[igloo]

Anyone familiar with the Van Buren area, please fill me in. Thanks.

[woopig_sooie]

Umm.... what do you want to know? Van Buren and Fort Smith are basically the same town. It's just like any other larger town in Arkansas. Basically anything you want, you will find there. Maybe if you ask some specific questions I may be able to help you out.

[igloo]

Originally Posted by woopig_sooie

Umm.... what do you want to know? Van Buren and Fort Smith are basically the same town. It's just like any other larger town in Arkansas. Basically anything you want, you will find there. Maybe if you ask some specific questions I may be able to help you out.

Actually we are looking at a small farm in the Natural Dam, Ark. area about 15 miles north of Van Buren. I figured maybe the attitudes of the residents may be about the same, but maybe more clannish in small community like Natural Dam. I have 2 mixed race kids, 4 & 10, and would hope they would be received OK by residents. Is it still hilly in the Natural Dam area. We lived in Mtn. Home, Ark. for 12 years 1982-1994 before going to Alaska and now West Virginia. Would like for my son to eventually attend either the U of A in Fayetteville or go to the branch in Fort Smith for 2 years and then transfer to Fayetteville. Do you know much about the branch in Ft. Smith? Any info is appreciated.

[woopig_sooie]

I dated a girl from Cederville which is really close to Natural Dam, so I know the area you're talking about. Yes it is still hilly there, but it drops off fast as you go towards Fort Smith which is in the Arkansas River Valley. I don't know how you're kids will be accepted. If they go to a small high school like Cederville HS, they may get some hard times, not necessarily for being mixed race but just for being new. I would think that they would be perfectly ok in a larger school district like Van Buren.

UAFS is a very good little school. They've received lots of praise in the state for academics and for a a pretty good basketball team. The UA Main Campus is of course the largest university in the State and is continually ranked among the nations top universities for academics expecially engeneering and agricultural sciences. And most importantly its the home of the RAZORBACKS!!!

[igloo]

Originally Posted by woopig_sooie

I dated a girl from Cederville which is really close to Natural Dam, so I know the area you're talking about. Yes it is still hilly there, but it drops off fast as you go towards Fort Smith which is in the Arkansas River Valley. I don't know how you're kids will be accepted. If they go to a small high school like Cederville HS, they may get some hard times, not necessarily for being mixed race but just for being new. I would think that they would be perfectly ok in a larger school district like Van Buren.

UAFS is a very good little school. They've received lots of praise in the state for academics and for a a pretty good basketball team. The UA Main Campus is of course the largest university in the State and is continually ranked among the nations top universities for academics expecially engeneering and agricultural sciences. And most importantly its the home of the RAZORBACKS!!!

Thanks for the info. By the way, wasn't it great to see the hogs beat Auburn last week!!!! I was a hogs fan before moving to Ark. back in 1982 and still am and enjoy seeing them on TV when they are on.

[woopig_sooie]

Yeah, that was a great game and it finally got us a little bit of national respect. Can't wait till Nov. 11th, we have Tennessee at Fayetteville. Should be on ESPN!