Since the beginning of time, the act of killing for survival has been severely normalized. Meat mass-produced in factories, farms created just to raise cows for slaughter, to then be served on a plate for our country to be fed. But not everyone chooses to follow this “meat-eating” path. Many people have decided to eliminate meat from their diet completely.

The smell of freshly inked paper flooding your senses, the brush of the pages against your fingertips as they fly from the back cover to the front. The book feels so right in your hand, the coffee sitting comfortably in your other, and you feel utterly at home. As you peruse the aisles of books at your disposal, all the genres you could think of, you don’t have a worry in the world. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that after reading that, you’re thinking of one of the most commonly known bookstores. Probably Barnes & Noble. Maybe even Books a Million.

Out in the Midwest, gas station food is quite the norm. Here in Oklahoma, we have one of the best gas station chains in the country, Quik Trip. For the past 6 years, we have consistently enjoyed the delicacies inside QT Kitchen and their snack center. We aimed for people's favorites, then went after the irrelevant snacks. This taste test was definitely a trip to Flavour Town. Join us in telling you about our time there. We have ranked 12 items from Worst to Best, so you can know what to and what not to get. All photos credit to Quiktrip.com.

While walking down Jenks Main Street, you can find the River City Trading Post. The trading post looks simple from the outside, but when you step through the door you are transported into a maze full of everything you could possibly imagine. The first thing you see is a hallway of brightly colored ornaments hanging from the ceiling. Christmas music plays from the speakers immediately putting you in the mood for the holidays, which is a great thing because the River City Trading Post is an excellent place to find unique and handmade gifts at a range of prices.

High school is an exhausting, time-consuming, and just plain crazy four years of life that most people go through. Balancing school, homework, a good social life, family, etc. takes a toll on many students, however, Jenks senior, Whitaker McManus, has persevered. In the hustle and bustle of high school life, McManus has been a prominent example in the Jenks community of what it means to excel academically while spearheading numerous clubs here at Jenks.

Those who like Halloween. Those who are interested in the story behind the mask. Have you ever wondered what it is like to work behind the scenes at a haunted house? Just for you, here is the other side to the terrifying, spooky stories we hear this time of year.

As a senior in high school, career fairs aren’t the most exciting thing in the world. But at Jenks, seniors can experience helicopter landings, live paintings and zoo animals at their career fair. The long process of finding speakers, food and transportation is difficult but worth it for the students.

Fluorescent lighting burns your eyes, hundreds, thousands, of new faces, floating around you occasionally bumping your shoulder muttering a quick “sorry” as they rush into small rooms that decorate the beige-brick walls. A dull panic sets in your chest, anticipation pulsing through your blood, millions of questions and concerns crowding your mind all at once.

People either love kids or hate them. While loud, opinionated, sticky, and gross, they can also be sweet, playful, and caring. It takes a special person to be able to take care of kids, especially ones that aren’t even their own. Our Child Development class takes a dive into the development of children and possible job opportunities.

It’s a place where curiosity and community come together, where the pursuit of knowledge takes on an exciting twist. If you haven’t heard of Jenks Community Education, you’re in for a unique surprise. A hidden gem designed for Jenks’ lifelong learners, Jenks Community Ed. serves as an opportunity to visit the district buildings after hours to participate in fun, collaborative-driven activities.

On October 13th, Jenks students watched in anticipation to see who would be bestowed the honor of becoming Homecoming’s new reigning royals. Seniors Eduardo Pereyra and Magnolia Crissup share their experience on winning the homecoming crowns for the 2023-2024 school year. The title of homecoming king and queen is thought to be an honor at Jenks High School, and these two spectacular seniors took the honor with enthusiasm, joy, and humility.

If you are a Jenks Lifer, or even just a student who frolicked in the hallowed halls of a Jenks Public Elementary School, you’ve done the Jogathon. A day out of the year where logoed shirts are passed out beforehand, and bananas and apples are passed out after. Somewhere along the way in the middle, kids are unleashed like the running of the bulls. But instead of the narrow streets of Pamplona Spain, grades k-4 run the gravel track, getting a mark on their hand for every lap they run.

It's been a month since Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters retweeted a Tik-Tok by a Union librarian that snowballed into threats of violence towards the teacher and the school itself, with even more still pouring in. After spreading to other Union schools, as well as the Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) district, Union’s 8th grade center received a new threat on the morning of September 14th, over three weeks after the initial threat.

Have you heard the news? Jenks, America is growing!

Almost everyone in town can say that they have seen at least one sign advertising “new construction” or “coming soon,” read an article, seen a post on social media, or heard a rumor or two.

Jenks High School has always had a “Tradition of Excellence,” proudly displaying the achievements of its students, complete with an ACT and AP score wall, and National Merit plaques. But how does pursuing that “excellence” affect Jenks students?

Dysgraphia is one of the most undiagnosed learning disabilities, but House Bill (HB) 2768 is working to change that, by transforming Oklahoma's education system to empower students with learning disabilities. HB 2768, introduced in January 2021 and passed in May 2022 represents a significant milestone in Oklahoma's education system. This legislation took effect September 1st, 2023, and aims to better support students with learning disabilities, specifically those with dysgraphia.

Have you ever questioned your safety at Jenks High School? With all of the violence and frightening events happening in our world, the administration at Jenks has been forced to make numerous safety improvements to our school. But how is one of these changes, having teachers monitor the bathrooms, affecting our students?

The Gathering Place is a 66.5 acre park next to the Arkansas river, with basketball and tennis courts, along with interactive landscaping, and playgrounds. But questions still remain on how this place was thought of? Who was the true creator? And how does this truly benefit the community?

It’s been nearly 4 years since a play has been added to the shows the Jenks Theatre Department cycles through every few years. The last play to enter the cycle, The Grapes of Wrath, ran in the fall of 2019.

Entering the new year, students at Jenks High School took notice of a subtle but powerful addition to their school IDs. Alongside their picture and grade level now displays the number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as well as the Crisis Text Line. The new attachment has sparked several discussions among students and teachers about the ongoing mental health epidemic that lingers throughout schools.