Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Poplar Bluff, Missouri – The Dexter Jazz Cats will be traveling to Poplar Bluff, Missouri Thursday, February 14th and 16th to participate in a Jazz Festival.
There will be Jazz Bands from across Southeast Missouri who will come together to perform in the Tinnin Center as Three Rivers College hosts its 22nd Annual Jazz Festival on February 14th and 16th. The shows will be at 7 p.m., and admission is free.
DHS Band Director Scott Rybolt commented, "This is a great opportunity for the Dexter Jazz Cats. They are ranked high when it comes to performing in competitions. We have a lot of talent here at the Dexter High School."
Performing both nights of the Festival will be the Three Rivers College Jazz Band, and guest performer saxophonist Mike Goldsmith, Director of Jazz and Woodwinds at Mineral Area College.
Also performing on Thursday, February 14th will be the Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High School bands, the Sikeston High School band, the Jefferson R-7 Junior and Senior High bands, the Charleston High School band, and the North County High School band.
The Saturday, February 16th performance will feature the Southeast All-District Jazz Band, which consists of the best high school jazz musicians in Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) District 10.
"We're incredibly excited to have all these young men and women coming to play here," said William White, Instructor of Music at Three Rivers and director of the college's Jazz Band. "Not only do we get to bring in over 200 of the best young jazz musicians in the area, but we also get to help them prepare for upcoming competitions in a more relaxed atmosphere."
Guest performer Mike Goldsmith will also serve as a clinician for visiting bands that want coaching for competitive performances. In addition to his teaching duties at Mineral Area, Goldsmith has played with several big bands and combos throughout the Midwest, including studio recordings for the St. Louis Cardinals.
People wanting more information on the 22nd Annual Jazz Festival, or those interested in participating in next year's performance, can call the Three Rivers College Music Department at 573-840-9639.
Want to take your sweetheart out to a wonderful concert, check out the Jazz Cats as they perform at the Tinnin Center in Poplar Bluff. Free to the public!
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Malden, Missouri - Three Rivers College is proud to announce the creation of the DeWayne Shelton Memorial Scholarship, which is dedicated towards helping students of Malden High School attend Three Rivers.
The scholarships have been created through a donation from Mr. Wes Shelton, in memory of his brother, Rev. DeWayne Shelton. The two Memorial Scholarships, which are $2,000 each, will be made available to students of Malden High School’s class of 2013 who exhibit excellence, spirituality, kindness, and drive. The scholarships are currently one-time-only, but may be continued if applicant participation exceeds expectations.
The scholarship winners will be selected by Mr. Shelton and Mrs. Dianne Shelton after review of student applications. Applicants will also be required to submit a short essay on how they embody the kindness, spirituality, drive, and excellence of Rev. Shelton. The winners must attend Three Rivers College full-time, and the award will be used to pay for tuition, books, and other school expenses.
DeWayne Shelton dedicated much of his life to education, attending Southern Baptist College and Ouachita Baptist University before becoming a teacher of English at Malden High School. He later also became a professor at Williams College. Rev. Shelton also was an ordained minister, and pastor of Standfield Baptist Church.
“DeWayne exhibited a life of faith, giving, and caring,” said Wes Shelton. “His students at Malden High School were better prepared to face the challenges of life after being exposed to his teaching and his presence. Though his life was very brief, his legacy will live on, in part through this scholarship.”
Students interested in applying for the scholarship should contact Three Rivers’ Financial Aid Office at 573-840-9606, or the counselor’s office in Malden High School at 573-276-5794.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Dexter, Missouri - Gary Wyman is a name that most people in the Stoddard County area are familiar with. He was born and raised in the local area and after graduating from Richland R-1 High School and attending college, he returned to teach Agriculture to both the Junior and High School students at Richland.
Wyman recently started a new chapter of his life when he was selected as the new Agriculture Education Teacher for the Dexter R-11 School District. He begins his new career on July 1, 2013 and is both anxious and excited, like any new teacher would be.
After attending high school at Richland and returning to teach there for another eighteen years, the change came to a shock for students, faculty, and Richland graduates of all ages.
He commented, “To those I am leaving behind, I thank you as it has been a privilege and an honor to teach each and every one of my students.”
Wyman will be greatly missed but his former students are very appreciative for having him as long as they did. Wyman's future students at Dexter will have a wonderful time in his Agriculture classes and will learn to love the subject just like his other students did.
