Wednesday, March 24 is national Kick Butts Day. This day is designated to end cigarette smoking. In recognition of this day, Torch took an inside look at smoking here.

When life started to become too much for Megan Oleson, jr., she turned to alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs for comfort. Oleson knew that she was depressed – she felt extremely irritable, sad and upset – but didn’t tell anyone because she thought the bad feelings would pass. Unfortunately, they never did. Oleson came very close to committing suicide last year; if one of her friends hadn’t intervened, she wouldn’t be here today.

A few months ago, the words “swine flu” echoed through the halls daily. It was the talk of the fall season. Even though the number of reported H1N1 cases has decreased since, health officials predict the possibility of rise in cases throughout the continuing flu season.

Josh Zimmerman, so., was featured in the Sept. issue for his rare surgery due to his condition called Pectus Excavatum. Though Pectus Excavatum is said to effect one in 500, it is more common than thought. Maddy Fangman, so., was diagnosed with Pectus Excavatum this past Dec.