‘Play for Payton’

Community, school mourn loss of friend/teammate Payton Ackerson

A seat at the front of the High Plains bench was saved for Payton Ackerson, a tribute paid to the High Plains sophomore player who tragically passed away over Labor Day weekend. Inset: Ackerson in a volleyball game during her freshman season a year ago for the Storm.
A seat at the front of the High Plains bench was saved for Payton Ackerson, a tribute paid to the High Plains sophomore player who tragically passed away over Labor Day weekend. Inset: Ackerson in a volleyball game during her freshman season a year ago for the Storm.

The High Plains Community school and neighborhood gathered for a couple hours of normalcy and healing while honoring one of their own. The HPC community suffered a devastating loss with the tragic death of Payton Ackerson, a 16-year-old sophomore from Clarks who beemed with a bright, bubbly personality and a passion for animals.  Ackerson was a member of the High Plains volleyball team, a gro…