Wyman has been very successful during his time at Richland High School where he started and pursued the FFA Club (Future Farmers of America) for the Richland chapter. He also taught a variety of Agriculture classes such as Soils, Crop Science, Welding, Animal Science, and Agriculture Machinery.
He graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia where he received his Masters in Professional and Vocational/Technical Education. He also earned his Bachelors of Science in Agronomy from the UMC – Columbia.
After graduating from college he returned to Essex, Missouri where he has raised a family and enjoyed teaching at Richland. After eighteen long years, he has seen many students come and go and each one of them hold a piece of their former teacher in their hearts as he prepares for his change in career.
Wyman has been an inspiration to students and faculty members over the years and will bring that same knowledge and creativity to the Dexter School District in the upcoming school year. With his hands-on teaching style, students take in more information than they will ever realize. Wyman is a wonderful teacher and is a great asset to Dexter's school system.
Beth Clippard Williams proclaimed, “You are an educational ROCK STAR! Sad for the Rebels, but happy for the Bearcats.” A very nice compliment that all students who have been taught by Mr. Wyman would openly agree with.
Wyman is a Richland High School legend and always will be, but his former students and co-workers are glad and excited for him as he receives this wonderful opportunity to begin teaching at Dexter in the upcoming school year.
"I appreciate the opportunity that Dexter Schools has given me. I am very familiar with their program, the school, many of the faculty, and several students as I have lived in Stoddard County my entire life. I am looking forward to beginning this new chapter in my career," stated Mr. Wyman.
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Poplar Bluff, Missouri – The Poplar Bluff R-I school district recently received a $20,000 anonymous donation in technology, which seems to have become an annual tradition for the school district.
Earlier this school year, R-I Media Director Jim Thomas was contacted by a donor for the second year in a row, and afforded the opportunity to pick out brand-new equipment from a Hewlett-Packard catalogue.
“I cannot express enough thanks to this gentleman, and if I ever get the chance to meet him in person, I look forward to shaking his hand on behalf of our school system,” Thomas said. Respecting the donor’s wishes, the media director only revealed that the donor is an alumnus.
With the donation, Thomas was able to purchase 20 desktops, six laptops and 20 graphic calculators. About a dozen of the HPs are going to Eugene Field Elementary School to equip a third eMINTS laboratory, which stands for enhancing Missouri’s instructional networked teaching strategies—a technology-rich collaborative environment through which students direct their own exploration.
The computer lab will help level the playing field for students, Eugene Field Principal Jennifer Taylor noted, since the school district’s instructional focus is shifting with the one-to-one initiative—a push to get a laptop in the hands of every junior and senior high student, along with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education curriculum and assessment changes.
“Additional technology at Eugene Field is needed so our students have the tools necessary to ensure a successful transition to the intermediate and secondary grades,” Taylor stated. “We are sincerely appreciative of the anonymous donor whose generosity will support our students’ instructional needs for years to come.”
Last school year’s $20,000 from the anonymous donation went toward equipping the high school’s computer-aided design and drafting lab, among other smaller things such as replacing the outdated computers in the Media Center.
What a wonderful donation to the Poplar Bluff schools!
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
At the end of the 1st quarter, the Wildcats were leading by one, 12 to 11. The defensive tactics for both teams were keeping the players from scoring and really challenged the offense. Only Brett Ruch #21 and Thomas Sanders #24 were able to score for the Wildcats in the first few minutes of the game. The second quarter was really no better, each team kept up with their defensive playing as both teams scored 14 points apiece. At half the Wildcats were still leading 26 to 25.
After half-time, the Bulldogs seemed to have some renewed strength as the 3rd quarter seemed to go their way in scoring. Players, Adams, Goin, and Lawrence made some key shots that sent them up and over the Wildcats. By the end of the quarter they were leading 43 to 40.
The Wildcats tried to hang on, but the Bulldogs seemed to come alive in the 4th quarter and keep their defensive strategy strong. Only Bret Ruch was able to score for Bloomfield. At the end, the Bulldogs were able to defeat the Wildcats 58 to 49. This brings the Bloomfield Wildcats to 12-12 on the season.
Bloomfield's Caleb Baker #2 had 11 points for the afternoon including one 3-pointer along with top scorer Brett Ruch #21 with 16 points. Brett also had one 3-pointer.
The Wildcats will be in action again, Tuesday night, February 12th as they travel to Portageville. Game time is 6:00 p.m.
