Poplar Bluff Middle School recently announced its 2nd quarter ‘A’ and ‘B’ Honor Rolls for 4th - 6th grades.

5th grade

‘A’ Honor Roll

Trevor Bagwell, Dawn Barger, Maelynn Beis, Braden Belknap, Elizabeth Blancett, Tywuan Bobo, Annabaella Brooks, Audrey Brooks, Gracie Brown, Alyssa Cochran, Emerson Cole, Shelby Cooper, Addison Corzine, Jocelyn Crawford, Leeanna Cross, Kiersten Crutchfield, Celsey Cummins, Landen Deaton, Tori Dobbs, Samantha Dowd, Lane Dunham, Alysa Duren, Molly Eason, Kaelyn Everett, Avery Ezell-Thomas, Claire Funke, Kiara Hamilton, Elizabeth Hancock, Layla Harding, Cassidy Heuiser, Grant Hill, Jordan Hodge, Lilah Hoffman, Kaytlynn Holland, Emily Huddleston, Emma Hunt,

Nicholas Hunter, Haley Jarrell, Rose Johnson, Kyle Knight, Alexander Larkins, Addison Lightner, Mason Magill, Morgan Magill, Jayden Massa, Beau McCormack, Chloe Miller, McKenna Miller, Cade Moncier, Anden Moore, Tristan Morgan, Addyson Moss, Brume Osiohwo, Cooper Overbey, Diane Perez, Kyron Pettigrew, Kevin Pickard, Rylie Pounds, Lucas Reasons, Eric Richardson, Gavin Rogalski

Karson Rolland, Gabrielle Rushing, Karly Scott, Katherine Scott, Mekenna Seabaugh, William Sherrill, Jordan Shock, Noah Sidney, Maddox Sneathern, Ella Starling, Ileana Stockton, Ava Stotts, Landon Thomas, Kaylee Tippen, Tangant Tuggle, Rhyan Waddell, Angelee Wallace, Katie Ward, Martha Ward, Harley Werkmeister, Jack Wesemann, Ella White, Keira Willis, Elleanna Wiseman

‘B’ Honor Roll

Andrew Adams, Samiya Anders, Joshua Armiger, Colby Bailey, Brookelyn Ballow, Alaira Barker, Kylee Berry, Jaden Billings, Ariyana Blackmon, Karter Blanchard, Ethan Boswell, Jadyn Brandon, Madalyn Bridgewater, Chaise Brown, Cora Brown, Hynna-C Brown, Cameron Burpo, Tyrese Burton, Zada Camden, Parker Chamblin, Nichole Clark, Daniel Collins, Bryan Cooper, Lily Cooper, Amberlyn Curnutt, Austin Curnutt, Lucas Day, Henry Deken, Nicholas Deming, Hailey Dirks, Noah Dodd, Willie Dorris, Jake Doyle, Sydnee Estess, Chloe Fortner, Kennedie Freeman, James Gambill, Jaykob Gannon, Serenity Gilliam, Bridger Grable, Taylor Graham, Shyann Greenup, Cody Grobe, Landon Hall, Jonah Halliburton, Colby Harris, McKenzie Haynes, Brian Hedspeth, Kamberlynn Herbst, Tyson Higgins, Hunter Hogan, Quentin Hon, Kade Huffman, Cayden Innes, Caden Jackson, Daniel Jackson, Kaley James, Breanna Jenkins, Brynn Jennings, Myles Johnson, Tamaire Johnson, Wyatt Joiner, Teagan Kassing, Lacey Kelley, Jaleya Kemp, Faith King, Karson King, Landon King, Justin Kozlovsky, Kaylyn Langley, Avester Lathon, Jamece Lathon, Gavin Leutert-Ford, Wyatt Lindsey, Payton Long, Zackery Luck, Rosie Maness, Jordan Martin, Ja’Neece Matlock, Zoie McCormick, Tristan McElhaney, Annalyse McNail, Aliyah Merritt, Gage Miller, Ava Monaghan, John Moore, Preston Morey, Karly Mossman, Evelyn Nelson, Frances Nelson, Gabriel Odle, Adalynn Ordway, Ma’Kayla Oses-Arviso, Gabriel Overton, Steven Overton, Preston Palmer, Malakai Payne, Nicole Payne, Avain Pettigrew, Elijah Pickard, Adyson Price, Kyleigh Pridy, Haylee Proctor, Lyric Ross, Kassidy Rosson, Annabelle Rucker, Noah Ruesler, Trey Sanders, Samantha Schalk, Tori Schmidt, Julia Scott, Mariah Scott, Remington Seesengood, Zabri Sinks, Cole Sisson, Conner Sisson, Brianna Steward, Braden Stewart, Jayden Sullivan, Blaine Summers, Kaylen Taylor, Shauntrez Taylor, Corban Thomas, Lamontez Thomas, Addison Valenzuela, Jonathan Vernon, Deana Voegtlin, Bethany Voelpel, Alexis Wallace, Maria Watson, Reagan Wells, Bryce Whitney, Connor Wiggs, Raeanna Williams, Alexia Wilson, Matthew Yarbrough

