News briefs

Class

There was some good work done Wednesday writing the news briefs. It looks easy at first but it takes some work to pack in as much information as possible using as few words as possible.

Here is how I would have written the briefs.

1. More than 100 offices from several law-enforcements agencies using bloodhounds and helicopters launched a massive search early Monday for a 5-year-old Putnam County girl who was reported missing from her family's trailer. Police said Ronald Cummings, in his 20s, learned that his daughter, Haleigh, had disappeared when he arrived home from work about 3:30 a.m. and was told by his girlfriend, Misty Croslin, 17, that the child was missing from her bed. Haleigh's mother, who lives in Georgia, was driving to Florida to help with the search. Police said there were no signs of forced entry at the trailer.


2. Education Commissioner Eric Smith warned Florida public schools Wednesday to prepare for another 2 per cent cut in state funding when the Legislature meets in March. More details were not available but Seminole County schools alone face $8.6 million in further cuts. The Seminole schools superintendent said the district stood to lose $64 million next year.

3. An 18-year-old Rockledge man could face child pornography charges after his underage former girlfriend accused him to sending cell-phone images of her bare breasts to another person. Police Sgt. Eric Bell said Bryce Aaron Dixon is accused of stalking the 16-year-old girl, who contacted police as soon as she learned the photo had been sent.

4. Stump, a 10-year-old Sussex spaniel, became the oldest dog to win the coveted best in show award at the Westminster Kennel Club on Wednesday, much to the delight of the New York crowd, which cheered his victory. Stump was retired from the showring in 2004 after he became seriously ill and nearly died.