Members of the BHS Pioneer Statue Committee meet to select the log for the statue. Pictured above, from left to right: Joe Hipp, Kay Southerland, John Boykin, Clayton Coss (artist/sculptor), Nelson Barnett. / Image via Batesville School District.
A group of Batesville High School graduates is working with the school district to create a life-size, 7-foot wooden statue of the Pioneer based on the district’s original Pioneer logo.
A spokesman for the BHS Pioneer Statue Steering Committee said the statue will be placed in the foyer of Batesville High to promote school spirit and a sense of Batesville history.
Renowned sculptor Clayton Coss has been hired to do the wood-carved statue. Coss estimates it will take several months to complete. When finished, the statue will be placed on top of a locally sourced, marble base. (To sample the work of Coss, visit his website by clicking here.)
The committee has already raised nearly half of the projected cost, but still needs another $11,000.
To contribute, checks can be mailed to Pioneer Statue Campaign, c/o Kay Southerland, 5 Alta Vista Dr., Batesville, AR, 72501.
Contributions can also be made to a GoFundMe account for the statue by clicking here.
Above image via BHS Pioneer Statue Campaign GoFundMe page
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
