Citrus County School District

"Where learning is the expectation and caring is the commitment."

Beast of the Southeast

By Student Writer: Ileana Demesa



Dragon Boat is a community annual event that serves as a fundraiser to support the Citrus County Education Foundation. The Dragon Boat Festival offers many activities, such as arts and crafts, boat racing, and food vendors. However, there is no doubt that the day's main attraction is racing the incredible Dragon paddle boats. The festival consisted of numerous teams participating in at least three rounds of racing, with the boat race average serving as their official time. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as "The Beast of the Southeast," is hosted at Lake Hernando Park. Teams race on a 300-meter racecourse, with an optional 2000-meter race for the top 5 teams. The Dragon Boat Festival date was selected to be celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar on November 2nd, 2024, as dictated in Dragon Boat tradition. More than 5,000 people participated last year, with more than 86 teams setting a record for this event.

Lecanto High School had great success this year. In the finals of the Community division, "Lecanto Girls Weightlifting" placed second in the 10-person boat at 2:03.77. The Student Government and International Baccalaureate, returning for their fifth year, placed second in the 20-person boat. 

"I have volunteered at Dragon Boat since 2022 and have loved it. When I started, my friends and I discussed it and decided to leave our comfort zone and paddle. I have not stopped since. It was probably one of [the most fun] experiences during my high school career, and I will do it next year," Addison Otten, junior, said.

Students learn every year that Dragon Boat is fun and can be spontaneous, letting contestants’ step onto the water with no idea how to paddle but follow the lead of those around and have a great experience.

"We did not really prepare for the race, but in between races [Nevaeh Recta], our team captain, would try to teach us the better rowing techniques and shift the things around to be more comfortable," said Joshua Sevilla, senior.

Every year, students continue to come back to experience the traditions of the Dragon Boat. Over 45 Lecanto students enjoyed the food, the community, and the fun. The Dragon Boat race sparks the competitiveness in participants and brings out the best in them. It teaches teamwork and lives up to the Lecanto motto of achieving greatness together for every Panther, every day.

"My favorite part was seeing us win together 'cause we were not doing so well in the first two races, but we kept getting better each time, worked together, and eventually got second. So that was pretty good," Sevilla said.

Dragon Boat is a fun, enjoyable experience, with many returning yearly to submerge themselves in the fun and competition. The annual event is an unforgettable time to have, leaving everyone satisfied. 

"I want to thank the Lecanto sponsors, Mrs. Rausch, Dr. Shidner, and the Wyatts, and the other Lecanto staff that organized the teams and cheered us on. We have the best staff ever,' said Neveah Recta, Senior.

"It was my senior year, and I have been doing it the past two years, and all of it was fun, so I just wanted to do it again," said senior Jamie Lin.

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Crystal River High School Veterinary Assisting Academy

By Student Writer: Makayla Butler 

Crystal River High School has a program called the Academy of Health Careers. The Academy had 5 different pathways: nursing, biomedical, veterinary, dental, and EMT. One of the career tracks available is Veterinary Assisting. 

During a student’s time in the Vet Assisting program, they will learn the steps needed to be working in the field. Almost every week, for at least one day out of the week, there are multiple different canine “friends” who join the class. The freshmen Veterinary 1 students get to work hands-on and practice the proper techniques to take a blood pull. Though they may not actually be pulling blood, it is still an amazing learning experience. The experience prepares the students for skills they need for their future veterinary careers. 

Students recently learned about the process of euthanasia and the human-animal bond. For people who can relate, the loss of a pet is an emotional event. The veterinary students learned ways to help someone in the grieving process, such as teaching them how to cope. The human animal-animal bond is also important, since pets have a large factor in our everyday lives. A lot of people treat their pets like family members; they sleep with you, travel with you, or are close to you in general. 

As many of you know, the holiday season is coming up, which means the vet clinics are packed with more people. There are many life-threatening risks during Christmas time, most of it having to do with holiday decor. The tinsel on trees is a big concern for those with pets who have eating problems. If your pet were to digest tinsel, it could tangle, causing blockages in the intestines. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can make your pet ill or even result in death if not treated. There is a chemical in the chocolate that is very toxic called theobromine. So, if anyone has chocolate advent calendars, keep them up and away from your animals. If a pet chews on holiday lights, they are at risk of electric shock. The lights are also a choking hazard. Glass ornaments on trees could result in internal injuries if ingested. Something other than decor is plants. Mistletoe is a common plant during Christmas time and is poisonous to common household pets. The more they eat, the more serious it becomes. 

If any of these things were to happen, seek help for your animals by contacting your nearest veterinary clinic. 

Stay safe this Christmas season.