By Paige Gurgainers

Heads up! Lakeside Jr./Sr. High School will be overrun with (Sibley) Bulldogs, (Sibley) Raiders, (Central) Dragons, (Dubberly) Eagles and (Heflin) Hawks next weekend, March 28 – 29. 

Originally this reunion of south Webster alumni, organized by Jay Anderson, was planned for the “best” decade – graduates of the 1980s.  

“Well, I started getting contacted by folks asking, ‘What about ‘79, what about ‘77, what about the 90s?’ So, I changed it from an ‘80s reunion to a ‘if you ever went to Sibley High School’ reunion,” said Anderson. “At last count, we have ticket sales from 28 different class years, which I thought was awesome. We even have folks that graduated in the mid 60s coming.” 

In recent years there have been baseball and basketball reunions held to celebrate championships and records along with the usual Homecoming shenanigans, but no proper class reunion for the old Sibley High School.  

Well, this one is going to be an all-weekend event beginning on Friday, March 28, classes will join for an alumnus only ‘Meet and Greet’ to get reacquainted and catch up between 6 and 8 p.m., but the big day is Saturday. Alumni who purchased tickets will be allowed to bring their plus one to enjoy a catered meal, music and reunion program. Past staff members of Sibley High School do not need a ticket to attend, but should contact Anderson to register.

“We have several former principals and teachers attending,” said Anderson. “Coach Jason Gould will be there speaking about sports during our program and will do a short memorial for Mr. (Robert) Holloway. We will have a moment of silence then for former classmates and staff who have passed away.”

Anderson wanted to thank Lakeside Principal, Ashley Hooter, for allowing them to use the gyms for this event. 

“She stepped up quickly and graciously offered us the gyms to hold the reunion, free of charge,” said Anderson. “I just thought that was awesome as Lakeside was the evolution from all the schools, Sibley, Heflin, Dubberly and Central.” 

Sibley High School was open from 1923 to 2000 before it was permanently closed and all the students were transferred to the brand new Lakeside High School for the fall semester of 2000.