Volume 4 Issue 8 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association April 2007 2007 Henry Awards Presented at Governor's Conference on Tourism The 2007 Henry Award ceremonies took place at the Governor's Conference Banquet on Tuesday, March 6th, concluding the 33rd annual Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism. The conference was held March 4-6 in Hot Springs. Governor Mike Beebe presided at the banquet and addressed more than 600 attendees concerning tourism issues in Arkansas. The speech was followed by the annual Henry Awards. The annual Henry Awards honor individuals and organizations which have made important contributions to the state's tourism industry in the preceding year. Out of the 8 Henry Awards recipients for 2007; 2 were from the Tri-Peaks Region: Grand Old Classic Special Event Award: Antique Auto Show & Swap Meet, Morrilton The Natural State Award: Mt. Magazine State Park Lodge, Paris Also, Petit Jean Meats was nominated for the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award Other winners include: Media Support Award: Entertainment Fort Smith Magazine Fort Smith Bootstrap Award: Pinnacle Mountain Rendezvous, Little Rock Arkansas Heritage Award: J. French Hill, Little Rock Outstanding Volunteer Service Award: Old Independence Regional Museum, Batesville Community Tourism Development Award: City of Hot Springs Tourism Special Achievement Award: Judge F.G. "Buddy" Villines, III, Little Rock Reprinted from Arkansas' Industry Newsletter For more information visit www.arkansas.com. More Arkansas News... Commission Recognizes Jane Christenson State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission Chairman Jay Bunyard recognized Jane Christenson at the February meeting for her longtime service to the Arkansas travel industry. She was recently appointed to the Arkansas State Police Commission, on which her father, J.E. Dunlap, served for more than 20 years. Reprinted from Arkansas' Industry Newsletter      Fun things to do at Mt. Nebo State Park this month Mount Nebo State Park is once again hosting an early morning Easter Service together with the Wesley Foundation from Arkansas Tech on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007 at 7:00 am. The celebration includes music and beautiful scenery atop Mt. Nebo. It is non-denominational service and is open to all. On April 21, 2007 Mt. Nebo will be the location of the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles CSA historical re-enactors group Civil War encampment all day Saturday. Everyone is invited to come check out what a real civil war camp looked like, complete with period clothing, equipment and weaponry. The encampment will set up in the evening on Friday and be around all day Saturday. Also on Saturday, April 21st at Sunset Point just about sunset or around 8:00 pm, Mt. Nebo State Park will host its annual spring Star Party! The event includes telescopes and a special guest speaker, Dr. Jeff Robertson, professor and director of Arkansas Tech's Observatory. Come look and learn as Dr. Robertson points out and explains objects of interest in the night sky. And last but not least, Mt. Nebo State Park will be holding its 8th Annual C.A.M.P Spring Fling Fly-In on April 28-29, 2007. Join the Central Arkansas Mountain Pilots (C.A.M.P) at Mt. Nebo's Sunrise Point to watch and learn as they hang glide throughout the weekend. Visit with the hang gliders and learn all about the sport as you watch their beautiful flights over the Arkansas River Valley. There is no charge for this event and everyone is invited to attend. For more information on the above events, call the state park at 479-229-3650 or visit their website at www.arkansasstateparks.com/mtnebo.   ALPACA SHOW TO BE HELD AT FOOTHILLS ARENA Join the folks at Foothills Arena for the 2nd Annual Alpaca Show. The show will be a full fleece halter show, spin-off and fiber sample competition. They have also added a youth obstacle class for more fun. The show will exhibit over 200 alpacas. You won't want to miss this! The show will be held at 8:00 am daily April 13th through the 15th at Foothills Arena on Highway 103 North in Clarksville. For more information call 479-497-2688 or visit them online at www.foothillsarena.com. Association to present awards to U of O alumni Clarksville, AR--- The University of the Ozarks Alumni Association will present two of its most distinguished honors to Jack Phillips of Clarksville and Dr. Charles Liston of Bedford, KY during the university's Alumni Awards Luncheon at noon on Saturday, April 14th. The Alumni Awards Luncheon is part of the university's 2007 Alumni Reunion Weekend, which will be held April 12-14 in Clarksville. Other U of O News... Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to speak at U of O Noted environmental attorney and activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will speak at University of the Ozarks at 7 pm, Thursday, April 26th, in the university's Walton Fine Arts Center. Kennedy, the third of 11 children born to Ethel Kennedy and the late U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, serves as professor of environmental law at Pace University School of Law and is co-director of Pace's Environmental Litigation Clinic. He was named one of Time magazine's "Heroes of the Planet" for his success in helping the Riverkeeper organization in its fight to restore the Hudson River. The group's achievement helped spawn more than 130 Waterkeeper organizations across the globe. Kennedy also co-hosts Ring of Fire on the Air America Radio network. Earlier in his career, Kennedy served as assistant district attorney in New York City. He has worked on several political campaigns, including the presidential campaigns of Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. Kennedy, who earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his law degree from University of Virginia, has published several books, including the New York Times' bestseller Crimes Against Nature in 2004. For more information on the above events; contact the U of O at 1-800-264-8636   Arkansas River Valley Arts Center News May Fair Art Celebration The Arkansas River Valley Arts Center, ATU Museum of Prehistory and History, and Phi Delta Kappa Educational Organization will co-sponsor May Fair 2007, an exhibition of fourth grade elementary school children's art. The annual May Fair Exhibit is in celebration of Arkansas Heritage Month during the month of May. The 2007 Heritage theme is "Our Business is Heritage: Preserving, Protecting, Promoting." Exhibit sponsors are requesting that this theme be followed in artwork submitted. A very broad interpretation is allowed such as historic or 'older' buildings, family, community historic events, historic items or activities such as baling hay or quilting. A reception for students, families, teachers and the general public will be Sunday, April 29, 1-4 pm at the Tech Museum in the Techionery Building on El Paso St. on the ATU campus. Entry to the campus is recommended via O Street, with parking in the Young Building/Administration Building parking lot east of the Techionery and the Chambers Cafeteria parking lot on O Street. All works submitted will be on exhibit from Sunday, April 29 - Thursday, May 17 in Gallery Four in the Techionery Museum at ATU. Regular hours are Tuesday-Thursday 9 am to 4 pm. For information contact the Arts Center at (479) 968-2452 or Judith Stewart-Abernathy, ATU, (479) 968-0831. Great Escape Weekend & Easter Egg Hunt Join the folks at Petit Jean State Park on April 7th - 8th. Celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring with their Great Escape Weekend. Families will enjoy free outdoor activities including nature walks, spring nature demonstrations, and entertainment. The weekend will conclude with a traditional Easter egg hunt for 2,000 eggs. The admission is free. For more information contact the park at (501) 727-5441, petitjean@arkansas.com, www.petitjeanstatepark.com. *News You Might Have Missed* Winthrop Rockefeller Center is now officially the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute University of Arkansas System For more information visit them online at www.uawri.org U.S. Postal Service Passport Application Information The Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce now has Passport information and official applications available. For more information call the Chamber at (479) 754-2340 Tri-Peaks Board of Directors President: Vicki Lyons- Johnson Co. 1st Vice President: Buddy Hoelzeman- Conway Co. Secretary/Treasurer: Betty LaGrone- Pope Co. Wally Scherrey- Conway Co. Karen Hofford- Conway Co. Baxter Sudduth- Conway Co. Carol Martin- Johnson Co. Pat Kowalewycz- Johnson Co. Nancy Rogers- Johnson Co. Bro. Mel