Students and teachers visit Worlds of Fun

Latham graduates are, front row, left to right, Blaize Bower, Shaun Gilpin, Waylon Potter, Grace Higgins, Isabella Fulks, Abby Lloyd, Gatlin Fulks, Myra Haas and Breck Miller; middle row, Megan Higgins, Heather Tunis, Breanna Gunnerson and Kelsay Gish; back row, Bethany Stuedle, Nicholas Bolinger, Weston Liebland Kutter Baumgartner.
Latham graduates are, front row, left to right, Blaize Bower, Shaun Gilpin, Waylon Potter, Grace Higgins, Isabella Fulks, Abby Lloyd, Gatlin Fulks, Myra Haas and Breck Miller; middle row, Megan Higgins, Heather Tunis, Breanna Gunnerson and Kelsay Gish; back row, Bethany Stuedle, Nicholas Bolinger, Weston Liebland Kutter Baumgartner.

Monday May 11, 43 students, several teachers and parents went to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City The following students earned the trip by making their AR goal for reading: Emma Batye, Ashley Bolinger, Garret Roush, Kaylee Moser, Chris Murphy, Emmett Haas, Tory Webb, Derek Bolinger, Carly Messerli, Adella Miller, Hayleigh Davis, Laila Gilpin, Bronc Hibdon, Carley Parker, Aliah Miller, Jonathan Gunnerson, Danika Latham, Dalton Mowrey, J.D. Murphy, Alexa Barrett, Kolten Fulks, Shae Mowrey, Jerry Potter, Dalila Miller, Skyler Cole, Hunter Moser, Brooke Liebl, KaLynn Irey, Walter Sandidge, William Lingle, Jazmynn Sandidge, Terri Bohrer, Harley Miller, Darrin Mowrey, Leo Potter, Destinie Tunis, Kutter Baumgartner, Nicholas Bolinger, Kelsay Gish, Megan Higgins, Weston Liebl, Bethany Stuedle and Heather Tunis. After the buses were loaded for what should have been a normal drive back to Latham near Oak Grove, the emergency sounds started going off in the bus and then the bus lost all power. Driver Hannah Haas was very controlled and steered the bus to safety. Radioing home for help resulted in a bus from the Oak Grove area being offered. While heading to the barn to get the new bus, the bus broke down again. The school was loaded onto a different bus with the hopes of hustling on back. Then a few miles down I-70 a tire was blown! Again we were stranded on the side of the road. After a good while, the Clarksburg School bus was also heading home and driver Kevin Carpenter stopped and offered to load the students onto to their bus and take them to McDonalds in Concordia while the replacement bus made it to pick everyone up. Luckily many students had ridden home with parents, or not everyone would have fit onto the Clarksburg bus. Four buses and three hours later than expected, all were home safe and sound.

May 12 was the annual k-2 Field Day at Latham School. Each of the students competed in running events, long jump and softball throw. Ribbons were given to 1-3 places. Afterwards the student body enjoyed Kool-Aid. All grades tried their strength at tug-o-war and then the day ended with everyone playing kickball.

Graduation took place the evening of May 13 for both kindergarten and eighth graders at Latham School. Kindergarten took the stage first with a demonstration of counting the days of school kindergarten style. Each student then told of one memory from the year. Awards were given and then a power point was shown of the students throughout the year. School Board President Shawn Higgins presented diplomas. The eighth grade class was welcomed by student Weston Liebl, and prayer was given by Bethany Stuedle. Valedictorian Kelsay Gish gave a farewell speech to the class followed by an eighth grade video put together by Megan Higgins. Guest speaker, Ashtyn Higgins gave the commencement address. Diplomas were presented by Shawn Higgins. Cake was served after the event. Photographer Maria Newkirk will be getting the pictures back to the school.

Thursday, around 50 bikes were loaded into a trailer and truck for a trip to the Katy Trail that did not happen due to the rain.

The Hibdon family attended the graduation ceremony at Clarksburg School on Thursday. Ike's granddaughter Abigail Barnett graduated.

