About 70 people turned out Sept. 25 to clean up a trail on the Grandview R-2 School District campus in honor of a student who died in the spring.
James Evans drowned in the Big River in the Cedar Hill area on May 23, when he was 11.
As part of the Sept. 25 event, a sign with Evans’ photo was placed at the end of the trail to memorialize the boy, who was a Grandview Middle School student.
His mother, Helen Evans of Cedar Hill, said her son would have been touched by the memorial and the cleanup.
“Our son loved nature and being a Grandview Eagle,” she said. “He would be very proud of this. We plan to continue to maintain and improve the trail. We are very thankful to be a part of the Grandview Eagle community. They’ve given us so much support during this difficult time.”
Students, parents and district staff members took part in the cleanup along the trail, which is behind Grandview Elementary School. The Grandview campus is along Hwy. C west of Hillsboro.
Grandview Middle School Principal Don Jeffries said the trail cleanup was a way for students and others who knew James to do something positive in his memory.
“The family of James had the idea for the cleanup and said they’d like to give something back after receiving so much support and money had been raised for the family,” Jeffries said. “They suggested using the money, $680, for this.”
Jeffries said the volunteers spent several hours cleaning and improving the trail, which he believes was developed in the early 2000s and is between a half a mile and three-quarters of a mile long.
“We weeded the width of the trail,” Jeffries said. “There are a couple of outdoor classroom settings. We weeded those. Absolutely, the cleanup made an impact on the trail.
“Both for the community and the students, it was a way to honor James. It was just a great community day.
“It was great to honor this young man who always made people feel better. He was just a great student to have in the building.”