The West Plains High School folklore publication Ridgerunner was recently awarded first place in the American Scholastic Press Association’s annual competition. Hundreds of schools, coast to coast, compete in the national competition annually. The Ridgerunner has a proven track record of success, winning first place or first place with special merit from 1987-2018.
The 2022 edition was written and edited by the 2021-2022 juniors and seniors in Mrs. Dianna Locke’s publications class. Mrs. Locke and her class have been working on building the magazine back after resuming editing in 2020. Mrs. Locke says, “I served on this magazine in high school in 1987-1988, and it is no secret how much I adore it.”
The magazine was founded by Jim Decker and began in 1984. Decker, a former high school English department member, was the first to teach an Ozark Folklore class. Decker’s purpose in teaching the class and starting a new publication was to “keep the spirit of the Ozarks alive.” Mrs. Janice Langston-Bowden, a former English teacher, edited the magazine after Decker and before Locke assumed responsibility.
The Ridgerunner Fall 2022 edition is currently on sale at The Book Nook just off the square.
