Volume 4 Issue 6 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association February 2007 Fort Smith Chosen as Site for U.S. Marshals Museum Fort Smith has been chosen as the site for the national U.S. Marshals Service museum, according to officials with the U.S. Marshals Service. The museum will feature artifacts and special exhibits from America's oldest federal law enforcement agency. It will also serve as an educational center and will memorialize the Marshals Service's past, present and future law enforcement roles, according to the federal agency. The museum should be open within six years and is expected to generate about $3.5 million annually for Fort Smith's economy, according to local officials. "This will reinvent tourism for Fort Smith specifically and have a major impact on the industry throughout this entire region, in all four directions," said Claude Legris, Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director. "The frontier spirit has been our brand, and this helps us cash in on that." "We want to serve as the local hub and wheel of our cultural heritage tourism, but we look forward to working with A&Ps in the state, because we understand that once we have tourists in the area we must send them on to our next group of friends," Legris said. "As Richard Davies says, "What's good for Fort Smith is good for the entire state of Arkansas." Fundraising for a building expected to cost about $15 million and operational expenses of about $5 million will start immediately, Fort Smith City Administrator Randy Reed said. The two proposed sites include one on the downtown riverfront, and one adjacent to the gallows at the National Historic Site. Reprinted from Arkansas' Industry Newsletter For more information visit www.arkansas.com. 'Cache in with The Natural State' Program is Treasure Trove of Fun for 2007 Embracing the fast-growing hobby of geocaching, The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism launched its "Cache in with The Natural State" program in January. The first cache is hidden in northwest Arkansas at the coordinates N36 19.108, W093 58.128. A cache is simply a hiding place for treasure and geo means earth. Geocaching is a global game in which people use Global Positioning Systems to pinpoint spots on the earth where treasures are hidden. Cache locations range from deep in the woods to city parks to urban locales. Caches are stashed all over the world by individuals or groups. The location of each one is marked with GPS coordinates which are shared via the Internet. Geocachers use a hand-held BPS unit in their search. Each hunt and the terrain around it vary in difficulty. Some caches contain only log books in small tins or film canisters, while others hold mini treasures inside containers such as ammo boxes. Through the "Cache in with The Natural State" program, new caches in locations throughout the state will be unveiled each month. Coordinates for the caches will be released on www.arkansas.com and at www.arkgeocaching.org. The treasures in the caches will reflect the offerings of Arkansas- from lodging to restaurants to businesses and manufacturers. Each will contain a different range of items, most of which will represent the region in which the cache is located. Caches will be monitored and restocked with prizes throughout the month they are featured. "Our geocaching program is a fun way to entice people to discover the great outdoors of The Natural State," said Jana Greenbaum, communications director for Arkansas Parks and Tourism. "Additionally, it provides a unique way to highlight the tourism offerings of Arkansas. We want people to travel the state in search of the caches and see areas they may not have visited before." For more information visit www.arkansas.com. Reprinted from Arkansas Dept. of Parks & Tourism     University of the Ozarks News John Two-Hawks Thursday, February 22, 2007 --7:00 pm Admission: $10 John Two-Hawks, a preeminent master of the American Indian flute and world renowned Indigenous musician; is an Oglala Lakota man who carries on the ancient spiritual traditions of his people through ceremony, teaching and song. His powerful, enchanting music and wisdom-filled teachings are loved by people around the world. He has appeared in movies and is an award winning live theater performer. Two-Hawks is also an internationally acclaimed recording artist who has released 12 CDs, as well as having written and published a book of wisdom and teaching entitled 'Good Medicine.' He has traveled the world sharing his cultural, character building teachings and music, which are rooted in the wisdom of American Indian tradition and respect for our environment. John Two-Hawks is a gentle, spiritual soul who will share with us, through music and discussion, his vision for the mending of the sacred hoop of humanity and the healing of the wounds we have inflicted upon Mother Earth. Reprinted from Ozarks.edu   Become a Volunteer at Lake Dardanelle State Park Informational Meetings: Friday, February 2nd, 10:00 am or Saturday, February 3rd, 10:00 am. Meet at the visitor center classroom for one of the above meetings to learn all about Lake Dardanelle State Park's newly implemented volunteer program which has opportunities for everyone. From assisting around the building to kayaking to caring for their animals, you are sure to find something that is enjoyable, as well as helpful to the park. You must be at least 16 years old to join the program. For more information please call 479-967-5516 Arkansas River Valley Arts Center News AR River Valley Arts Center to Host Local Student Art Contest Calling all student artists! The Arts Center announced it will be holding a local student art contest in April. The contest is in partnership with the Winthrop Rockefeller Center of the University of Arkansas' 2nd Annual "Arts in the Air" statewide art contest. Students from Pope, Yell & Perry Counties will be exhibiting their work at the Arts Center and competing for a chance to display their work at the statewide "Arts in the Air" Festival at the Winthrop Rockefeller Center in May. For more information contact Betty LaGrone at 479-968-2452 visit website www.arvartscenter.org.   Beyond Mac 'N' Cheese Winthrop Rockefeller Center FEB 17th, 2007 9 am - 4 pm Couples are invited to learn basic cooking techniques together so that cooking dinner can be a fun activity to do jointly, not something to dread. Cost of the course is $49. For more information call (501) 727-5435 or visit them online at www.wrcenter.net New Tri-Peaks Member Frannie's Cabin in the Ozarks Frances Caudle 877 County Road 5590 Ozone, AR 72854 (870) 446-5063 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. 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. 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 February and March meetings will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month instead of the 1st Tuesday at 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 Centerville Dragway CALENDAR OF EVENTS Centerville Feb 11: Play Day Noon-Dark Feb 18: Play Day Noon-Dark Feb 25: Play Day Noon-Dark For more information; call Centerville Dragway @ 479-576-4001 Clarksville Feb 3-4: Super 8 Super 11 Team Roping 9 am daily @ Foothills Arena Feb 9: Saddle Series Barrel Race 6:30-8 pm @ Foothills Arena Feb 19: Circus Gatti TBA @ Foothills Arena Feb 23: Saddle Series Barrel Race 6:30-8 pm @ Foothills Arena Feb 24: Timed Event Series-Open/CRRA Approved 1-6 pm @ Foothills Arena For more information on the Foothills Arena events; call Nila Moore at 479-497-2688 Morrilton Feb 10-11: Hikes, Hearts and Hugs @ Petit Jean State Park For more information call 501-727-5441 Russellville Feb 10: Annual Sweetheart Saturday @ Train Depot For more information call 479-498-2050   February Quote No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted… Aesop (620 BC - 560 BC) HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!