Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The Poplar Bluff Mules Booster Club selected Girls Tennis star Stephanie Hobbs and Football quarterback Tristen Francisco as Athletes of the Month for September.

A four-year letterman, Francisco has a career record of 79 completions and 1,489 yards with 137 attempts. The Poplar Bluff High School senior has 50 rushes for 273 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. In addition, he has thrown 19 touchdowns. According to head coach Mark Barousse, Francisco has a high IQ on the football field, with a 10.0 grade point average to boot.

Hobbs, also a senior, has a 10-5 record in singles and 5-10 in doubles for the current season, while maintaining a 10.738 GPA in the classroom. According to her coach, Charles Harper, Hobbs is a role model for new and younger teammates, with a character that is above reproach.

“In a sport with no officials, she always makes honest calls, even if it means losing,” Harper said. “(Hobbs is) kind and polite in her interactions, even in adverse circumstances.”

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

Bell City, Missouri - Larry White, Dexter Elks Lodge Member, presents certificates and $50 checks for Savings Bonds to Bell City seniors Rebecca Heuring and Peyton Maddox.  Both students earned September's Elks Lodge Students of the Month!

Rebecca is the daughter of Darrell and Emily Heuring.

Peyton is the son of Daniel and Deana Maddox.

Rebecca and Peyton are competing with honorees from other county schools for the Dexter Elks Students of the Year.  Both students, along with their parents, and counselor, Jessica Cloniger, will be honored at a banquet to be held at the Dexter Elks Lodge in the spring of 2016.  The Elks Students of the Year will be announced at the spring banquet.

Essex, Missouri - Richland R-1 School was honored on Wednesday morning to have National FFA Organization’s National Vice President Stephen McBride come and speak to the district's Future Farmers of America organization.

McBride spoke to the group about how important it is to be a leader in their community, the importance of building character and several of his experiences while in FFA when he was in high school.

“It was an honor to have Stephen here at the school to speak to our students,” said Richland FFA adviser Jarrod Basler. “The national officers only visit our area every seven years, so it was certainly a treat to have him with us today to talk about leadership, character and his experience while in Future Farmers of America .”

McBride, who is from Jackson, Tenn., said during his stop that he has visited 31 states while on the speaking tour for the National FFA Organization. Due to his extensive travel, McBride was forced to take a one year sabbatical from the University of Tennessee - Martin.

The students were very excited to meet Stephen and enjoyed their time with him.

Richland R-1 FFA’s will have their annual fruit and meat sales beginning October 8th.  Please contact Mr. Basler at jbasler@richland.k12.mo.us for more information.

Photos by Skie Pinkley

Top Photos - Richland R-1 School’s FFA poses for a photo with National FFA Organization Vice President Stephen McBride after McBride spoke to the students on Wednesday morning. McBride also visited Dexter, Malden and Bernie schools on Wednesday.

Bottom Photo - National FFA Organization Vice President Stephen McBride speaks to the students at Richland R-1 School during his stop on Wednesday. McBride is a former state officer for Future Farmers of America in Tennessee and is currently in the middle of the national-wide speaking tour for the national organization.

Dexter, Missouri - Students at Dexter High School will select their 2015 Homecoming Queen and her court this week.  The coronation will be held prior to the football game on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Charles Bland Stadium.

Ten candidates are vying for the title.  Each young lady was nominated by a DHS sports team.

Brittany Brown and Kendall Adams were nominated by the Lady Cats Volleyball Team.

MaKayla Waldner and Kalee Howard were nominated by the Lady Cats Tennis Team.

Caroline Powers and Rhylan Hillis were nominated by the DHS Football Cheerleaders.

Taryn Fortner and Sarah Smith were nominated by the Cross Country Team.

Melanie McKuin and Katy Seiter were nominated by the Football Team.

Shown in the photo are standing from left to right:  Taryn Fortner, Kalee Howard, Kendall Adams, Katy Seiter, Melanie McKuin, and Sarah Smith.  Seated at the top from left to right are Brittany Brown, MaKayla Waldner, Caroline Powers, and Rhylan Hillis.

Essex, Missouri - Richland R-1 School student Drew Hickson, Katie Pinkley and Parker Miller were awarded with special photography trophies at the annual Missouri Journalism Education Association Day at Southeast Missouri State University on Thursday, September 24, 2015.

Drew Hickson and Parker Miller are seniors at Richland and Katie Pinkley is a junior.

Hickson and Miller both took home second place trophies.  Hickson received his award in the field of Academics and Miller in Sports Action.

Pinkley received a first place trophy in the Sports Action category and a second place award in the Feature category.

In total, eleven of Richland’s yearbook students participated in the day of training on various topics from leadership and pagination to photography and social media.

“I’m very proud of all of our staff,” said yearbook advisor Kyle Carter. “Our photographers put in many hours of work honing their skills and to have four of our six photos that we submitted to place is exceptional.”

More than 375 students from the Bootheel attended the event held at Southeast Missouri State University.

Shown in the photo from left to right are Drew Hickson, Katie Pinkley, and Parker Miller.

Photo by Skie Pinkley/Richland R-1 School