A total of 11 students from the Graduation Center were awarded certificates for completing the Gateway 2 Jobs program with distinction on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce.

This is the fourth year the Chamber has hosted G2J as a way for students to better position themselves to land a job following school. Chamber President Steve Halter credits Sharon Kissinger of Sharon Kissinger Investments for helping the Chamber with the conception of the program, which included a series of visits from business leaders and exercises such as mock interviews.

For the first time this year, the Three Rivers Endowment Trust awarded a $500 scholarship for a G2J graduate to attend the community college. Austin Dodsin, who would like to become a diesel mechanic, was selected as the recipient upon winning an essay contest.

Above: [From left] Chamber President Steve Halter, Austin Dodsin, Miranda Porch, Kenneth Guard, Jordan Holloway, Tiffany Shockley, Hannah Wallace, Kelsey Bradley, Martika Blackmon, Tiara Holloway, Whitney Brown and Grad Center teacher Gaelle Freer.

Below: Austin Dodson receives the G2J scholarship from Three Rivers College Director of Development Emily Parks, in partnership with Steve Halter of the Chamber.

CPR training was recently extended to the entire R-I staff after medical professionals credited our athletic trainer and coaching staff for saving the life of a student athlete this summer.

About 85 district employees representing all buildings and numerous departments participated in the voluntary training offered by R-I Health & Drug Free Coordinator Sheryl Talkington and her school nursing staff after business hours in the Missouri Room.

Poplar Bluff Junior High School seventh graders were among the 400 attendees who participated in Safety Day on Monday, Oct. 6, at the Lake Wappapello Visitor's Center, during which students learned about the importance of safety in both farming and every day activities.

The event was sponsored by Butler County 4-H through the University of Missouri Extension, Poplar Bluff Future Farmers of America, Progressive Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Above: PBJHS Principal Bob Case demonstrates how to properly milk a cow.

The Poplar Bluff Public Library hosted its first Local Author Fair-featuring two recently published authors from the school district-on Saturday, Oct. 4, during the Iron Horse Festival.

Communication arts teacher Rachel Stiber [pictured below with husband Sean] of PBJHS released "Elise's Choice" via Creative Prose Publishing based in Utah on Aug. 25. "Elise's Choice" is a fantasy novel about a young lady who must make a choice that ends up affecting her life as well as the lives of everyone in her village, according to Stiber, who writes as a hobby.

Art teacher Charles Gearhart [pictured above personalizing books for students] of O'Neal Elementary released "Never Nurse a Grudge" via Rocking Horse Publishing in St. Louis on Sept. 23. "Never Nurse a Grudge" is about friendship and just how fragile friendship really is, and how a purely innocent action or a thoughtless act can tear a rift in that tenuous bond, according to Gearhart, who has from an early age wanted to publish a book.

Both books are available at Barnes & Noble as well as Amazon.com, among other places.

The Poplar Bluff High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps participated in the Homecoming Parade, beginning at the Black River Coliseum, on Friday, Oct. 3.

Above: Cmdr. Brandon Davis leads the Pvt. Billie Gene Kanell JROTC Battalion.

Below: [Front row, from left] Pvt. Courtny Ferguson; Pvt. Jonathan Ausbon; Staff Sgt. Jerica Eaker; and Cpt. Alyson Metz; [back row] Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Miller.

The Poplar Bluff Mules Booster Club has selected Poplar Bluff High School Tennis star Stephanie Hobbs and Mules Football standout Steven Haley as the September Athletes of the Month.

Haley, a junior, completed nine games with 113 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and three sacks. His cumulative GPA is 11.036 weighted.

Hobbs, also a junior, is the No. 4 varsity player with a singles record of 7-5 and a doubles of 5-7. Her cumulative GPA is 11.2 weighted.

Above: Pictured presenting the plaques is Booster Club President Jason Smothers.