Stinson- Logan Co. Becky Bariola- Logan Co. Lynn Wright- Logan Co. Jerry Garcez- Logan Co. Doug Brandon- Perry Co. Bill Greene- Perry Co. Ron Knost- Pope Co. Andy Thomas- Pope Co. Lou Vitale- Pope Co. Patty Styles- Yell Co. Carole Tackett- Yell Co. Jim Holbrook- Yell Co. Mike Hall- Yell Co. Please Note: The Tri-Peaks Board of Directors April meeting will be held Tuesday, April 3rd, 10:00 a.m. at Lake Dardanelle State Park. These meetings are open to the public. Tri-Peaks Members   New & Renewing Members American Realty, Inc. America's Best Value Inn & Suites Arkansas River Valley Arts Center Arkansas State Parks Arkansas Valley Farmers Assoc. Arkwest Communications, Inc. (formerly Yell Co. Telephone) Best Western Inn-Russellville Best Western Sherwood Inn- Clarksville The Copper Outlet Catfish "N' Centerville Dragway, Inc. Chamberlyne Country Club Chambers Bank Chart Bank City of Atkins City of Morrilton City of Paris City of Perryville City of Russellville Clarksville-Johnson Co. Chamber of Commerce Coffee Creek Resort & RV Park Collector's Gallery Comfort Inn-Clarksville Comfort Inn-Russellville Conway Co. Wholesale Beer Dist. Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods Cyber Creek Design Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Dardanelle Chamber of Commerce Days Inn Morrilton Dixie Cafe' First Electric Cooperative Fairfield Inn & Suites Feltner's Whattaburger First Arkansas Valley Bank-Russellville First National Bank-Paris First Security Bank-Clarksville *Frannie's Cabin in the Ozarks Great Arkansas Pig Out Hampton Inn-Clarksville Hampton Inn-Russellville Heifer International Lake Dardanelle State Park Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Mt. Magazine State Park Mt. Nebo State Park Museum of Automobiles Oppelo Flea Market Paris Area Chamber of Commerce Perry County Perry County Economic Development Corp Petit Jean Meats Petit Jean State Park Post Familie Vineyards & Winery Regions Bank-Clarksville Regions Bank-Russellville Riverfront Antiques & Galleries Russellville APC Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce Satterfield Oil Company Savanah's Riverfront Cafe' Stoby's Subiaco Abbey & Coury House Super 8 Motel-Morrilton The Grapevine Restaurant The Winthrop Rockefeller Center University of AR Community College-Morrilton U.S. Forest Service-Clarksville U.S. Forest Service-Russellville U.S. Forest Service Mt. Magazine Ranger Dist. United Country All Star Real Estate University of AR Division of Continuing Ed-Fayetteville University of the Ozarks-Clarksville Wiederkehr Wine Cellars Williams Junction Grocery Yell County Mt. Magazine State Park Committee Yesterday's Restaurant & Bar Betty Selman Charles Gordon Russell Lyons Ron Knost Lou Vitale * Denotes New Member Hangliding atop Mount Nebo CALENDAR OF EVENTS Centerville Apr 1: Bracket Points Race & Pontiacs Apr 7: Saturday Night 5-11 pm Apr 14: Street Legal Night 5-11 pm Apr 15: Bracket Race Apr 21: Street Legal 5-11 pm Apr 28: Street Legal 5-11 pm Apr 29: Bracket Points For more information; call Centerville Dragway @ 479-576-4001 Clarksville Apr 13-15: Alpaca show 8 am daily @ Foothills Arena For more info call 479-497-2688 Apr 26: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Environmental Lawyer & Activist 7 pm @ the U of O Walton Fine Arts Center. Call 1-800-264-8636 for info Dardanelle Apr 21: Star Party 8-10 pm @ Mt. Nebo State Park. For more information call 479-229-3655 Morrilton Apr (1st weekend): Bob Wills & Texas Playboys in concert @ Rialto Theater. Call 501-354-8650 for more info Apr 7-8: Great Escape & Easter egg hunt @ Petit Jean State Park. For more information call 501-727-5441 Paris Apr 21: Spring Fling (City Wide Yard Sale) for more information call the Paris Chamber at 479-963-2244 Apr 28: 23rd Annual Cowie International Amateur Wine Competition. For more info call 479-963-3990 Russellville Apr 6: First Friday Downtown Art Walk. For more information call 479-967-1437 Apr 9: Pottery classes w/Instructor Winston Taylor begin. Call the Arts Center at 479-968-2452 for more information Apr 21: pARTy in the Park. For more info call 479-968-2452 Apr 26: 15th Annual Taste of the Valley @ Hughes Center. For more info call 479-967-1437 Please contact your area Chamber of Commerce to confirm event dates.   April Quote Imagination is more important than knowledge… Albert Einstein (1879-1955)   Happy Easter!