Volume 2 Issue 30 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association December 2005 2005 Arkansas Trail of Lights Be mesmerized! Be amazed! Be electrified! Harrison Turn off the faint glow of the television and follow the warm, inviting glow of millions of holiday lights awaiting you and the family. You will find fun for all ages as you set out on an electrifying adventure through The Natural State on the 2005 Arkansas Trail of Lights! These Arkansas communities have rolled out the welcome mat and turned on the holiday cheer. Both incredibly large and intimately small lighting extravaganzas are planned. Lights will cover downtown business districts, courthouses, city parks, trees, houses, and parades. In addition there will be such activities as concerts, caroling, costumed run/walks, decorated home tours, and business open houses. One location will have a live nativity, while some will have craft shows and fireworks. Several of the bigger displays are animated and drive-through. Altus A few out-of-the-ordinary events are also scheduled including outdoor skating rinks at Bentonville and Hot Springs, Caroling in the Caverns at Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View, a progressive dinner in Sulpher Springs, Eureka Springs' Christmas ball, and horse-drawn carriage rides in Bentonville, Blytheville, Texarkana, and Searcy. Luminaries will be highlighted on special days in Heber Springs and at Old Washington Historic State Park. Wynne will have a lighted holiday train display over 70 feet long, Hamburg features a little red wagon parade, while El Dorado boasts the world's largest man-made Christmas tree at the KTVE-TV tower. What has to be one of the longest--if not the longest--in length is the 40-mile-loop through at Bull Shoals, Flippin, Cotter, Gassville, Midway, and Lakeview. These six north Arkansas communities lie along Ark. 178, U.S. 62, U.S. 62B, and Ark. 126. The picturesque Cotter Bridge and Bull Shoals Dam are two highlights along the tour. Morrilton Pick up a copy of the 2005 Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights brochure at any participating Shell Superstop, Bank of America location, Arkansas Welcome Centers, or your local area Chamber of Commerce. Or better yet, order an Arkansas Vacation Planning Kit by logging on to www.arkansas.com or calling 1-800-NATURAL and you'll receive a copy. The brochures text and photographs can also be found at www.arkansas.com. Just click on the holiday lights icon. Reprinted from Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism  Christmas Open House at Petit Jean State Park It's hard to believe but the Christmas season is once again quickly approaching. Petit Jean State Park invites you to come join them in celebrating the season. On December 3, at 2:00 p.m., the park will be hosting a Christmas Open House. Come to Mather Lodge to hear the Petit Jean Community Choir perform seasonal favorites. Make Christmas crafts to use for decorations and gift giving this holiday season. After the choir performance, it has been rumored that a jolly elf, dressed all in red, will be arriving to hear all your wants and wishes this year. You will also get to have your picture made with Santa Claus. Enjoy punch and cookies provided by the restaurant staff. This fun, full of holiday cheer, is free and open to anyone who wishes to attend. For more information, contact the park at 501-727-5441 or by email at petitjean@arkansas.com   Mount Nebo Victorian Christmas Open House Saturday, December 17, 2005 1:00-4:00 p.m. Mt. Nebo State Park invites you to stop in and share in their Victorian Christmas Open House at the Visitor Center between the hours of 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Since the days of the old hotel that once sat on Mt. Nebo, visitors have enjoyed getting away to the beautiful scenery and peacefulness of Mt. Nebo. Their Victorian Christmas is a reflection of the traditions and history behind those old days on the mountain. While at the Visitor Center, you can enjoy Victorian era decorations refreshments and do some holiday shopping! At 2:30 pm, children and adults can participate in historic Victorian party games as you wait for Santa to arrive in his old-world dress. Candy canes and Christmas "crackers", a Victorian tradition, will be given to all children who come see Santa. The park is located south of Dardanelle and Russellville. From I-40, Exit 81, take Hwy. 7 South through the city of Russellville to Dardanelle, turn right onto Hwy. 22 West, then left on Hwy. 155 South up the Mountain. For more information call the Visitor Information Center at 479-229-3650 or visit their website at www.ArkansasStateParks.com/MtNebo     University of the Ozarks Theatre's "The Guys" to benefit RFD #1 The U of O Theatre Department will present a two night performance of the play, "The Guys," at 7:30 pm on Dec. 8th & 9th in the Walton Fine Arts Center as part of a fund-raiser for Johnson County RFD #1 Fire Safety Team. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for Senior citizens. A total of $4 from each general admission ticket and $1 from each Senior citizen ticket will go toward RFD #1. For ticket information, contact the Humanities and Fine Arts Division at 479-979-1349   Drive~Through Living Nativity At Heifer Ranch On December 2nd-3rd at Heifer Ranch in Perryville, a drive-through living nativity of five familiar biblical scenes related to the birth of Jesus Christ and featuring live actors and animals including camels, donkeys, and cows will be offered from 6-8 p.m. After the drive-through, guests are invited to join Heifer Ranch staff for refreshments and hands-on activities for kids, including making ornaments and interacting with ranch livestock. The event will be free and the ranch's international gift shop will be offering a 20% discount during event hours. For more information, call 1-800-696-1918 or visit their web site at www.heifer.org.  