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A total of 17 active members of the Poplar Bluff High School Future Farmers of America attended the annual Greenhand Motivational Conference on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Three River College, during which students learned about opportunities within the national youth organization. Through interactive workshops and skits from state FFA officers, local members were encouraged to be positive role models, get involved, make sound choices and make a positive difference in their lives, school and community, according to a press release from the Missouri FFA Association.

O’Neal Elementary School recently made 100 Christmas cards for Altrusa to circulate at the Northside Nutrition Center through the Meals on Wheels program, plus students created placemats for Altrusa’s annual Christmas party. Altrusa members [from left] are Ashley Robertson, Nila Keller, Shirley Davenport, Diana Clanahan, Gleta Gorman and Kathy Hadley, alongside O’Neal Principal Angie Rideout; students [from left] are Aaron Witcher, Mya Johnson, Bennett Allen, Kira Strouse, Zoey Vickery, Aiden Cheshire and D.J. Felty. The Poplar Bluff District Eight Altrusa has taken an interest in O’Neal since around Halloween, when the members volunteered to oversee the annual Pumpkinpalooza event and helped judge the contest. For Veterans Day, Altrusa assisted students in decorating a veterans wall designed to honor family members

Wes Simmons, a certified 3Dimensional Coaching trainer for the Midwest region, led a seminar on Friday, Jan. 16, in the Kay Porter Theater, which was attended by about 65 coaches from Poplar Bluff Schools and the surrounding region. 3Dimensional Coaching, a concept developed by Dr. Jeff Duke of the University of Central Florida, combines fundamentals, psychology and heart into developing athletes. “Coaches are the single greatest authoritative person in a child’s life,” Simmons stated. The R-I Athletic Department sponsored the event as a professional development activity during collaboration day. Bill Ray - Southeast Missouri Area Rep for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was instrumental in bringing the presenter to Poplar Bluff, as Simmons serves the sports ministry in Northwest Missouri.

Seventh grader Dillon Rice won a 32-inch flat screen television for having perfect attendance for the entire first semester at Poplar Bluff Junior High School. Dillon was among 65 students who were entered into a drawing on Thursday, Jan. 15, for maintaining flawless attendance. The students were also treated to a pizza party, as part of a new incentive program the Junior High has initiated in order to help boost attendance. The prize was made possible through a $600 donation from Ronald McDonald House Charities, which was presented by school board president Steve Sells earlier this month. A total of three TVs were purchased with the funds so the drawing can continue over the next two semesters. Smaller prizes

The AT&T Pioneers, a nonprofit arm of the telecommunications corporation comprised of employees and retirees, donated two Kindle Fires to the O’Neal Elementary School library on Friday, Jan. 9. Over the next couple years, the AT&T Pioneers plan to donate two devices to all the elementary schools in the region, including Eugene Field, Lake Road and Oak Grove, according to volunteers. In October, the organization donated special student dictionaries to all of the third graders in the R-I district as well.