Volume 4 Issue 2 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association August 2006 GEOCACHING AT ARKANSAS' STATE PARKS Geocaching- How about a high tech treasure hunting adventure? The latest rave in outdoor sports is geocaching, now available in 40 Arkansas State Parks. The hallmark of Arkansas' state parks system is its diversity, and this wide variety of natural and historic settings, landmarks and architectural works, makes the state parks great getaways for enjoyable geocaching sport. Come explore the State Parks of Arkansas and test your cache seeking skills in some of The Natural State's most scenic and historic settings. For geocaching details and clues, go to: www.geocaching.com. This is the official web site where you can learn about the latest caches in your area, how to hide a cache, and how to start experiencing this fun and exciting scavenger hunt sport. Geocaching is allowed in 40 of the 51 Arkansas State Parks. For a list of parks, visit www.arkansasstateparks.com . Park staff at the individual state parks will welcome your questions, or you can contact the State Parks Director's Office in Little Rock by sending your email to: info@arkansasstateparks.com. Reprinted from Arkansas.com    Hang gliding off Mt. Nebo DID YOU KNOW? Did you know Mount Nebo is one of the three flat-topped mountains in the Arkansas River Valley that are homes to Arkansas State Parks? You can see the other two mountains- Petit Jean and Mount Magazine from Mount Nebo. Rising 1,350 feet above the mountain valleys of west central Arkansas, majestic Mount Nebo offers visitors spectacular views of 34,000-acre Lake Dardanelle, the Arkansas River and the surrounding mountain ridges. Named after the biblical Mount Nebo, the flat-topped mountain is fringed by the Ozark National Forest and is home to Mount Nebo State Park. Mount Nebo has been inhabited since pre-Civil War years and has a long history as a favorite vacation destination in Arkansas. During the 1890's, a resort hotel named the Summit Park Hotel was built to house steamboat passengers on the Arkansas River. These summertime visitors, like today's park visitors, enjoyed the mountain's cooler temperatures, lush vegetation, abundant wildlife and breathtaking scenery. In 1928, Mount Nebo was designated as a state park, Arkansas' second state park following Petit Jean. During the 1930's, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the majority of the trails, bridges, cabins and pavilions in the park. Numerous private residences share the top of the mountain with the state park. The approach to the summit of Mount Nebo is breathtaking too. State Hwy 155 zigzags up the eastern side of the mountain. From base to top there are a series of tight hairpin turns. Trailers or RV's over 24 ft. long should not attempt the climb. One of Mount Nebo State Park's finest attractions is its unique trail system. Seven trails provide more than 14 miles of hiking pleasure. Some of the trails built by the CCC follow the natural "Bench" around the mountain. Other trails lead to the park's fascinating historical and natural features. To reach the park office or make campsite reservations call 479-229-3655 or to make cabin reservations call 1-800-264-2458 or email mountnebo@arkansas.com. University of the Ozarks News Ozarks' PBL group shines at national event Several University of the Ozarks students took home honors at the 2006 Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference, held recently in Nashville, Tennessee. Shandy Russell took first place in Business Communications and fifth in Management Concepts; Christina Irigoyen took first in Information Management; Karla Sosa placed first in International Business; Massiel Garcia took third in Management Concepts; Maria Denise Duarte placed fourth in Sales Presentation; Miguel Vasquez took sixth in Future Executive; Vanessa Young finished eighth in Accounting for Professionals; Luis Sanchez took eighth in Economic Concepts; and Lori Moon placed 10th in Future Business Executive. In the team and chapter competitive events, Gaby Mata and Jose Barahona finished third in Business Ethics; the team of Jerry Garnez, Jose Barahona, Kasie Osmon and Jana Rossmaier finished fourth in Parliamentary Procedure; the team of Stacy Counts, Jose Dieguez and Lori Moon finished second in Community Service Project; Russell took fifth in Local Chapter Annual Business Report; KZ Inyama, Kasie Osmon and Rossmaier took sixth in Partnership with Business Project; and Sarah Casey, Evelyn Hernandez and Sergio Quiroz placed eighth in American Enterprise Project. The U of O's PBL Chapter also received the Gold Seal Chapter Merit Award and placed second in the Southern Region in the Category of Largest PBL Local Chapter with 102 active members. "It was a banner year for our students and the best year yet in U of O's 49-year association with FBLA-PBL.," said Dr. Robert Hilton, the sponsor of the university's PBL Chapter. Other University of the Ozarks PBL advisers included, Dr. Randy Hilton, Dr. Rickey Casey, Robert Wofford, Cynthia Lanphear, Joel Rossmaier and Deborah Sission. Wofford was recognized at the national convention with Adviser Service