Smith Shines for Barbourville Cross Country

by Michael Smith

The Barbourville High School Cross-Country team just completed another successful season. Although the season ended well, the journey to that point was more difficult than normal. The first meet was held on September 12 at Lynn Camp High School and proved to be difficult for nearly all racers. The next three scheduled races were cancelled and the season looked shaky; however, by mid-October the races picked back up. All of the runners completed one race by the end of the season, which is required to compete at the Region 6 meet. 

The Regional meet was held at Wayne County’s home course on October 24. Multiple obstacles came up and the team only had two racers on that day: one boy and one girl. Lillian Partin raced in the varsity girl’s race and recorded her best time of the year. Stephen Smith raced in the varsity boy’s race and finished 9th and set a new school record time of 19:21.10. This was enough for Stephen to advance to the KHSAA State meet on October 31. 

Stephen competed in the KHSAA State meet and had a great race. He set yet another School record time of 19:13.45 and placed in the top third among all runners in the meet. After the race, coach Dave Nevels said,” I would like to thank all of the students, teachers/faculty, and parents for supporting another year of cross country. It’s been different and difficult, but we made it through.” Coach Nevels was very pleased with Stephen’s performance and cannot wait for another season. 

Volleyball Team Makes Great Strides This Season

 by Devon Messer

Photo by Chris Hammons

This season in 2020 the girls volleyball team played 18 matches total, with 5 wins and 13 losses. Considering that the team was very young overall and the program had not won any games the prior three seasons, this was a very successful year. The coach this year was Rachel N. Gibbs in her second year of coaching. 

The team's first game of this season broke their 60-game losing streak. This was an away game against Harlan County. The starting line up included Alexis Woolum, April Roark, Kailey Napier, Sydney Jones, Aubrey Woolum, and Tessa Hillard. The end score between Barbourville Independent and Harlan County was 3 sets won for Barbourville and 2 won for Harlan. The last determining set was 15 to 10. 

The district tournament game was their last game this season for the school and the seniors. They fell short and lost ending with an early season. Otherwise, many other games were canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Overall, the 2020 season was one of great improvement and a huge step forward for the BHS volleyball program.

"As Normal As Possible": BIS Virtual Learning from a Student's Perspective

by Morgan Mays

This school year has been like no other. Due to COVID-19, we had many different options for going back to school. For all virtual students, we are adjusting from the normal in-person class five times a week to distance learning. I am currently doing the all virtual schedule. A full day of virtual learning is very different from our daily school routines. However, our teachers and staff are working extra hard to make this time feel as normal as possible. 

The school day starts at eight o’clock. We are required to join the virtual classroom every day. Our teachers have done a great job of making accommodations for students both virtually and in the classroom. Once we join each class, we get started just as we would if we were at school. We complete any assignments that we are given and listen to the lesson plan for the day. This is the time where we get to interact with our teachers and students. We have open discussions about the content we are covering and ask any questions that we may have. Communication with friends is especially important during this time. We still talk and joke with each other to make the day feel as typical as possible. 

Overall, this time has been an adjustment for everyone. As the year continues, we learn every day how to adjust to our new normal. Virtual learning has come a long way since we first started. Our teachers have made it a priority to continue to teach and encourage us as we stay home. So even though this year has been far from normal, virtual instruction has been a great way to stay home and learn. 

Food Boxes Ease Burdens for Families

by Madi Fields

The looming pandemic has brought about many changes in families, leaving some caregivers without work and lack of resources to provide food and nourishment for their children. The Barbourville Independent School System, in collaboration with Save the Children and FRYSC, has been able to ease the burden by supplying weekly food boxes during the month of October. 

Each box contained 25 pounds of food, which was 10-12 pounds of produce, 5-6 pounds of protein, and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt along with a gallon of milk.. In total the School System distributed 288 boxes of food and milk each week The boxes were available to anyone in the community with no income guidelines or restrictions.

Dixon's Record-Breaking Season Sets New Standard for BHS Golf

 by Bville Buzz Staff

During the 2020 season, Charleston Dixon, a six year member of the Barbourville High School Varsity Golf Team and current senior, shattered several school records. 

Charleston’s season started off strong as he set a new school record by qualifying for his fifth consecutive spot to the All “A” State Golf Tournament. Charleston shot 36 in the All “A” Region Golf Tournament to earn his spot at state. 

At the All “A” State Tournament, held at Gibson Bay in Richmond, Kentucky, Charleston finished T-14 while shooting a 76 to claim another school record for best overall finish. At the Conference Tournament, Charleston finished as a member of the All Conference Second Team upon completion of all conference matches.

Charleston then competed at the Boys' 10th Region Golf Tournament in hopes of earning a spot in the state tournament. After a rainy finish, Charleston shot 78 and made his way into a three-way playoff to determine who advances to the state tournament. After battling for four holes, Charleston made a 35-foot putt for birdie to advance to the KSHAA Boys State Golf Tournament at Bowling Green Country Club in Bowling Green, Kentucky, ending a eight year drought of a member of the boys' golf team advancing to the state tournament.

At the state tournament, Charleston shot 82, marking yet another school record, and finished T-54, also a new school record. 

Charleston represents his school very well inside and outside of the classroom, and his golf season has set a standard for future BHS golfers.

First Day of School Brings New, Unique Challenges

by Lily Kate Hubbs

The first day of school often brings nervousness and excitement among teachers and students as they wonder what the new school year will bring them.  However, this school year brings a unique dynamic due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  While the students at Barbourville Independent started the school year virtually on September 9th, students were able to return to campus on a hybrid system on September 28th.  The Blue Team started on that Monday followed by the White Team on that Tuesday.  Even though things looked different for the students and staff, they definitely couldn’t “mask” their excitement to be back in school! 

Students Paint Ceiling Tiles in Arts & Humanities Class

by Chante Brown

Brandon Hillard’s Art and Humanities already conquered dance. It was only natural to conquer visual art next. Mr. Hillard asked his students what the year of 2020 meant to them, and with their newfound knowledge of expressionism, they painted their hearts out on the ceiling of his classroom.

Kylie Lambert

Sydney Jones

Hope Warfield

Jordan Collins

Chante Brown

Clarese Roberts

Madyson Lawson

Dustin ‘ Barney’ Liford

Lynsey Lozano and Logan Viars

Barbourville Soccer Recap

by Logan Bingham

During the 2020 Soccer season the boys finished with a record of 0-1-8. This was the best season so far for the team. The program is still being built after only its 3rd year. In one of their best efforts of the season, they came up short in the 13th region All “A” Classic in a shootout against Middlesboro.

Co-Captains on the team were seniors Michael Smith and Logan Bingham and junior Cayden Wagner. Scoring leaders were: Michael Smith (9, Stephen Smith (4), and Logan Bingham (1). Sam Buchanan finished 19th in the state among goalies for total saves with 154 total, averaging 17.1 per game.