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State VOD Competitor
SHS Senior Blake Thompson won the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ district Voice of Democracy competition and will advance to the state competition. Thompson presented his winning speech January 5 at a VFW district meeting in Decatur where he received a medal, an all-expenses paid weekend trip to Springfield, and award money. VFW commander Russell Craig, VFW Auxiliary Commander Valerie Turnbow, VOD coordinator Jennifer Hobbs, sponsoring teacher Becky Lawson; parents: Candi Cole and Matthew Cole (step dad), father Carl Thompson; grandparents: Daniel Adrian and Gaye Adrian plus several other local VFW and VFW auxiliary members attended the awards ceremony.