The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 3

A3 Local Editor Eric Schroeck 1 213-9182. eschroecknewsleader.com Monday, February 1 8, 2008 ZbeJfeuia fender www.newsleader.com Local Sttate KjliialSigakl .1 The Associated Press Bridgewater College President and founder of The Lincoln Society of Virginia, Phillip Stone, addresses a group at the Lincoln cemetery located about 6 miles north of Harrisonburg on Rt. 42 on Tuesday in Rockingham County. If he were alive, Lincoln would have turned 199 on Feb. 12.

Reflecting on Lincoln Wilson to hold its SCA elections By Katelyn Hansell Contributor FISHERS VILLE As the national candidates battle it out for the Democratic and Republican nominations for presidency, seniors in Kevin Clark's Advanced Placement U.S. Government class at Wilson Memorial High School conduct their own elections. Clark's students are preparing for the Student Council Association officer elections, which take place at the end of February. The class is split into two parties each with its own platforms and slogans to win over the student population. Students will vote to fill five positions: president, vice president, secretary, reporter and publicity chairman.

"The process of this election will be one of integrity, strategy and effective campaign tactics," Clark said. Each group must seek candidates with both the name recognition and the ambition for change, using applications and interview methods to create a group of strong leaders for their fellow students. Clark has coordinated elections with his AP government classes for the past six years, and he loves it. "The best learning is by doing," he said. He hopes students will gain an appreciation of the political process, but he plans to keep the students away from the dark side of politics; he gives his students strict orders no lying and no false promises.

He's also banned any slanderous comments from students toward their opponents. This year, the two parties, the Juggernauts and the Ninjas, were chosen by Clark. He analyzed such characteristics as academic strengths, school involvement and leadership. Michael Nargi, a Ninja, said that he hopes to find candidates who are well liked, but who will want to be a part of a group that's funny, interesting and different. "Our platform is splendiferous.

It's just that amazing," Nargi said. The Juggernauts plan to push ideas from all students, and use extensive advertising strategies. Katie Black, a Juggernaut, said she hopes students will take away a better understanding of politics. "I like the idea that it will teach us about the aspects of the political process, but I dislike how it has to take place in a high school atmosphere," Black said. What About Your School? Want to report on your school's student government elections? Post your photos and stories by using the Get Published tool at www.newsleader.com Bridgewater College President and founder of The Lincoln Society of Virginia, Phillip Stone, addresses a group at the Lincoln cemetery located about 6 miles north of Harrisonburg on Rt.

42, on Tuesday, in Rockingham County. If he were alive, Lincoln would have turned 199 on Feb. 12. Lincoln Day Ceremony held for 33rd straight year The Associated Press HARRISONBURG As Virginians cast their votes for this year's presidential primaries, a local historian reflected on a man often regarded as one of the nation's best presidents Abraham Lincoln. For the 33rd consecutive year, Phillip C.

Stone, Bridge-water College president and founder of the Lincoln Society of Virginia, held the Lincoln Day Ceremony in honor of the 16th president's birthday. If he were alive, Lincoln would have turned 199 on Feb. 12. The ceremony is held annually at the Lincoln Cemetery, located six miles north of Harrisonburg off Virginia 42 on property known as the Lincoln Homestead. The homestead also includes a house where Lincoln's relatives lived until 1874.

Each year, Stone talks about different aspects of Lincoln's life. This year, addressing a crowd of about 50, he focused on the Lincoln family lineage in Rockingham County and highlighted Lincoln's accomplishments as president. Harold W. Wood, 86, of Broadway, has attended the. ceremony for more than 20 years and said he enjoys hearing what Stone has to say.

"I am very interested in Lincoln and in history," he said. While Lincoln probably never visited Rockingham County, several of his relatives were native to the area, Stone said. Lincoln's great-grandparents were from the county and had nine children, including Lincoln's grandfather Capt. Abraham Lincoln, for whom the president was named. His great-grandparents are buried in the Lincoln Cemetery, where Stone holds the iiniriuiliii i The Associated Press tive about slavery," Stone said.

"He said, I don't care who's doing it, it is a In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order geared toward freeing the slaves, while the outcome of the Civil War was still in doubt. The proclamation only applied to states that had seceded from the Union and did not free any slaves. Rather, it transformed the character of the war, according to the National Archives Web site. While many Americans did not agree with the emancipation and did not want to continue fighting the war, Lincoln won re-election in 1864. The victory said a lot about how people felt about the president, Stone said.

"They believed in Lincoln, they trusted him," Stone said. "Lincoln kept his eye on the ball. He was patient, he was wise. He was an honest man." annual ceremony. Lincoln's grandfather married a woman from Dayton, and they had five children, including the president's father, Thomas Lincoln.

In the early 1780s, Lincoln's paternal grandparents moved with their children from their 600-acre farm in Rockingham County to Jefferson County, Ky. In 1806, Thomas Lincoln married Nancy Hawkins. The president was born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Ky. While Lincoln's grandparents moved to Kentucky, many of his relatives, including his great-uncle Jacob Lincoln, remained in Rockingham County. Jacob Lincoln had several children and is also buried in the Lincoln Cemetery.

Many local residents today can trace their ancestry back to the Lin-colns, Stone said. During the 1840s, while serving as a member of Congress from his adopted state of Illi nois, Lincoln wrote to a cousin who lived in Rockingham County, asking for information about his family. "He was very interested in his Virginia connections," Stone said. Stone also spoke highly of Lincoln's vision of a self-governing nation and equality for all, a timely topic as the first serious black contender and first woman vie for the White House. Stone praised Lincoln for emancipating the slaves despite great opposition to the move in the North as well as in the South and in spite of the fact his own relatives were slave owners.

In fact, some of Lincoln's cousins threatened to shoot the president if they ever met him because they didn't agree with his position on slavery, Stone said. Lincoln "never made any statement that was not nega Club Eli's to host band showcase for local acts More Info For more information, go to www.elis funcenter.com out more exposure. "We thought this would be cool for younger kids," Dan said. As part of their continuing effort to keep local teens safe, the Shifflets will uphold their no-alcohol, no-drugs policy for the showcase, however, it will be open to adults to allow parents and family members to support the bands. Owners seek to incorporate more rock music By Mindi Westhoffstaff mwesthoflnewsleader.com VERONA Happening by popular demand, Club Eli's will host a band showcase on March 7 to give local musicians more exposure.

expand the operation to incorporate more rock music into the club's events. "We love rock 'n' roll," Dan said. "We grew up on rock 'n' roll." More importantly, Carol said, it is important to reach local teens who prefer live bands to top 40 music, which the Shifflets currently play exclusively at the club. "There's a different demographic," Carol said. "There are kids who don't come here because they don't like hip-hop." The Shifflets have hired local band First Offense to play on March 7, but they are hoping to invite five more local bands to open.

Though the showcase is open to older musicians, the Shifflets hope to give teen musicians starting If You Go: What: Club Eli's band showcase When: 7:30 p.m. to midnight, March 7 Where: Eli's Fun Center, 733 Lee Highway, Verona Cost: $8 per person The dance club, which is open to teenagers on Saturday nights, has been at capacity for the past few months, according to owners Dari and Carol Shifflet. But after receiving several comments on the club's myspace.com page, the Shifflets decided to.