Canceled: MLK Day celebration in Poplar Bluff

Historic Wheatley School stands behind the the Garfield Historic District marker installed in June 2023.

DAR file photo/Samantha Tucker

•• Update Jan. 14 — Organizers have canceled this event due to inclement weather.

The Poplar Bluff community will have it’s 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Program at 11 a.m. Monday at the Historic Wheatley School, 921 Garfield St.

“Living the Dream: It Starts with Me — Spreading Hope, Courage and Unity” is the theme for this year’s event, said Erin Ceesay, chair of this year’s event.

Guest speaker will be Sheila Sotolongo of Jonesboro, Arkansas. A retired flight attendant, Sotolongo lived in Poplar Bluff as a youngster. Since that time, she’s lived across the country, spending time in California, New York, Illinois and Georgia.

With her job, Sotolongo also has visited several countries.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a national holiday dedicated to remembering the life and legacy of a civil rights icon. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress America has made in creating racial equality, as well as the continued effort to fight for peace and justice. The day also encourages people to participate in events, marches and rallies to show their commitment to the cause.

Tributes will be presented by Corey Matthews and Carla Sharkey,

Vocalists will be Denzell Williams and Shelby Jefferson. The JROTC will post the colors.

“We will inform the public if there is a need to reschedule the program due to predicted inclement weather,” Ceesay said.

Ceesay is the quality programs specialist for the Missouri Department of Mental Health at the Poplar Bluff Satellite Office.

Ceesay’s committee includes Kathern Harris, Carolyn Marshall and Rex Rattler.

Ceesay explained she’s not sure why she took on the role of chairwoman, but “I am glad to assist in any way possible, and I am glad to connect with individuals that have not been on program in previous years to be on this year. I believe it is always a good thing to allow others the opportunity to use their talents.”

Wheatley School was listed on the National Register in 1998 and is part of the Garfield Historic District. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. The district represents the area where Black Americans settled early in Poplar Bluff’s history and formed a community.