Latest news with #WCHS
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washington High students participate in local Student Government Day
WASHINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — It's wasn't your typical school day for students from Washington Community High School. Instead of sitting in class, students got a taste of what it's like to work in local government during the city's annual Student Government Day. More than a dozen students spent the day learning how local government works. They took on roles like city administrator, police chief, and even mayor. They started with an orientation at city hall, then toured the departments they were assigned to shadow. 'So we bring the students together so they can learn about how different organizations within the city work together,' said Washington City Clerk Valerie Brod. Students participated in a mock city council meeting where they tackled a real-world issue: what to do with the Jefferson Street Public Works Building, which caught fire about a year ago. They discussed the pros and cons of whether to abandon, reconstruct or upgrade the building. 'I thought it was pretty interesting. I definitely think that it was the best idea to tear it down and then rebuild it and try to keep some of the historic aspects,' said WCHS sophomore Charlotte Maston, who played the role of city administrator for the day. Brod said it's a valuable experience for students, especially those interested in a government career. 'So for them to understand the importance of how the city operates so that when they can be an informed voter, when they do vote, I think it's fantastic. It's great to hear their creativity, maybe think outside of the box like solutions that we might not have thought of,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Golden Lion Award: Nina Nguyen
WEBB CITY, Mo. — There's a new winner of the Golden Lion Award, a brilliant student with a big heart for helping others. 'I'm a senior and I go to Webb City High School,' said Nina Nguyen, WCHS senior. In fact, senior Nina Nguyen is a lifelong Cardinal. This has developed into a hectic schedule of class time, homework, and extracurriculars. 'I'm really involved in show choir and theater and a little bit of speech and debate,' said Nguyen. And Nina likes to give back. She's a National Merit Finalist and likes to coach other students in math, English, and science. 'I was part of the Academic Help Center, during the study hall homeroom block, a group of the upperclassmen go and tutor for anyone who needs it,' said Nguyen. She's also helped out with the Webb City High School Link Crew. 'Link Crew or freshman orientation, where we show them around, take a tour of the school, and have ice breakers, kind of get them settled in to start high school,' said Nguyen. Nina has mentored younger students and volunteers her time to help out in summer school classes. And she especially likes to spend time on Carterville projects. 'For the Summer Fun Day, which is an event that the park committee does, and I used to be a student of Carterville Elementary, so that's kind of my home as well, even though we were only there for two years,' said Nguyen. More Golden Lion Award winners Webb City High School teacher Stacy Stockton says the best thing about Nina is that she's always willing to pitch in when there's a need. 'Had a concession stand. She was the only student who showed up to work the concession stand. And instead of complaining, she did double the work that the other kids should have been helping with. It's remarkable to have a student who just will volunteer for whatever needs to be done,' said Stacy Stockton, WCHS teacher. Nina is already working toward her May graduation, getting ready for the transition to higher ed. 'I plan to attend Missouri, Southern State University for secondary mathematics education,' said Nguyen. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
A White Couple Who Adopted Black Kids And Used Them As Slaves Was Sentenced To Hundreds Of Years In Prison
The fate of a white West Virginia couple, who were found guilty of abusing their five adopted Black children and forcing them to work as "slaves" on their farm, has been revealed. On Wednesday, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 63, was sentenced to 215 years in prison for forced labor, human trafficking, child abuse and neglect, and violating the children's civil rights, according to a video of the sentencing hearing from the Kanawha County Circuit Court trial that was posted online. Jeanne was found guilty of all 19 counts against her. Her husband, Donald Lantz, 62, who was found guilty of 12 out of the 16 counts against him, including human trafficking, child abuse, forced labor, and neglect, and was sentenced to 160 years in prison. This sentence comes after a Kanawha County jury found the pair guilty Jan. 29. 'You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know is 'almost heaven,' and you put them in hell,' Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Maryclaire Akers said during sentencing, per WCHS. 'This court will now put you in yours. And may God have mercy on your souls, because this court will not.' The couple reportedly adopted the five children from a shelter for unhoused and at-risk youth in 2018. At the time, Jeanne and Donald were living in Minnesota and moved to Washington State, and then later to Kanawha County, West Virginia in 2023. In October 2023, they were arrested after a neighbor called Child Protective Services alleging that two teenagers, 14 and 16, were locked in a shed on the couple's property in Sissonville. Other neighbors claimed the children were 'forced to perform farm labor and were not permitted inside the residence,' according to court documents obtained by WCHS–TV. When police responded to the home, the two children (brother and sister) in the shed reportedly had no running water and a portable toilet, and had been "deprived of adequate hygienic care and food." The children said they slept on the concrete floor and were locked in there for 12 hours before being found. Another girl was also found in the home. Charleston's WCSH–TV reported that when Donald arrived home, he had another child with them and led deputies to a friend's home, where the fifth child was staying. A 16-count indictment was filed against the couple. 'It alleges human trafficking, human rights violations, the use of forced labor,' Judge Akers said, according to West Virginia Metro News. 'Human rights violations specific to the fact that these children were targeted because of their race and they were used basically as slaves from what the indictment alleges." The oldest child referred to the couple as "monsters" in an impact statement, while another child said, 'I will be something amazing. I will be strong and beautiful. You will always be exactly what you are — horrible.' The youngest child said they were "taught to laugh at" their siblings while witnessing the abuse. Both Jeanne and Donald were ordered to pay $280,000 in restitution apiece to the victims. You can find more information about this case here.
