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More of the Tragic Story of Earle, Arkansas

More background information on the troubles in Earle, Arkansas in 1970 that might have led to the town’s current situation. I also read yesterday that the State Board of Education is threatening to dissolve Earle’s school district because of financial problems, which would force Earle children to ride nearly 40 miles roundtrip a day to attend school in Marion or in Wynne. Based on what I saw in Crawfordsville, I don’t see how dissolving and closing schools does anything positive at all. All it seems to do is destroy towns.

Abandoned McNeil High School, Crawfordsville AR

McNeil High School was the school for Black students in Crawfordsville, Arkansas before integration, and later was part of the consolidated Crawfordsville High School, but Arkansas state law forced Crawfordsville to abolish its school district because of declining enrollment, and the school campus is now abandoned. A large tree has fallen on a portion of the building, perhaps during one of the many tornado outbreaks this spring. 

3/18/11: Third Day of SXSW

For me, the third day of South By Southwest started with a breakfast at The Tavern on Lamar Boulevard just at the north end of …

4/17/10: Africa In April & Strange Fruit Vintage Launch

Africa in April has become a spring tradition in Memphis, and while it might not be exactly Freaknik, it’s as close as we’ve ever gotten …

4/15/10: Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale

I drove down to Clarksdale last Thursday to meet up with Justin Showah, the owner of Hill Country Records, who was playing the opening night …

A Requiem for Lee Street and the Death of Port Arthur

Al Kapone had arranged for me to get access to the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, where he was performing this year, so …