Fair brings back memories

By Samantha Blankenship
BSU Journalism at the Fair

On our way home from running errands most the afternoon, a gentle breeze wafted in through the window. A subtle scent of popcorn and elephant ears was escorted to my nostrils as we drove by. The screams, the laughter and our favorite songs booming from the rides met our ears. My younger brother and I looked over at each other and started begging our parents to go to the fair.      

These memories swamped my mind as I attended the Delaware County Fair for the umpteenth time. Only this time was different. I was there as a spectator, a photographer, a “girl on a mission.” I caught fleeting moments of giggles, pure childish happiness as I weaved my way through the crowd taking everything in. The more I photographed these families having so much fun, the more I longed to be young and carefree as the children were. I longed to ride the rides like before.         

On the third night, I did just that. I left my camera in my car that night, brought my boyfriend along with me and rode my favorite ride: the Scrambler. From there, we tackled the Tilt-A-Whirl, which left me in a fit of giggles as the cart whipped around in a circle. Countless rides followed. However, one ride I refused to entertain the idea of riding—until one 10-year-old girl I met while I was a server at Pizza King asked if I would ride something with her.

Not wanting to disappoint her, I agreed, only to find out what I had agreed to was the Freak Out: a ride that spun fair-goers around in a circle while simultaneously rocking back and forth like a giant pendulum, the very one I had refused to ride. A chill went down my spine and I shivered. I didn’t know if it was from my nerves or the cool air that always follows the setting sun nipping at my fingers, legs and nose. I watched the ride swish back and forth, a silent ticking as we waited in line for our turn.

It came too soon. We filed onto the platform, took our seats and pulled the protective bars down over our chests. Inside, I was screaming at myself. What have I gotten myself into? The platform descended with a long mechanical grinding that caused more fear to creep into my mind. We spun, picking up speed and moving in the same pendulumesque fashion I had observed moments before. The music I listened to before was a dull murmur compared to the pounding of my heart.          

I found myself laughing. Tears welled in my eyes and were dried by the wind rushing into my face. A sensation of weightlessness coursed through my body like the undercurrent of a creek after a heavy rainfall, fast and only felt. The adrenaline rush was overpowering and left me wanting more when the ride finished.

Transforming others one strand at a time

MUNCIE, Ind.– Foil crinkles as Kaley Cargile, 22, places it beneath a strand of her hair. She grabs an applicator and brushes a dye mix that smells of bleach onto the foil and the strand of hair. Once finished, she folds the foil toward her roots. Cargile continues this process until all her hair is wrapped in foil.

            Cargile has been coloring her hair every color possible in the hair color world since she was in middle school. Every few weeks, she changes the color(s).

            Hair styling was introduced into Cargile’s life through her grandmother, who was a hair stylist. After spending years doing her own hair, as well as her friends’, Cargile decided hair styling was her calling. “It definitely takes a certain personality… an outgoing, nice person who can talk,” Cargile laughs.

            Following graduation from Southside High School in 2010, Cargile attended Amber’s Beauty School for two years to receive her cosmetology license.

            “I just like transforming people and making them feel their best,” Cargile says, “and honestly, I’m nervous… until I’m done, but I feel good making them look better.”

            Cargile rents a chair at Famous Hair on McGalliard in Muncie, and would like to have her own studio or saloon in the future.

Lemonade for Winter

      A Portland girl is selling lemonade at various locations, including the Tractor and Engine Show this August, for a good cause.

      Leah Hummel, 10, lit up as she explained her plans of helping

“Winter,” a dolphin in Clearwater, Fla., by selling lemonade and bottled

water for a second time. Winter is the star of “Dolphin Tale,” a movie

depicting the struggle of a young dolphin that lost her tail; Winter

receives a prosthetic replacement through the help of strangers.

     Leah played “Dolphin Tale” at the show last year in an effort to let

people know about Winter’s story as she sold lemonade in 3-ounce

cups for $0.25. Hummel said she just wanted to make $20 and she

would be happy. Raising $85 in a few days, the total donation was

brought up to $111. Roughly 340 cups of lemonade were sold and the

remaining $26 came from Hummel’s family when they arrived in

Florida.

     Jennifer Hummel, Leah’s mother, said her daughter wanted to hand-

deliver the donation to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where Winter

calls home.

     The CMA staff invited Leah and her family to the aquarium that day

for free. Leah was able to see Winter, who waved at her.

Sights set higher, Leah hopes to raise even more for Winter this year

by selling a larger cup of lemonade for a slightly higher price. Also, for

her birthday in October, she has asked friends and family to make

donations for Winter instead of receiving gifts.

     Hummel had been interested in dolphins when she learned about

them in school, but they soon became her favorite animal when she

watched “Dolphin Tale.” Hummel decided immediately that she

wanted to sell lemonade and donate all of her earnings to help Winter

     “I would say, just from an outside view, she’s become more

environmentally aware … I’m proud of her,” Jennifer said.

     On Friday, Aug. 23, Hummel will be moving her lemonade stand to a

friend’s house, 169 W. Golf Brook Dr., Portland, and on Saturday, Aug.

24, Hummel plans to sell lemonade at her home at 1108 W. High St.,

Portland.

Ball State enters the Red Zone

MUNCIE, Ind.– College students across the nation are at a higher risk for sexual assaults and an increase in alcohol consumption during these first six weeks of classes, known as the Red Zone. This increase is thought to be a result of the newfound freedom freshman student’s encounter.

      Ball State health educator, Julie Sturek held a press conference discussing these two topics within the Red Zone: how to party smart and how to communicate consent.

       If you’re planning on partying, party smart. Sturek says eat a meal before drinking, know who is throwing the party you’re attending, know your limits, keep track of your drink cup at all times, know how you’re getting home afterwards, give someone a time to expect you home and tell them where you’re going, remember it’s okay to say no to someone offering you a drink, and trust your instincts. Because of alcohol consumption, individuals are at a higher risk of being sexually assaulted due to lowered inhibitions.

       There are three elements of consent: verbal, sober, mutual. The verbal element is where a “yes” must be heard; the absence of no does not mean yes. If a person is intoxicated, they are unable to give consent under the law. Consent must also be mutual.

       If you or someone you know is sexually assaulted, there are rape study kits available for free. However, these kits must be completed within 96 hours of the rape, though the victim has up to a year to decide if they would like to press charges. A rape kit can be requested at the campus health center, as well as local hospitals and clinics. The nurses who conduct these study kits are sexual assault nurse examiners who have more training than regular nurses. Even though these kits are available, a person should not be forced into having one done.

       “Rape is about power,” Sturek explains, “They [the victim] have already had their power taken away. Give them some power back. Let them make whatever decision they want to make.”

       Always be aware of the signs of alcohol poisoning if you or your friends are drinking. Some of these signs include vomiting while “sleeping,” not responding to shouting or shaking, unable to stand or be awakened, slow breathing, and a slow pulse rate. If any of these signs are evident, call police immediately.

       Roll the person on their side once the police have been called. Continually monitor them every 20 minutes and check that they’re still breathing and have a pulse. Do not put them in a cold shower or cover them with a blanket like myths suggest. Only cover them with a sheet and do not give them food or liquid.

       Police are trained to deal with drinking and sexual assaults. Ball State enforces the good neighbor policy and says not to worry about a misdemeanor about drinking; a person’s safety is more important.

       Party smart students. Be aware of the elements of consent and the signs of alcohol poisoning.