HOLCOMB DISTRICT TURNS 40

Nell Holcomb School District will celebrate 40 years of education Sunday.

The school district will host an open house and reception from 2-4 p.m. Sunday. The event will feature a choral program performed by sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.

Tours of the school will be available from 2:30-4 p.m. Refreshments will be served in the school cafeteria.

Superintendent David Fuemmeler said alumni, former teachers, students and current and former school board members are expected to attend the event, which is open to the public.

Nell Holcomb School was built in 1959 as part of a major effort to consolidate more than 60 one-room schoolhouses in Cape Girardeau County into larger school districts. Prior to the consolidation, students attended schools at Indian Creek, Brooks, Egypt Mills, Coker, Iona and Juden.

The district's namesake was a retired teacher who had taught some 45 years and was a lifelong resident of the area.

Currently, 320 students attend the district.