At 10 a.m. Friday morning an awards assembly was held for the student body of Latham School with several family members in attendance. Following the awards, everyone went to the playground and ate lunch. New this year is a "Principal's Art Award". Hays plans to acquire a piece of artwork each year to display in the school. Having their work chosen this year were Gatlin Fulks, Bronc Hibdon, Carly Messerli, Logan Gunnerson and Breanna Gunnerson.

Friday evening Bethany Stuedle hosted an eighth grade party for her classmates. Those attending were Nicholas Bolinger, Kutter Baumgartner, Weston Liebl, Kelsay Gish, Heather Tunis, Breanna Gunnerson, Megan Higgins, Broc Elliott, Blaise Stuedle, Shanay Lepper, and Shawna Shewmaker. Saturday evening Jim and Shanay Lepper and Blaise Stuedle hosted a graduation party for Bethany. Attending were Greg and Wanda Wilde, Shawna and Brian Shewmaker, Trisha and Haylee Berve, Mark Leath, B.L. and Edna Dowell, Jim Gerke, Wes, Wilma, and Rylyee Mefford, Ashtyn, Megan, Grace Higgins, Broc Elliott, Kathy, Rick, Jamie Lepper, Terry, Lance, Isabella, Kolten, Justin, Mandy, Gatlin, Chad and Lee Fulks, Karen Pendleton, Peyton and Riley Higgins.

Gatlin Fulks turned six Thursday and had a party with his family. He also had a party at school Friday evening with many more friends and family.

The Liebl home was the location of a fish fry this weekend in honor of Brittany Liebl graduating from Versailles High School. Sixty-five people were in attendance. Brittany will be attending Merrill in the fall.

Saturday marked quite an accomplishment for Erin Cary, daughter of Paul and Elaine Cary. She has now graduated three times and three times been valedictorian. She first accomplished this at Latham Elementary from the eighth grade, then California High School, and this weekend she was again valedictorian at Lincoln University. Erin graduated with a 4.0 GPA with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and minor in Social Studies. In addition to her parents, the following attended her graduation: Lori, Dave, Megan and Allison Bailey, Sara and Lanie Holtsclaw, Lois Dunnaway, Jake Butler, and Justin Houston. With all of this behind her, she and Jake are to marry at the end of the month. All the best to Erin!

Saturday evening a graduation party for Nicholas Bolinger and a birthday barbecue for Michael Bolinger was hosted by Jim and Barbara Bolinger. Attending were Scott, Amanda, Derek, Ashley Bolinger, Guy and Maria Newkirk, Andy and Sandra Small and Vi Bolin.

Sunday, the Early Birds 4-H club met at the home of the Leppers for a demonstration on how to saddle and unsaddle a horse, by Bethany Stuedle. Those present were Lance, Morgan, Kolten and Isabella Fulks, Troy, Leo, Jerry and Waylon Potter, Megan Higgins, Derek and Amanda Bolinger, Haylee and Trisha Berve.

Michael White, son of Melissa Tunis, graduated Sunday from Stover High School.

Morgan Fulks attended a bridal shower for friend Lacey Jones, Lake Ozark, on Saturday.

Over the weekend, Shelbie Schatzer, Emmett and Myra Haas, Hannah and Ollie Fulks went to Kansas City to visit Rob, Rachel, Taelin, and Kaesin Schatzer. Friday they watched the Royals win against the Yankees! Cousins Philip, Amanda and Payton Schatzer joined them for the game.

Denise, Wiley and Garret Roush attended a birthday party Saturday in California for niece Braelynn, 4, daughter of Jamie and Deedee Miller. Sunday, all of the Roush family attended a graduation party of niece Kelsey, daughter of Randy and Jennifer Roush, at CHS.

Pilot Grove Baptist had 14 for Sunday school with more for church. Vacation Bible School is set for June 8-12.

The Green Grove Cemetery will hold its annual meeting and decoration on May 24 at 1 p.m. Contact Anita McDonald for information.

The Highland Cemetery meeting will be on May 24, at 2 p.m. Contact Lois Murphy for information.

The Latham Cemetery meeting will be held Monday, May 25, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Shelbie Schatzer is the contact.