Love is also cruel than the wilderness. Happy love how big the wound is as big, but since you think she escort you one, do not fear pain, otherwise good to go myself sy “Pine Bluff had some really good facility options on the list,” Shirey said. “The facility was not a major concern. We’re confident we can work that out in the next year.” Joy Blankenship, Dr. Blankenship’s mother-in-law and executive director of Pine Bluff Downtown Development Inc., said KIPP looked at a former Kroger store at 304 S. Chestnut St. as a possibility for the school and the old Greyhound station at 221 W. Fourth Ave. for a possible gymnasium. Both properties are owned by former Pine Bluff resident and real estate developer Elvin W. Moon. Shirey said Blytheville’s application included more than 60 personal letters of Escort support from parents, community leaders and business partners, along with $50,000 in start-up funding. Their coalition committed to raising at least the same amount in following years.

Key supporters there included KIPP advocate and state Senate Education Committee vice-chairman, Sen. Steve Bryles, D-Blytheville, several business and economic development entities and companies like Nucor Steel Arkansas, Aviation Repair Technology, First National Bank and Southern Bancorp. qjfuxtrmh0101 The Knowledge Is Power Program announced Wednesday that it has chosen Blytheville over Pine Bluff and West Memphis to locate a new charter school. Scott Shirey, director of the KIPP Delta Preparatory School in Helena, said Pine Bluff remains a “strong contender for a school opening in 2011” even though it was not chosen for KIPP’s second school in Arkansas. “We were enthused by the reception we received in Pine Bluff and we feel positive about being able to bring the program to them in 2011,” he said. “We’re going to continue to work with the community this year to strengthen the application.”

Blytheville was chosen after a competitive process in which applicants had to demonstrate community support, parental demand, financial commitments and suitable facilities. The Department of Education still must approve KIPP’s charter application for the school. The Blytheville public charter school will start with a class of fifth-graders in 2010 and add a grade each year, eventually serving about 320 students in grades five through eight. It will be led by Maisie Wright. Wright and Shirey attended a meeting last week organized by a local coalition hoping to bring the school to Pine Bluff. Similar meetings were held in Blytheville and West Memphis. ‘This is not over’

Pine Bluff native Dr. Ginny Blankenship, research and fiscal policy director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in Little Rock, started the coalition. She and other KIPP advocates for Pine Bluff were disappointed Wednesday but remained optimistic. “This is not over,” Blankenship said. “We still have a chance to make something great happen in the next couple years.” She also posted the news on her Web site, ginnyblankenship, and congratulated Blytheville for its successful campaign. Blankenship said the coalition for Pine Bluff consisted of more than 150 people of various backgrounds including local business leaders, city officials such as Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr. and educators. It was formed “just six short weeks ago” when KIPP issued a request for proposals. “Our coalition still intends to do whatever it takes to make Pine Bluff KIPP’s Escort next expansion site in 2011 and that work begins today,” Blankenship said. Asked how Pine Bluff could improve on its application, which Shirey iterated was “strong,” he said organizers should continue to expand the coalition and work to secure funding. Pine Bluff Cable Television announced last week that it would donate $5,000 a year for five years to a local KIPP school. Facilities available