Poplar Bluff, Missouri - About 25 city and county First Responders shared lunch with Middle School students on Friday in remembrance of September 11th in honor of Patriot Day.
 
There was representation from the Butler County Sheriff's Department, Fire Department, Emergency Management Agency and EMS, along with the Poplar Bluff Police Department and Fire Department, plus Rural/Metro. Guests received 'thank you' cards from students.
 
Lunch was provided by Chartwells School Dining Services. "It's been 25 years since I had a school lunch," Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs joked.
 
Shown in the photo: Deputy Chris Ridens shows fifth grader Keaton Rexroad his handcuffs.



Photo and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator, Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The Poplar Bluff High School Academic Team had a strong showing during ACE Quizbowl camp last month at Lincoln College in Illinois.
 
Jackson Rideout, the PBHS senior captain, took first place in the history tournament; sophomore Alyssa Cook, the JV captain, won second in a team contest; and Christian Cmehil-Warn, a senior starter, consistently qualified to compete with the top performing students from multiple states.
 
PBHS has been making its mark in Academic Competition Enterprises-sponsored camps for several years, according to their coach, science teacher Gail Karlish. The Academic Team ended the 2014/15 season with a 30-14 Scholar Bowl record, the Missouri State High School Activity Association has reported.

(Shown in the photos from left) Jackson Rideout, Christian Cmehil-Warn and Alyssa Cook pose with their spoils outside of Lincoln College following Quizbowl.


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

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Rep. Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff, the Missouri House speaker, visited the “I’m a Citizen, Too” class during the last day of summer school on Friday, June 26, role-playing with students how a bill becomes a law.
 
Richardson’s guest appearance in the enrichment class has become an annual tradition since he was first elected to serve the 152nd Congressional District in 2010. Last year he was able to host the students at the state Capitol in Jefferson City.
 
For at least 25 years, Jan Desgranges, a retired R-I educator, has led “I’m a Citizen, Too,” teaching students, grades 5-8, how to become productive citizens. Fourth grade teacher Shiela Boyles of Lake Road Elementary has co-taught the popular class since the 2006/07 school year.

Students (from left) Katie Rose Pattillo, Audrey Cisne and McKenzie Knapp present Rep. Todd Richardson a plaque for his continued dedication to the “I’m a Citizen, Too” class.

Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak
Communications/Marketing Coordinator
Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Poplar Bluff, Missouri – About 50 members of the Poplar Bluff High School Beta Club chose to help the Historic Depot Restoration Corporation tear out a floor in order to complete their volunteer hours.

Each student is required by the student organization to volunteer and donate hours each semester.

The Iron Mountain Depot is the home of the local Amtrak Station and was once a thriving train depot.  Recent revitalization projects have enhanced the beauty and brought recognition to the old depot.

Photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Poplar Bluff School District.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Poplar Bluff High School senior Ben Soeter is the first student in three years to read 100 novels and earn a $1,000 scholarship via the Designing Women Foundation's Charlie Classics reading program.
 
The 17-year-old has placed first in his class each year for reading the most teacher-approved literary works, resultantly winning thousands in bank cards in addition to the scholarship. When Soeter was a freshman, he generously donated $500 back to the PBHS library so the school can replace some of its titles in the Charlie Classics collection. At the time, he declared that it was a goal of his to complete the challenge.
 
Reflecting on all the books, Soeter said: "It changed the way I think, broadening my outlook of the world and the way I understand it for the better." He added that he has enjoyed the select pieces of literature because they contain morals that he later contemplates. His favorite title of late was "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov.
 
Having gotten a jumpstart on reading prior to starting high school, Soeter reviewed his first book with a voluntary program mentor in June of 2011. Students can begin working toward the scholarship in Junior High.
 
Soeter has been accepted into Rice University in Houston, Texas. His predecessor in the contest, Fathom Hefner, attends the University of Mississippi in Oxford, according to Stacey Scobey, who is the president of the Designing Women Foundation, and also a past scholarship recipient.
 
The Charlie Classics program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, was originally founded by writer/producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and has been sustained by individual donors and local businesses in recent years, most notably U.S. Bank.

Photo and article provided by Tim Krakowiak.