EAST Broadband Project. The money received is part of a Winthrop Rockefeller Grant

received by the EAST Initiative for its efforts to solve the rural Broadband need in

Arkansas.

Ashdown High School has gone nationwide. Two Ashdown High School EAST

students were speakers at the National Rural Telecon 06 Conference held October 22, 23,

and 24 at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock. Alisha Proksch and Trisha Tart, both

members of the Ashdown High School EAST Broadband Project, spoke to the group of

interested participants about their project to assess the availability and affordability of

Broadband in rural Arkansas, especially in Little River County.

They explained how they are using surveys to gain data that will more accurately show

where Broadband is and is not in Little River County. They, along with eight other

participants from other EAST classes, presented the process they have and are currently

using to help enlighten the Arkansas Legislature about the need for affordable Broadband

to all areas, especially rural Arkansas. Participants of the conference included businesses

such as ComCast and Windstream. Other participants attending were mayors and city

planners of cities across the nation and Canada.

Our two young ladies represented our school well as was evident by the comments from

the conference participants that ranged from “Would you be willing to come to Kansas

State.” And “Please come to our schools and show our students how to do what you are

doing here.” Other members of the EAST Rural Broadband Project are Elizabeth Davis

(Linda-CD), Chelsie Ellis, and Donterral Hughes.

Ashdown High School and Jr. High students are again giving in a

big way to make other children happy at Christmas. Students,

Domtar employees, churches, individuals and the Kiwanis Club

join together to provide a Merry Christmas for 156 children in our

community. The names are submitted by teachers and the program

is coordinated by Peggy Tetirick at the Parent Center. The High School sponsor

is Carolyn Henderson and the Jr. High sponsor is Debbie Greathouse. All Angel Tree

gifts should be brought to school by Friday.

the District 5 FCCLA Star Events category Illustrated Talk. Also Shelby Fiegel (Joe-

HS), (9th) and Bailey Teston (9th) won the junior high division in Illustrated Talk. They

will compete on the state level in March.

The Ashdown High School Talent Show has been postponed until the spring semester

when there are not so many conflicts.

The Parent Center hosted a Santa visit for preschool youngsters, age’s birth to 5,

who are enrolled in the Ashdown School Preschool Programs. Families made a

decoration for their home, listen to a Christmas story and were served refreshments by

the sponsors of the event, Peggy Tetirick (Parents as Teachers, DeQueen-Mena Coop),

Kim Befeld (Families in Transition), Patricia Walker (21C Preschool) and Lori

Fields (HIPPY).

Ashdown High School staff will have a Potluck Christmas Party – Wednesday,

Christmas gift under $15 for the Dirty Santa exchange.

The ABC Preschool has a gift wrapping center and would like to have any unused

paper or ribbon. Children love wrapping and unwrapping gifts. What a great way to use