ABOUT HEIFER INTERNATIONAL Since 1944, Heifer International has worked to bring help, healing and hope to millions of impoverished families worldwide. In its first 60 years, Heifer assisted 7 million families or the equivalent of 38 million women, men, girls and boys. In areas where hunger and despair once prevailed, Heifer programs have reinvigorated communities through livestock, training, and "passing on the gift." Heifer Ranch is one of Heifer International's three U.S. education centers focusing on world hunger solutions and organic gardening and other sustainable agricultural practices. At Heifer Ranch, more than 25,000 visitors a year become familiar with the root causes of poverty and hunger and Heifer's work to help the world's poor achieve self-reliance. For more information, call 1-800-696-1918 or visit their website at www.heifer.org Heifer Ranch, Perryville The 6th Annual Mobility-Impaired Deer Hunt on the Johnson County Waterfowl Rest Area south of Clarksville was again a huge success this year. Virgil Irvin The intent of this event is to provide a quality recreational opportunity for a special group of the nations' population that have a permanent physical condition that severely impairs their mobility. It provides proper access and hunting blinds to individuals who are capable of using a firearm but whose ability to access most hunting areas is restricted. Here is a letter of thanks to all the Sponsors from Billy Fryar: "I want to personally thank each sponsor for donating your time and money for me to be able to participate in the deer hunt. I have been in a wheelchair for 5 years and I have been on this hunt for the last 3 years. If it were not for all of your acts of kindness and generosity I would not be able to participate in one of my most favorite activities. I look forward to this hunt every year because I know that I will truly have a great experience and lots of fun. Again thank you for your continued support in helping make this possible for all mobility-impaired hunters." Sincerely, Billy Fryar The New Mt. Magazine State Park Lodge is currently recruiting for full time and part time positions. They offer a stunning location, fun environment, and the opportunity to work at Arkansas' Newest State Park. Attend their Job Fair and Investigate the possibilities. December 3, 2005 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Visitor Information Center, Hwy 309 South Paris, AR. For more information call 479-963-8502 There will be on-site interviews, refreshments, informational seminars. More than 40 jobs available- full and part time. They are currently needing Housekeepers, Maintenance Staff, Cooks, Wait staff, Clerks, and Cashiers. SEE YOU AT THE TOP! Mt. Magazine Visitor Center  Thoughts to Think About... "The manner in which it is given is worth more than the gift". Pierre Corneille "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly". Unknown "An apology is the super glue of life. It can repair just about anything". Lynn Johnston "You're the only person on earth who can use your ability". Unknown Cedar Falls Calendar of Events Russellville Dec 2-3: 15th Annual Christmas Gala Arts & Crafts Show Hughes Center. Handcrafted items for gift giving or home decorating. Sat 9 am to 6 pm, Sun 9 am to 5 pm. For more information contact Kay Nolen 479-331-3593. Admission: Free Clarksville Dec 3: Christmas Lighting Ceremony Courthouse Lawn 5:30 p.m. Dec 3: Christmas Parade downtown Clarksville 6:30 p.m. This years theme "CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD" For more information, call 479-754-2340, or visit website www.clarksvillearchamber.com Foothills Arena Hwy 103 North in Clarksville Dec 3: Team Roping Jackpot @ 7 pm Dec 5: Team Roping Practice @ 7 pm Dec 10: ARA/CRRA Rodeo @ 1 pm and 7 pm Dec 12: Team Roping Practice @ 7 pm Dec 19: Team Roping Practice @ 7 pm For more information on Foothills Arena, contact Nila Moore 479-497-2688, website www.tangleshoe.com email foothillsarena@centurytel.net Morrilton Dec 1: Morrilton's Annual Christmas Parade Downtown Morrilton. For more information, contact Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce 501-354-2393, or visit their website www.morrilton.com. Dec 1-Jan 2: Christmas in the Town Lighting displays at the courthouse, library, old Post Office and Morrilton Depot Museum. For more information, contact Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce 501-354-2393, or visit their website www.morrilton.com. Dec 3: Christmas Open House Petit Jean State Park. Call 1-800-264-2462 for more information Dec 8: Night of Luminaries Morrilton UACCM Campus. UACCM displays 1700 luminaries along the main campus drive. Contact Rhonda Cupp at 501-977-2085. Admission: Free Dec 31: New Year's Eve Dinner and Dance Petit Jean State Park. Ring in the New Year atop Petit Jean Mountain. For more information call 1-800-264-2462 or visit their website www.petitjeanstatepark.com Paris Dec 3: Christmas Open House Mount Magazine State Park 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 479-963-8502, or email mountmagazine@arkansas.com. Admission: Free Dec 3: Mt. Magazine Job Fair Mt. Magazine Visitor Information Center Hwy 309 South. For more information call 479-963-8502 Perryville Dec 2-3: Living Nativity Celebrate the season like no other! Drive through the ranch to see their live illustration of the Christmas Story. For more information call 501-889-5124 or visit their website www.heifer.org