Aside from talking financial matters, the Valley Grande City Council met to discuss a much lighter yet serious topic at Monday’s meeting: the 2012 sports season.

Executive committee member Larry Stover, pastor of Praise Park Ministries Church of the Nazarene, said the ball is rolling for the upcoming season of upward flag football and cheerleading and he’s excited.

“We had our first organizational meeting a couple of weeks ago,” Stover said. “We got a lot of interest in it and it’s jumping into gear. We’ve already got six people who have signed up to either coach or referee in the football or cheerleading. I’ve got 20 other people that I’m breathing down their neck, so this is going to be great.”

Stover, who said he’s been working with Valley Grande Mayor Tom Lee to get games played during March so games won’t interfere with Little League activities, said the teams would consist of 5-year-olds through fifth graders. Area children, Stover said, are also excited.

“It’s working out very, very well,” Stover said. “We’ve got really good things going. We’re all excited and fired up. We have things rolling right along.”

Stover said each child will have to pay a $60 fee, which will provide that child with all that child needs to participate in either football or cheerleading. Stover said committee members are also being trained in the area of coaching.

“I’m pumped,” Stover said. “It’s part of the reason why we say every week why Valley Grande is ‘simply beautiful,’” Stover said.

With a six-week schedule for T-ball also in place, Stover said children would be finished with the program before school is out for the summer.

Lee and other council members showed their approval in the upcoming events.

“Right now the big hurdle it seems is scheduling, putting it all together so it’s not an overlap that’s going to hinder one or the other,” Lee said. “We’re getting there.”

The council also adopted an official city handbook during Monday’s meeting. Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce executive director Sheryl Smedley stopped by to thank the council for it’s continued support and contributions to the chamber.