Annabelle (Peve) Morton Oldest Grad at 2025 North Nodaway Alumni Reunion

Annabelle (Peve) Morton, Class of 1950, was the oldest alum honored at the North Nodaway Alumni Reunion Saturday. There were 107 grads present from North Nodaway High School as well as Hopkins High School. She is a cousin of Maurice Peve of the Class of 1946. Annabelle lived in the same house for all 12 years, and she would walk three miles to school and three miles home every day. She also played on a really good Hopkins Volleyball team; apparently, all that walking got them in better shape than most teams. She said the way she lived long was to put a smile on her face and meet new people. "It's been a good life," she said. She said that Hopkins hasn't been the same since 1951, when the tornado tore up the storefront that year. The next oldest present was Bob Peve. The most recent grads present were Owen Martin and Lakota Rucker. The next youngest person present was Cameron Morrison of the Class of 2015. The next youngest was Tom Brand, Class of 1989, an author who has written several books and who now lives in St. Joseph. 

The classes of 1955 and 1974 were honored. 

Joe Brand led the group in the singing of the school fight song. Maurice Peve led the singing at alumni reunions for many years, including last year when he was present. Fred Sipes resurrected the song in the 1970's and he insisted that the band, the kids, and everyone else learn it when he was the music teacher.

There was a big contrast between the classes of 2025 and 1974; there were only 11 graduates of North Nodaway this year, while there were 34 graduates of the Class of 1974. 

Graduates of 1974 were Michele Alexander, David Blackford, Larry Chappell, Diane Dougherty, Robert Duffy, Rick Gladman, Kay Huff, Sherry Larabee, Scott Lewis, Rebecca Logsdon, Thebes Mick, Elaine Motsinger, Debra Nicholson, Judy Riley, William Schluter, Charles Turner, Linda Wood, Kenneth Barcus, Mary Blake, Carmen Collins, Debra Dowden, Linda Frueh, Margaret Gray, Randy King, Kenneth Larabee, Joy Linebaugh, Randall Lowrance, Roland Minshall, Ann Mutti, Steven O'Riley, Darla Roush, William Taylor, Randall Williams, and Kathryn Young.

There was a big contingent from the Class of 1980 present; there were 43 graduates and 12 were present Saturday. 

Officers for this year were Debbie Powell (President), Debbie Vickers (Vice-President), Janet Hoover (Secretary), and Melodee Owens (Treasurer). They, along with Joyce Hennegin, Carmen Collins, and Shelby Weddle will spearhead efforts to find officers for next year.

Joyce Hennegin has attended all but two North Nodaway Alumni reunions since 1961, when she graduated. She has attended 62 in all. Ron Baldwin came from the farthest away, from 1,320 miles. He came from Tucson (AZ). 

Ten veterans were recognized. Six teachers were recognized, including Dagmar Whipple, who has taught for 40 years.

Superintendent Chris Turpin talked about the progress of the school since last year. They had 208 students with a 94.66% attendance rate. They put on epoxy floors, gave students new lockers, fixed up the playground at Pickering, and plan to put asphalt on the new parking lot in front of the Pickering school and west of the Ag shop in Hopkins. Out of the 11 graduates, 72% will go to college or trade school and the other 28% will enter the work force. Students are designing apparel, flying drones, welding, and torching. Students can attend the Northwest Technical School where they can learn nursing, auto repair, auto body, teaching, and cooking.

This fall, Turpin announced that the school will serve as a location for Clayton Scott's new movie, "The Pastor." He said it would be a good opportunity for some kids to get their foot in the door if they wanted to pursue acting. The school offers a school play every year and perform it at the Roxy. 

There is a lot of transition at the school. Roger Johnson, the former principal, is retiring and Cody Jenkins will become the new principal. 

Stan Alexander of the North Nodaway Education Foundation reported that since 1999, when it was founded, they had given out $91,000 to 103 graduates. One of the recipients, Lakota Rucker, was in attendance. Alexander gave Ron Houston credit for getting the ball rolling.