  Sherry believes in her students,more than some believe in themselves. No matter what they may be intimidated by she has the knowledge of many subjects. What is most important is that she has the ability to reach the minds of her students with her caring personality and just being herself.

We thank you Sherry for putting in the time an effort for your students.We also thank you most of all for just being you!!!!!!

                                                     Emma & Cheryl

On October 7th my family and I went to Europe. We left at 11 o'clock at night and got there at noon the next day. From the airport we took a cab to the hotel. We were in London for2 days before we met the tour guide and went on to Wales. We went on a ferry from there to Ireland for 6 days. We took a buggy ride one day. One day we went threw the woods were they said leperchauns were seen. We spend 2 days in Dublin. Then we took a ferry back to Wales. From there we went to Liverpool England.We stayed in the hotel were Roy Rogers stayed at. We spend 4 days there. One day we went to the highlands. It was real cold up there. While we were there we saw the lock ness monster. Nessie din't move are anything. We took some pictures of the lock ness. The next day we went to Glasco were we stayed 2 nights. One night we went to a show were they danced on stage. They played the vilon and everything. They had men dancing skirts. They served chicken and potatoes for dinner. After we left Glasow we went to York. While I was in York I ate at a Pizza Hut. It was forever before I got waited on. After I left York I went to Leeds were I spend the night. The next day we came back to London. That evening we went to a pub. We all laughed and talked and drank. When we got back to the hotel I hung out in the bar with the ozzies. The next day we went to the airport and flew to NYC. On the plane I had to sit next to a strange woman. After we landed in NYC I was glad to be back in America. I will always rememer this trip for as long as I live.

by Lance