Financial woes lessen for Greenland schools

BY BRETT BENNETT Northwest Arkansas

Things appear be looking up for Greenland Public Schools after an up and down year with finances that included the state assuming control of the district due to financial shortcomings. The 2008 spring semester started just fine but ended on a sour note after the district was declared in fiscal distress and was projected to face a major budget shortfall by the Arkansas Department of Education. In June, Education Commissioner Ken James proposed consolidating the school system with another district due to its financial shortcomings. The possibility of annexation scared not only Greenland patrons but also administrators in neighboring districts who might have to assume control over Greenland. Any district that would have taken over the school system would also have faced taking responsibility for Greenland's debts, increasing Greenland staff salaries to match their own and dealing with a complex transition. - Thursday, January 1, 2009

West Fork High School cheerleaders take State in 2008

Special to the White River Valley News

The West Fork Senior High Cheerleaders bbrought home a State Title on December 6, 2008 at the AAA state competition in Bryant. The team competed in November at the Van Buren Invitational where the team took first place in their division as well. There are 13 toal team members which include seniors: Captain: Tiffany Hurt, Brynnen Kelly and Mitchell Hammons, juniors: Captain: Jill Hassell and Amber Wright, sophomores : Courtney Blackston, Brooke Blevins, Felicia Eggert, Jimena Flores, Kinley Hughes, Jordan Hoops, May Medley, and Tessa Mesplay ; coached by Bobbie Yocum and assisted by Deborah Hughes. The state competition was tough. The squad competed against 11 other teams to claim their title as State Champs. Several of the opposing teams had twice the number of girls and sometimes 4-5 times the number of boys. To prepare for competition, the team practiced every afternoon after school. All aspects of the competition routine were extremely grueling and had to be perfected by the day of each competition. The ch - Thursday, January 1, 2009