Recognition Award for his 20 years of service. For more information log on to their website at www.ozarks.edu FUN EVENTS GOING ON IN THE RIVER VALLEY The Great Arkansas Pig Out is on it's way! August 4th - 5th, 2006 Join the folks at the Morrilton Fair Grounds for the 18th Annual Great Arkansas Pig Out Lots of food, games and big entertainment For more information, call the committee at 501-354-2393 or visit website at www.pigout.org   River Valley United Way Golf Tournament to be held at the Chamberlyne Country Club in Danville on August 12th For more information call 479-968-5089 17th Annual Rockin' on the River Valley Fest 2006- Russellville (Old Post Park) August 18th-19th For more information call 479-968-7819 or visit website www.valley-fest.org Hot Summer Nights Concert Series presenting Jason Campbell and Singletree held at the Depot Park in Russellville August 26th 8:00 - 10:00 pm For more information call 479-967-1437 CENTERVILLE DRAGWAY Where Racing Action is at its best! Aug. 5th: SL/TNT/Street Bike Shootout Aug. 6th: Bracket Points Race Aug. 12th: SL/TNT/Hot Street Shootout Aug. 13th: Closed Aug. 19th: SL/TNT Aug. 20th: Bracket Points Race + cop CARs Fall schedule coming soon! For more information visit their website www.centervilledragway.com Bargains Galore on 64 is set for Aug. 10-12   Offering a 160 mile yard sale along U.S. 64 from Ft. Smith to Beebe is the 7th Annual Bargains Galore on 64. Items for sale include antiques to flea market items. While there are no limitations on what vendors may sell, they are encouraged to offer antiques and collectibles. This annual event is held Thursday-Saturday, the second weekend in August Designated a "Travel Treasure" by Southern Traveler magazine, the sale draws family vacationers and dealers (both buyers & sellers). For more information visit www.bargainsgaloreon64.com. Reprinted from Arkansas.com PRESS RELEASE FROM ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY ARTS CENTER The new exhibit at the Arts Center this month is "Circles of Life" by Jane Hartfield. The exhibit will be open for viewing throughout the month of August. Opening reception will be held on August 6th from 1-3 p.m. Everyone is invited to come by and see this beautiful collection of Fiber artwork. Exhibits are free and open to the public. Jane grew up in northern Louisiana and attended college in Mississippi; she married Jerry Hartfield Jr. and moved to Memphis, Tennessee. In 1976 she moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas. She graduated nursing school in 1979 and although Jane has had no formal art training she has worked with various techniques and fiber in many forms. Jane's work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and shows in the area. "As a developing artist I am beginning to recognize certain images and symbols which recur frequently. The most predominant symbol is the circle. These circles are not perfect and often break into spirals" said Jane. "Circles can represent eyes, bubbles and bowls. Spirals signify growth, which can occur systematically, or with unexpected turns, the textures inspire. I push myself to find new ways to express how much I love life and art" said Jane. For more information, call 479-968-2452 or visit their website at www.arvartscenter.org 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 Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites Feltner's Whattaburger First Arkansas Valley Bank-Russellville First National Bank-Paris First Security Bank-Clarksville 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 *Paris Ponderosa Vacation Rentals 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 *Ron Knost Russell Lyons Lou Vitale * Denotes New Member Tri-Peaks Executive 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. Carol Martin- Johnson Co. Pat Kowalewycz- Johnson Co. Nancy Rogers- Johnson Co. Bro. Mel Stinson- Logan Co. David Flugrad- Logan Co. Lynn Wright- Logan Co. Jan Allen- Logan Co. Doug Brandon- Perry Co. Bill Greene- Perry 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. Welcome New Tri-Peaks Members! Ron Knost PO Box 9117 Russellville, AR 72801 And Paris Ponderosa Vacation Rentals Mr. William Hughes 2330 South State Hwy 309 Paris, AR 72855 Paris Ponderosa View from the Paris Ponderosa For more information on the vacation rentals call 786-351-2088 Shores Lake, Ozark National Forest CALENDAR OF EVENTS Clarksville Byrd's Adventure Center August 2-5: 10th Annual Ozark Deaf Timberfest, call 479-667-4066 for more info Danville August 12th: River Valley United Way Golf Tournament, Chamberlyn Country Club, call 479-968-5089 for more info Perryville August 9th: Walks through History, 11 am in front of courthouse, call 501-324-9880 or visit www.arkansaspreservation.org for more info Russellville August 4-5: Great Arkansas Pig Out, City Park in Morrilton call 501-354-2393 for more info August 18-19: Valley Fest 2006, Old Post Park call 479-968-7819 for more info August 26th: Hot Summer Nights Concert Series presenting Jason Campbell & Singletree, Depot Park 8-10 pm call 479-967-1437 for more info QUOTE OF THE MONTH Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead (1901-1978)