Dexter, Missouri - Bailey Christian's kindergarten class at Southwest Elementary in Dexter honored their classmate and super hero, Gavin Thompson, on Thursday, November 5, 2015.

Gavin is the son of Grant and Nicole Thompson and is five years old.  He was diagnosed with leukemia missing the first day of kindergarten this year.  Since then he has made several trips to St. Louis for treatment including a crucial blood transfusion on Friday.

Through donations by Allen Christian, Montgomery Bank and an anonymous donor every student in Gavin's classroom were given "Gavin Squad" T-shirts.

The local school has been one of Gavin's biggest supporters helping where they can including a special monkey that sits in Gavin's chair when he is away with treatments. 

Gavin and his classmates were treated to cookies and treats during a little party at school in his honor.  Gavin is shown in the photo holding the "U" and "P".  His little brother Lincoln who is not in school yet was beside him holding the "S".

Gavin, you are our HERO and wish for a speedy recovery!  Kick cancer in the butt!!

Bloomfield, Missouri - Larry White, a Dexter Elks member, presented Adrianna Gensler and Tyler Battles October Students of the Month certificates and $50 Savings Bonds.

Adrianna Gensler is a senior at Bloomfield High School and is the daughter of Woodrow and Dana Gensler.

Tyler Battles is also a senior at Bloomfield High School and is the son of Michael and Kristie Battles.

Adrianna and Tyler are competing with honorees from the other Stoddard County schools for the Dexter Elks Students of the Year. 

Both students, along with their parents and counselor, Sara Holloway, will be honored with a banquet to be held at the Dexter Elks Lodge later next spring.

The Elks Students of the Year will be announced at the spring banquet.

Dexter, Missouri - T.S. Hill Middle School band members came out in force on Tuesday, November 3rd to audition in the 2015 Middle School/Junior High All-District Band at Jackson High School, in Jackson, Missouri.

"We had a record number of students at the Middle School audition," commented Dexter H.S. Band Director Scott Rybolt.  "And we had the largest amount of students from the Middle School - in our history - to make the All-District Band.

The T.S. Hill Middle School band is under the direction of Mr. Cody Jinkerson.  He has done an amazing job enhancing the sound of the middle school band.  They recently performed on the Charles Bland Stadium field during half-time of the last home football game.

The Dexter middle school and high school students represented the second highest amount of students from any one school in the All-District Band.

All District Band members from seventh grade include Tara Williams, Nevaeh Johnson, Sara Midgett, Kyllie Kendrick, Layne Medler, Evan Grobe, Caleb Coons, T.J. Wade, Tyler Montgomery, Kyla Propst, and Blake Carillo.

Tara Williams received 3rd Chair Flute
Nevaeh Johnson received 16th Chair Clarinet
Sara Midgett received 22nd Chair Clarinet
Kyllie Kendrick received 5th Chair Trombone
Layne Medler received 1st Chair Trombone
Evan Grobe received 4th Chair Trumpet
Caleb Coons received 6th Chair Tuba
T.J. Wade received 1st Chair Tuba
Tyler Montgomery received 1st Chair Baritone
Kyla Propst received 12th Chair Clarinet
Blake Carillo received 2nd Chair Tuba

Shown in the photo from left to right: Front Row Tara Williams, Nevaeh Johnson, and Sara Midgett.  Middle Row: Kyllie Kendrick, Layne Medler, and Even Grobe.  Back Row: Caleb Coons, T.J. Wade, and Tyler Montgomery.  Not pictured are Kyla Propst and Blake Carillo.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The Poplar Bluff High School AP physics class is competing regionally in a MoDOT-sponsored model bridge building contest for a potential $10,000 civil engineering scholarship to a heartland university.

Students were supplied 15 pieces of balsa wood, a bottle of glue and some string, then given four weeks to create a bridge design of their choosing between 16-20 inches long and 2-9 inches wide, with the ability to hold at least 7 pounds. The resulting projects will be judged based on structural efficiency on Thursday, Nov. 19, in Cape Girardeau.

The annual competition, intended for juniors and seniors in the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Southeast District, was established 12 years ago. This marks the second year in a row Kathy Miller’s physics class has participated in the contest, though PBHS’ involvement goes back even further.

Shown in the photo: Instructor Kathy Miller puts her students’ bridges to the test on Thursday, Oct. 29, before the class submitted the models for inspection.

Article Submitted by Tim Krakowiak
Communications/Marketing Coordinator
Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Dexter, Missouri - Alexis Tankersley has received the Residence Life Leadership Award to attend Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Alexis is the daughter of Danny Tankersley of Campbell, Missouri and Mystie Tankersley of Dexter.

She will graduate from Dexter Senior High School in May of 2016.

Many scholarship opportunities exist at Southeast Missouri State University.  For more information, visit www.semo.edu.

Congratulations Alexis!