4th grade

‘A’ Honor Roll

Alexis Agee, Lexus Allbritton, Alantris Allen, Haidyn Allen, Landon Barks, Kelsey Baucom, Ethan Blackwell, Adleigh Burke, Maddison Camden, Makayla Cantu, Carly Cisne, Colt Clifford, Xavier Conover, Aiden Cook, Reese Corcimiglia, Alana Croy, Karson Dicken, Kyleigh Edmundson, Preston Ethridge, Delanie Faughn, Faith Felice, Emma Hale, Kate Harris, Joel Hessling, Richard Hester, Cameron Huck, Kiahna Huffman, Addison Hutson, Elijah Ibrahim, Alexis Jameson, Chason Kearbey, Braylon Kilpatrick, Steffine Lacy, Christopher Law, Jayden Lewis, Adan Lowe, Kristalanna Mattox,

Gabriella McGinty, Ramiz Mirza, Khloe Nelson, Miles Newcomb, Ryan Noble, Ethan Page, Palyn Patrick, Landon Peoples, McKynna Sandlin, Ella Shell, Kennedy Shell, Marley Spain, Brylee Statler, Isaac Stork, Noah Talbot, Logan Ullrick, Bailey Venable, Kayla Vuong, Seraphim Wykowski, Randy Wynn, Jason Zheng, Trinity Zimmer

4th grade ‘B’ Honor Roll

Starlece Adams, Truston Alexander, Casyn Anderson, Gregory Barger, Nicholas Batrano, Brandt Bell, Addyson Berry, Fox Berry, Sierra Bilbrey, Jessica Bratton, Emma Brazeal, Justin Briscoe, Dennis Brooks, Parker Brown, Jazmine Bryant, Keaton Buchanan, Makandah Buchanan, Kayden Burm, Christopher Byrd, Alec Carda, Yahya Ceesay, McKenna Chaney, Katherine Cooper, Travis Cozort, Stormy Daggs, Dominic Davis, Courtney Drwenski, Cooper Eads, Avery Elliott, Cruz Franklin, Kelsey Freeman, Ellijah Frost, Loghan Gardner, Anna Garver, Austyn Gholson, Chase Gibbs, Lyla Gilmore, Alayna Gore, Tyler Grant, Drake Harden, Markell Heard, Bailey Henson, Caden Howell, Ariannah Hughes, Katlyn Jobe, Allie Johnson, Claire Jordan, Rylee Kanell, Colton Kara, Latez Kellum, Jackson Kennedy,

Steeven Knox, Lola Lane, Kyliee Lee, Chaz Love, Debra Mace, Andrew Mahurin, Abigail Marure, Madison Massie, Patricia Matlock, Everest McCaulley, Sean McClure, McKenna Medley, Emma Miles,

Audrey Miller, Ashlynn Mizell, Logan Mizell, Teejaye Monaghan, Raina Moore, Callei Moss, Kaydin Owens, Samuel Owings, Jayona Patterson, Sybil Payne, Victoria Pennell, Kaitlyn Penrod, Love Pettypool, Kaidyn Powers, Addyson Preslar, Stormie Prewitt, Aimee Price, Briley Price, Kaydence Pruitt, Terrence Pullum, Zachary Rawls, Kaylena Reed, Aden Robinson, Hunter Rommel, Chloe Rowland, Ryan Sandus, Alexandria Sieben, Austin Simpson, Julia Summers, Landon Tesreau, Sara Tolliver, Kaidyn Uhl, Charles Veazey, Hayley Vincent, Chelsea Walker, Phoenix Wallace, Ka’Von Walls, Mason Ward, Dasauni Warren, Ja-Briya Webb, Ahmaura Williams, Chase Wilson, Haidyn Winterbower, Riley Wix, Jalen Young, Alani Zamora

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - A Poplar Bluff Junior High group of seventh graders have donated about 100 hand-sewn pillowcases that double as laundry bags to FosterAdopt Connect SEMO.

 

The midyear service project was the brainchild of Team One (House Mǎ Luó), according to Principal Candace Warren. The sacks were filled with small blankets, fidget spinners, and personal hygiene items such as wet wipes, deodorant and toothbrushes donated by Jared Beaird Family Dentistry.

 

Students representing each academic lab team had been coming to school early and staying after since October to help sew under the tutelage of librarian Nikki Davis. All the fabric used was donated. The library is still accepting fabric for future projects, Davis noted.

