A winter storm set to hit Eastern Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas, and the River Valley on January 23 is prompting various schools and institutions to adjust their schedules in preparation for the snowfall. The storm is forecasted to bring several inches of snow, leading to a mix of virtual learning and early dismissals.
In response to the impending weather, several school districts have opted for virtual classes, including the Brushy School District, Central School District in Sallisaw, Liberty School District, Muldrow School District, Belfonte School District, Pocola School District, and Roland School District. These measures aim to ensure the safety of students while maintaining educational continuity.
Additionally, some schools will be dismissing early on January 23. The Bokoshe School District will release students at noon, as will the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Waldron School District students will also leave at noon, while Lincoln School District will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville has scheduled an early dismissal at 3 p.m., followed by NorthWest Arkansas Community College locations, which will close at 3:30 p.m. and remain shut through the weekend.
Several sporting events have been affected as well. The Bentonville High and Bentonville West High junior varsity basketball games have been canceled. Looking ahead, wrestling and track events at these high schools are also canceled for January 24, along with a robotics trip from Bright Field Middle School to Greenwood. Additionally, the LeFlore County Tournament games scheduled for January 24 have been postponed to January 31.
On January 25, Tyson Chicken Plant in Clarksville will also be closed due to the weather conditions. As the storm approaches, residents and businesses are encouraged to stay updated on weather-related news and announcements for any further changes.