User:Oark Writers Guild

The Oark Writers Guild is a literary club at Oark High School. Club sponsor is Dr. Bill Morelan. The club was formed to research and compile pertinent data about the school and the surrounding community, and to share this information with the general public through articles, programs, and similar venues.

2012-2013
Sponsor: Dr. Bill Morelan. Members: Carley Allen, Stone Larrison, Tamara Payne, Samantha Sampley, Abby Sanders, and Helen Stewart. The major focus for the inaugural year was the "Tri-Centennial Tree" - an ancient southern red oak that towers over the campus. In the fall of 2012, the Arkansas Forestry Commission estimated its age at 316 years old. Students did research about the tree and helped secure a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council to fund a historical marker. This was placed on Highway 215 in front of the school in a community-wide dedication ceremony. The featured speaker was State Representative, Betty Overbey.

2013-2014
Sponsor: Dr. Bill Morelan. Members: Colton Humble, Stone Larrison, Cory Maag, Brenda Payne, and Alexis Scott. Projects this year included 1) creating and/or updating Wikipedia entries related to Oark and the surrounding area; 2) co-sponsoring the first annual "Mulberry River Rendezvous" - a pre-1865 reinactment event held at Bryd's Adventure Center to emphasize the history of the Mulberry River Valley; 3) beginning work on a tourist-oriented book about the area, tentatively titled "Hidden Places of the Mulberry River Valley".