Buzz Feed
24-03-2025
- Buzz Feed
A White Couple Who Adopted Black Kids And Used Them As Slaves Was Sentenced To Hundreds Of Years In Prison
The fate of a white West Virginia couple, who were found guilty of abusing their five adopted Black children and forcing them to work as "slaves" on their farm, has been revealed. On Wednesday, Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 63, was sentenced to 215 years in prison for forced labor, human trafficking, child abuse and neglect, and violating the children's civil rights, according to a video of the sentencing hearing from the Kanawha County Circuit Court trial that was posted online. Her husband, Donald Lantz, 62, who was found guilty of 12 out of the 16 counts against him, including human trafficking, child abuse, forced labor, and neglect, was sentenced to 160 years in prison. 'You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know is 'almost heaven,' and you put them in hell,' Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Maryclaire Akers said during sentencing, per WCHS. 'This court will now put you in yours. And may God have mercy on your souls, because this court will not.' The couple reportedly adopted the five children from a shelter for unhoused and at-risk youth in 2018. At the time, Jeanne and Donald were living in Minnesota and moved to Washington State, and then later to Kanawha County, West Virginia in 2023. In October 2023, they were arrested after a neighbor called Child Protective Services alleging that two teenagers, 14 and 16, were locked in a shed on the couple's property in Sissonville. Other neighbors claimed the children were 'forced to perform farm labor and were not permitted inside the residence,' according to court documents obtained by WCHS–TV. When police responded to the home, the two children (brother and sister) in the shed reportedly had no running water and a portable toilet, and had been deprived of "deprived of adequate hygienic care and food." The children said they slept on the concrete floor and were locked in there for 12 hours before being found. Another girl was also found in the home. Charleston's WCSH–TV reported that when Donald arrived home, he had another child with them and led deputies to a friend's home, where the fifth child was staying. A 16-count indictment was filed against the couple. 'It alleges human trafficking, human rights violations, the use of forced labor,' Judge Maryclaire said, according to West Virginia Metro News. 'Human rights violations specific to the fact that these children were targeted because of their race and they were used basically as slaves from what the indictment alleges." Fox 11 / WCHS Eyewitness News The oldest child referred to the couple as "monsters" in an impact statement, while another child said, 'I will be something amazing. I will be strong and beautiful. You will always be exactly what you are — horrible.' The youngest child said they were "taught to laugh at" their siblings while witnessing the abuse.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
White couple who forced their adopted Black kids to work as slaves sentenced to over 100 years
'May God have mercy on your souls because this court will not,' a judge told the white couple convicted for abusing adopted Black children. A white West Virginia couple has been sentenced to hundreds of years in prison after being found guilty of forcing their Black adopted children to work as slaves on their farm. Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 63, and Donald Lantz, 62, adopted five children between the ages of 6 and 16 from a shelter for vulnerable and homeless youth. Prosecutors say the couple specifically targeted the children because of their race before subjecting them to years of horrific abuse. The children were forced to perform hard labor, deprived of basic needs, and treated like 'slaves.' The abuse came to light in October 2023 after a concerned neighbor called Child Protective Services. When deputies arrived at the couple's home in Sissonville, they found two of the children, ages 14 and 16, locked in a shed with a portable toilet and no running water. The children told authorities they had been locked inside for 12 hours and were forced to sleep on the cold floor. Court documents described the children as wearing dirty clothes, and the 14-year-old boy had sores on his feet. A 9-year-old child was found locked alone in the house, while Lantz later returned home with an 11-year-old boy and led deputies to a 6-year-old girl who was staying with family friends. A 16-count indictment accused Whitefeather and Lantz of human trafficking, forced labor, and violating the children's civil rights. Although the couple pleaded not guilty, they were convicted in January. 'You brought these children to West Virginia, a place that I know as 'almost heaven,' and you put them in hell,' Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge MaryClaire Akers said during sentencing, per WCHS. 'This court will now put you in yours. And may God have mercy on your souls because this court will not.' Lantz was sentenced to 160 years in prison after being found guilty of human trafficking, forced labor, child abuse, and neglect. Whitefeather received 215 years after being convicted of the same charges, with an additional conviction for violating the children's civil rights. The couple was also ordered to pay $280,000 in restitution to each victim. During the sentencing, Whitefeather reportedly apologized to the children, saying: 'I just want the court to know that I have made mistakes. I am very sorry for that, and I love my children. I have never, ever done anything to my … children to harm them intentionally. Children, I do love you,' per NBC News. The children, who now describe their former adoptive parents as 'monsters,' are looking ahead to a brighter future. 'I will be something amazing,' one of the children said, per the news outlet. 'I will be strong and beautiful. You will always be exactly what you are — horrible.' More must-reads: George Foreman, heavyweight boxing legend, dead at 76 A woman was killed by her husband during a conjugal visit at a California prison, according to officials In latest blow to Tesla, regulators recall nearly all Cybertrucks
