Poplar Bluff Food Service Director Dixie Harden has been named one of three bi-state winners for her leadership through the Homegrown Hero initiative, sponsored by the St. Louis District Dairy Council.

Harden, who is employed by Chartwells School Dining Services, was selected among 21 finalists from Missouri and Illinois as a grand prize recipient for striving to improve the lives of others every day in her community, according to an SLDDC press release issued earlier this month.

“Each year, we are amazed by the heroes nominated, and the work they do right here in our own backyard,” stated Kelsey Hulcher, SLDDC nutrition educator. “It’s wonderful to learn about school cafeteria workers, teachers, custodians and volunteers who creatively and tirelessly work to make their communities a better place.”

Having taken the helm in 2016, Harden has increased breakfast participation and catering services, reduced waste across campus, received kitchen equipment grant funds, assisted with the Community Eligibility Program to provide free meals to younger students, and implemented well over a dozen new programs and services at school sites, according to nominator Trish Wilson, Chartwells administrative assistant.

Enhancements to the district’s food service operation Wilson cited include: introducing smoothies, coffee, deli options, on-the-go carts and teacher snack bars, plus providing second chance breakfasts, a dinner program, oversight of the Boys and Girls Club dining service, Mule Pack distribution, and expansion of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program as well as the district’s free summer meal program.

“Within no time Chartwells exploded under Dixie’s leadership,” wrote Wilson, adding that Harden quickly became acquainted with each employee to assess their strengths. “Dixie’s number one priority is feeding her kids nutritional meals.”

Established in 2018, Homegrown Heroes is a school-based initiative created by SLDCC to promote the local dairy industry in the region. Poplar Bluff Schools was one of two districts in the country to partner with the National Dairy Council and Prairie Farms Dairy to participate in a bulk milk dispenser pilot program two years ago.

Above: Kelsey Hulcher (right) of the St. Louis District Dairy Council presents Chartwells Food Service Director Dixie Harden with the Homegrown Hero grand prize on Wednesday, April 13.

Poplar Bluff High School Choir students earned exemplary ratings in solo and ensemble performances during the Missouri District Music Festival hosted at Three Rivers College, qualifying to advance to the state level.

Receiving the highest rating in both the performance and sight-reading segments of the recent festival were: Emma Harris, Christian Redding, Isaac Reid, Lexy Rowland, Ella Skillman, Emma Tinsley, Dawson Vaughan and Brent Hanley in mixed double quartet; Brent Hanley, Isaac Reid and Dawson Vaughan in men’s trio; and Kerrigan Conley-Halliburton, Bralin Duckett, Emma Harris, Christian Redding and Isaac Reid in the solo category.

The qualifiers will perform at the Missouri State High School Activities Association State Music Festival beginning on Thursday, April 28, at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Above: (Back row, from left) PBHS Director of Vocal Music Joshua Allen, Brent Hanley, Christian Redding, Bralin Duckett and Lexy Rowland; (front row, left to right) Dawson Vaughan, Isaac Reid, Ella Skillman and Emma Tinsley. Not pictured are Kerrigan Conley-Halliburton and Emma Harris.

The Mules Booster Club has named Emilee Cheek and Brady Robertson of Poplar Bluff High School the March Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.

Brady, a senior baseball player, was 1 and 1 for the current spring season as of this nomination, with 24 strikeouts out of 51 batters faced, an earned run average of 4.083, and 7 runs allowed on the pitching mound. He also had a batting average of .516, on-base percentage of .595 and slugging percentage of 1.175, with 12 runs scored and 4 stolen bases.

“Brady is a true leader on and off the field of play” and a “mentor to the younger players on the team,” said Steven Edwards, his coach. “Brady also has goals in life to become a baseball player… as he earns an education at a university. [He] will be successful in all aspects of life.”

Emilee, a senior track runner, was a state qualifier in 2021 in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 4x1 and 4x2; 2021 district champion in the 100 and 200; and was named All-District as well as All-Conference last year and in 2019, respectively.

“Emilee has grown to be quite a strong athlete and leader," said Elizabeth Lewis, her coach. "She works hard and is willing to help when needed, whether it is on a track lineup or announcing calls for our JV meets."

Above: Emilee Cheek and Brady Robertson are presented the AOM awards on Tuesday, April 12, by Booster Club vice president Brian Taylor.

PBHS, in conjunction with the Technical Career Center, will be hosting a hiring event from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, in an effort to allow outgoing students with professional resumes to interview for open positions in the community. Employers interested in having representation at the annual event are asked to fill out the form linked here. For more information, call the TCC at 573-785-2248 or email charleskinsey@pb.k12.mo.us.

In its April edition, Poplar Bluff Living reported about the success of our new American sign language class this academic year at PBHS.

On Tuesday, April 12, the ShowMe Times reported about the student volunteers who helped remove invasive trees from our High School campus.

KWOC reported about O’Neal Principal Dr. Amy Dill winning the 2022 Missouri Association of School Librarians Award for School Administrators.

The DAR reported about PBHS StuCo’s statewide School of Character award. 

On Wednesday, April 13, KWOC reported about Eugene Field’s 9th annual Leadership Day.

The ShowMe Times reported about TCC student Drake Channell’s signing ceremony to attend the State Technical College of Missouri.

The DAR advanced our PBHS Drama Club’s performance of “The Great Gatsby.”

On Thursday, April 14, KWOC promoted the Poplar Bluff School Foundation’s annual Golf Tournament fundraising event.

On Saturday, April 16, the DAR reported about Logan Luke of PBHS being named Missouri Youth of the Year through the Boys and Girls Club.

On Tuesday, April 19, the DAR reported about PBHS graduate Isaac Laseter’s selection to receive a graduate research fellowship to attend IAA-CSIC Severo Ochoa Advanced School on Galaxy Evolution.

On Friday, April 22, the DAR posted a photo spread from the annual Special Olympics Missouri spring games, hosted at Poplar Bluff Schools.