ZALMA STUDENT COUNCIL SALUTES FALLEN STUDENTS

The Student Council at Zalma schools have paid tribute to fallen alumni with memorialized plaques to be displayed for upcoming students to see.

The memorials were donated by Liley Monument Works of Marble Hill, whose state of the art abilities have once again created a beautifully engraved stone. Owner Chris Liley donated the three plaques, which memorialized three former students of Zalma High School who tragically lost their lives.

Dave Foster, an artist at Liley's, was responsible for the free hand sketching, which includes colored pictures and lettered engraving.

The plaques pay tribute to three teenagers, two of which died in 1985 while students at Zalma, and one who died shortly after graduating from Zalma.

"This was a way that we could pay respect to them," said Jeane Myer, president of the Student Council. "We had talked about it for some time, but weren't able to follow through until this year."

Jeanie Eddleman, a Zalma teacher who sponsors the Student Council, was pleased with the plaques.

"They will be placed in the school for all students to see," she said. "This was an important project for us. We are thankful to Chris (Liley) for his donation."

Randy Gene Bennett and Kellie Joyce Talley were buried side by side in Berrong Cemetery near Gipsy in March 1985 following an accident on Highway C near the Bollinger-Stoddard County border.

The couple was driving from Advance to Zalma on a Saturday evening, March 10, when they found themselves in the path of a drunk driver. The driver was later found guilty on two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Bennett was 18 and Talley was 15 when their lives were taken. Both were honor roll students and members of the Beta Club. Bennett had been a 10-year perfect attendant of Zalma schools, was a member of the varsity team and a blackbelt in karate.

James Dale Moody died July 14, 1994 following a long bout with cancer. He was able to graduate from Zalma High School before the disease took his life.