Jillian O’Hara, Jeremy Balmenti, Alexa Schwerha, Chloe Halfhill are this year’s National Honor Society Officers
With turmoil raging across the devastated cities of Texas, affected by Hurricane Harvey, the students of Beaver Local High School’s chapters of Leo Club and National Honor Society are extending an invitation to the local community to open their hearts and support a collection of items to be sent to the ravaged areas. Beginning its reign as a tropical storm on the east of Lesser Antilles, the hazardous weather conditions induced a state of emergency as it developed into a tropical depression on August 23, advancing across Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Within 56 hours, Harvey had escalated into a category 4 hurricane that was being monitored to make landfall along the Gulf Coast of Texas on August 25th. Calculating winds of 130mph, Harvey interrupts the twelve-year buffer as the first major hurricane (category 3 or higher) to jeopardize the United States since Hurricane Wilma, who disrupted the southern sector of Florida in 2005. The prolonged stretch as Harvey traipsed his disastrous trek continued from August 26 to August 30th, therefore allowing catastrophic flooding to pour an everlasting flow of rain, writing it as the heaviest rainfall of any tropical cyclone in the United States dating back to 1955 with a 3.88 inch increase from 48 inches (recorded in Medina, Texas) to 51.88 inches (Highlands, Texas). Documented as the longest named, landfalling storm in Texas history, expanding a total time of one hundred and seventeen hours, the desolation and havoc being experienced in the southern United States is calamitous, and restoration of both physical and emotional necessities is dependent on the unity of every fellow American.
300,000 people without electric, 69 numbered casualties, 13,000 rescues, 30,000 dispatches, 700 businesses in ruin, 185,000 homes damaged, 9,000 homes demolished. As these statistics continue to rise, it is evident across the nation that action needs to be taken to provide a ray of hope in the lives of those victimized by the storm- and that is exactly what the students of Beaver Local High School intend to accomplish. Taking effect until September 18th, boxes will be placed in the main lobby, directly ahead of the front entrance, and Mrs. Ash’s classroom, in which those willing to donate hygiene and non-perishable food products can place their contribution. Recommended items are, but not limited to, blankets, pillows, bath towels, soap, shampoo, body wash, baby toys, socks, baby formula, diapers, cleaning supplies, and dog food. All of the donations collected at the school will be joined with a larger supply of necessities collected by Tiny Tots of Lisbon, Ohio, in which a truck will be driven to personally deliver the items to the designated towns. Active Leo Club member Kayley Black introduced the idea to the club as a way to unite the student body under a common cause, as well as issue a diligent approach to a national emergency. “I figured if the whole school got involved, then we might collect a good bit of stuff,” stated Black. In addition, Beaver Local’s National Honor Society expressed during the September meeting an interest in aiding those in Texas, as well. Both parties agreed to partake in the proposal as a team. “I loved the idea. It definitely gives us a chance to make an impact on the lives outside our community,” expressed National Honor Society President Jeremy Balmenti, “The goal of both Leo Club and National Honor Society is to give back to the community. We should look to team up with them again in the future”.
2017-2018 Members of The National Honors Society