April 7, 2006 Vol. 34 Issue 12
Editorial: Legislation may change licenses
By: Haley Barton, sr.
For the Editorial Board
Teens in Kansas may have to change their driving habits and
expectations if proposed legislation is approved.
The proposal is more restrictive than past requirements. Among other changes,
teens in Kansas would not be eligible for a full license until age 18 instead
of the current 16. Changes occur throughout the different types of licenses.
For farmers’ permits, some regulations would not be changed. Drivers
would still have to be be at least 14, but no older than 16. A proposed
change
is that teens would be required to actually live on a farm to obtain the
permit, not just work on one. One thing that would be unchanged on the instructional
permits would be that a student may drive at any time when accompanied by
a licensed adult over 18, but a student would neet to be 15 years old instead
of 14.
Cartoon by Haley Huffman
Restricted licenses would remain the same in the aspect that
they must have held an instructional permit for six months and drive with
supervisor for at least 25 hours. They would only be allowed to travel unsupervised
to and from work and school, but a proposed change would require it be held
from ages 16 to18. Currently, it can be held from 15 to 16 year olds. Another
proposed change for restricted license would be that teens would not be allowed
any passenger under the age of 19, except for family members, until the driver
is 17 years old. Currently, there are no passenger-age restrictions.
For non-restricted licenses, it was proposed that at age 18, a driver is eligible
for a full license. Currently, teens may receive license at age 16. It has
been said, however, that students who graduate high school before their 18th
birthday, may take their diploma to the highway patrol to be allowed to receive
their license.
A hearing has been held for these proposals, but nothing is official quite
yet. The request for changes has been floating around the legislature for
a little over a year now and probably will not be finished for another year
at the least.
New requirements understandable
(PRO)
By: Robbie Ball, sr.
Reporter
While many people may see changing the minimum age to get a
drivers license as a nuisance, I believe that the legal driving age of 16
should be changed to 18. From the ages of 16 to 18, kids should only be able
to use farm permits and restricted licenses. By doing this, students can get
good quality time in learning to drive and will not be rushed into driving.
Some people jump straight into a vehicle when they turn 16 and drive away
with hardly any or possibly no driving experience. This change in law will
save kids and parents a lot of money because they will not have to pay for
wrecks or speeding tickets.
Many kids are just not responsible enough to be driving at the
young age of 16. By the time they turn 18, students have taken large steps
toward becoming an adult and have learned to accept responsibility.
The longer young drivers have to have an adult driver with them to observe
them, the better prepared they will be when they finally get their licenses.
Adult drivers can share their experiences with the new drivers and can help
to teach younger drivers the rules of the road.
Another big impact of this law will be that families will have more money.
They will not have to pay for an extra vehicle or gas. This saved money will
be a big help for paying for high school expenses, including letter jackets,
class rings, proms, and graduations. The money can also go toward college
funds.
Changing the age limit to 18 would help take away a lot of the stress and
worry that all parents feel when their children go to other towns with their
vehicles. Parents will not have to buy cell phones for their kids since they
are not going to be out of town, yet another place to save money.
Even though I did not agree with the law at first, after seeing it from the
parents’ view, I can see why people want to change the age limit to
18. The law change will save a lot of money, cause less worry for parents,
and result in more experienced teenage drivers when they can finally get behind
the wheel on their own.
Changes
can make life harder (CON)
By: Melany Megenity,so.
Reporter
Many teenagers are pretty bummed over the fact that a change could occur if the State raises the legal age of drivers’ license recipients. A lot of young adults look forward to finally being able to get their license and being able to drive themselves around and chauffer their friends around to school and shopping malls instead of having to take the famous ‘foot express’ or get a ride from family members.
Turning 16 means that students can do a lot of new and sometimes
better things. Being able to drive holds the meaning of growing up and becoming
more responsible. Turning 16 also means that individuals are that much closer
to 18, so they can move out and become more independent by living on their
own.
It is practically pointless to change the age requirements of driving. So
why is the change being proposed now? Some people say it is because many
teenagers are not responsible enough to drive at 16 or to be able to keep
themselves and others safe while driving on the road. It is true that there
is no way possible that a 16 year old is going to watch everything on the
road like they are supposed to, but there is not any one adult that watches
every single thing either. It is impossible to watch everything that is
required while driving, which is why many accidents occur anyway.
Sometimes the only way that people learn to gain responsibility is to learn
it the hard way. Almost everyone in the world that has driven has either
wrecked or is going to wreck. For this reason, lawmakers should let students
learn sooner, instead of putting lots of responsibility upon them all at
once.
In some cases, 16 year olds can be found more responsible than some adults.
By the age of 18, teenagers are starting to move out into their own places
and gain control over many more aspects of their lives by paying bills,
raising families, getting jobs, and many other things. Therefore, there
is practically no point in waiting around until the age of 18 to drive,
because then students would have to face too many changes all at the same
time.
Review:Dining options plentiful
for prom
By: Erica Greve, sr.
Feature Editor
In small-town Kansas, it sometimes may be difficult to break
up the fast food dinner routine because there does not seem to be many other
choices. With prom on the way, many dates and friends may be considering eating
out on the big night. The truth is that although restaurant variety here hardly
parallels that of larger towns and cities, there are nice dining options available
just a short drive away.
For delicious Mexican food at an affordable price, El Pueblito in Chanute
is a great choice. Whether eating their delicious quesadillas, taco salad,
or their white cheese dip, an all-time favorite of mine, diners are sure to
enjoy the authentic flavor and friendly atmosphere of the place.
Estrellita, the Mexican restaurant here in Humboldt, is a dining favorite
for members of this community. It offers a variety of Mexican dishes in large
enough portions to fill a person up. This is great for anyone who does not
want to travel far for dinner.
In Iola, El Charro is another Mexican option. The décor is exciting,
and the food is wonderful and very affordable. This is a great place to eat
for dates and special occasions.
Lovers of Chinese food need to look no further for all their favorite flavorful,
authentic Oriental-style dishes. New China on Main Street in Chanute is a
delightful restaurant, perfect for a date, a one-on-one dinner with a friend,
or even an outing with the whole family. It is almost sure to become an all-time
favorite of any diner, due to the friendly service and wonderful food.
The Safari Bar and Grill in Chanute is a relatively new restaurant in the
area, and it offers an exciting atmosphere and delicious food. This restaurant
would be perfect for a group of friends out on the town or even for a date.
If money is a problem, a clever idea would be to head to one’s favorite
fast-food restaurant with a group of friends, get the meal to go, and eat
outdoors at the park if the weather is nice. A picnic is a nice opportunity
to do something different and fun for dinner, and it can save a lot of money,
as well.
What do you think about changes to drivers' licenses?
 Paige Murrell, fr., “I think they should leave the age at 16.” |
 Zach Crays, so., “It is not fair, and it should probably be lowered to 15.” |
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