 

FosterAdopt Connect offers trainings, advocacy and licensing to families caring for children through the foster system and adoption process, according to program director Mary Haldeman. Located at 2198 N. Westwood Blvd., the support organization operates Sammy’s Window, a second-hand shop that offers free clothing and hygiene items for children in need.

Pictured: Students (pictured holding pillowcases) who volunteered to help sew included Gabby Anderson, Zoie Armes, Lillith Beedle, Ryan Black, Sabrina Breckenridge, Kaylie Burm, Paris Chatman, Nya Cram, Renee Huck, Alyssa Miller, Mckenna Miller, Adyson Parson, Madelyn Redmond, Pamela Richards, Alyssa Roy, Savanah Shaw, Dustin Sinclair, Hailea Sinclair, Essence Skinner, Mark Starkey, Natika Starkey, Rebecca Stevens, Karissa Tilley, Joshua Walsh, Brennen White and Gianna Williams.

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

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Wesley Lewis is a true mule.  Since he is the person who coined the term, he owns the right to define it.

 

“A true mule is not just a Poplar Bluffian,” the lifelong R-I employee explained. “This is a society of people that loves to see the town progress, with that hard-headed determination of a mule.”

 

Poplar Bluff is where Lewis was born, raised a family, spent his career and plans to some day retire. He returned to the school system from which he graduated with the Class of 1979, and has served in some capacity for nearly three decades.

 

Being employed as a security officer for the bulk of his tenure in public education, Lewis has come to be relied upon for his observation skills, among other intangibles. As the watcher of the hallways over the years, it is befitting that he was charged with memorializing the history in those very halls.

 

Since the High School moved to its present location in 2016, Lewis has taken it upon himself to gather all the trophies, plaques and banners, and completed a series of displays in the building in time for the recent ShowDown Basketball Tournament.

 

“Not only does he know our history, he’s a part of it,” stated PBHS Principal Mike Owen, who regards Lewis as the school historian. “I had a vision for the walls, and he changed that vision. And I’m OK with that.”

 

During the relocation to Oak Grove Road, the trophy cases remained in E.T. Peter’s Gym at Victory Lane. Over time, Lewis secured most of the items and came up with a commensurate system to honor his fellow distinguished alumni at their alma mater.

 

Through his meticulous efforts, the new campus now contains generations of history, including names of valedictorians from 1902 to present, portraits of All-State athletes dating back to 1947, undefeated team photos as early as 1966, and the jerseys of Mules who made it all the way to the professional ranks.

 

“Kids gotta know where they came from,” Lewis commented. “We had some great people lead these halls. Those folks’ faces up there are the pride of our school.”

 

Although his picture is not currently on the wall, Lewis was a standout student-athlete in his own right in the 1970s. Besides good coaches, he said he remembers being inspired by pictures of local stars such as Derland Moore and Eddie Moss, who respectively made it to the NFL.

 

The wall of fame is a work in progress, Lewis noted. He continues to research and track down memorabilia, and has additional plans throughout the facility to recognize Poplar Bluff natives who gained national recognition beyond the field, court and classroom.

 

“All our kids are great,” Lewis asserted. “I wish I can plaster them all on the walls.”

 

Lewis is known by his co-workers for ‘telling it like it is.’ Having started his career in transportation and maintenance, his position was essentially created around his unique skillset.

 

“I know every kid, their mom, daddy, dog, cat, rat,” Lewis said, half-jokingly. With an intricate knowledge base of the community and its residents, he has been able to reach students in a way others simply cannot.

 

“We’re all here for the same purpose: to help these kids get a balance out of life,” Lewis continued. “I tell them, ‘We’re trying our best to promote you so you can take over my job one day.’”

 

Pictured:  Longtime security officer Wesley Lewis stands next to his trophy display in the front addition of the High School at Tom Hoover Way.

 

Article and photos submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Missouri Highlands Health Care recently donated $200 toward the Life Skills program at Poplar Bluff Junior High to be used for supplies to help teach hands on activities in the classroom.

 

Students prepare breakfast for community groups such as firefighters and pastors, and in turn learn about different professions from officials. The class recently began a ‘celebrity chef’ program during which community leaders share their favorite recipe with the students.

 

“This program truly touches my heart,” said Alex Hathcoat, Missouri Highlands marketing director. “I wish all schools had this!”

 

Based in Ellington, Missouri Highlands provides health care to low income families on a sliding scale throughout the region. Located at Black River Medical Center and in Mansion Mall, the nonprofit houses the only dental practice that accepts Medicaid in Butler County, according to Chief Operations Officer Debbie Tarvid, the mother of science teacher Krista Yarbro.

 

Pictured: (From left) Instructor Courtney Rutledge; eighth grader Karson Busse; Principal Candace Warren; Debbie Tarvid of Missouri Highlands; seventh grader Haley James; and Alex Hathcoat of Missouri Highlands.

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