Volume 4 Issue 5 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association January 2007 Free things to do in the Natural State… and here are just a few in the Tri-Peaks Region! 1. Enjoy a warm welcome, a hot cup of coffee and a relaxing place to learn more about The Natural State. Visit one of the new Arkansas Welcome Centers at Texarkana, Fort Smith/Van Buren, Corning or El Dorado. View exhibits of the local area, check e-mail, make online reservations through www.Arkansas.com, and plug-in for Internet access. Next to be built are structures at West Memphis, Lake Village and Blytheville. 2. The beautiful Arkansas River valley is the setting for Arkansas Wine Country, where four wineries on Ark. 186 S. offer tours and wine tastings: Mount Bethel; Post Familie Winery; Wiederkehr Wine Cellars; Chateau Aux Arc. And at Cowie Wine Cellars visit the Arkansas Historic Wine Museum in Paris. 3. For grand vistas, travel to the highest point in Arkansas (2,753 feet) at Mount Magazine State Park, complete with a new lodge, cabins, conference center and visitors center. South of Paris. (479) 963-8502 4. Established in 1878 as a Benedictine Monastery, Subiaco Abbey now serves as a college preparatory school for boys. Pick up a brochure on-site for a self-guided walking tour to view the dramatic stone architecture and manicured grounds. Scenic Ark. 22; (479) 934-1000 5. A herd of about 450 elk range in the northwest portion of the state along the Buffalo National River. Catch a view of the magnificent beasts and other watchable wildlife in the pastoral setting of Boxley Valley on Ark. 21. …More things to do Sam's Throne, Ozark Nat. Forest 6. Pedestal Rocks and Kings Bluff trails offer up-close looks at Ozark Mountain geology. Both trails in the unique area feature easy hiking, but border high cliffs with steep drop-offs. There are picnic areas and parking available. Take Ark. 7 to Pelsor, turn right (east) on Ark. 16 and go 6 miles. 7. Take Altus exit 41 off I-40 to Ark. 186 for a drive over St. Mary's Mountain and past vineyards, wineries and St. Mary's historic church. 8. The newest outdoor craze is geocaching. Geocaching is a treasure hunt where participants use a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device to hide and seek containers along with others taking part in the activity. Arkansas's State Parks are a great place to try your geocaching luck. Information and guidelines can be found on ArkansasStateParks.com. 9. Take a moderate hike to Eden Falls. From Ark. 43 between Boxley and Ponca, turn onto the road to Lost Valley, which is part of the Buffalo National River. Follow the marked trail to the bluff shelter. Eden Falls is located at the far end of the massive overhang. For more information on free things to do in the Natural State; visit www.arkansas.com. Reprinted from Arkansas.com   Travel Industry Launches New Web Site to Make Getting a Passport Easier in Advance of New Requirements Washington, DC - The travel industry has launched a new website, GetAPassportNow.com, to inform travelers about new passport requirements and to help them get passports. The purpose of the website is to also educate travelers about pending deadlines contained in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) recently revised by Congressional action and provide easy access to passport information. "The message is that if you want to travel to or from the U.S., get a passport," Travel Industry Association President Roger Dow said of the new website. WHTI requires all air travelers to the U.S. to have a passport or other secure document by January 23, 2007, including Americans returning from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In addition, all travelers by land and sea must meet this requirement by an unspecified deadline no later than June 1, 2009. Just 27% of all Americans currently have a passport, while 40% of Canadians have the official government-issued travel document. "We don't want anyone to be surprised by the new requirements," Dow said. "No one's vacation or business trip should be ruined because they didn't know they needed a passport." The one-page site explains the new passport requirements, cites the deadlines, and provides links where citizens of the U.S., Canada and Mexico can get information about and applications for their respective passports. It is intended to supplement efforts by the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security to inform travelers about the new rules. TIA and the Travel Business Roundtable (TBR) have worked closely with Congress and the Administration to ensure that the new rules provide enhanced security for travelers with minimal disruption. Visit the new web site now at www.GetAPassportNow.com. Reprinted from Travel Industry Association   Winthrop Rockefeller Center News Paint the idyllic charm of Petit Jean Mountain A three and one half day Art Escape is set for February 4-7, 2007 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Center of the University of Arkansas System. Three different workshops will be taught by a working artist. Workshops include: Ink drawing/Watercolor with Sheila Parsons, MSW Pastel Painting with Dr. Mary Ann Stafford Oil Painting with Bill Garrison Quail and Songbird Habitat Workshop January 26th, 2007 This workshop will train private landowners on the biological needs of quail and songbirds, beneficial land management practices, and state and federal resource programs available for land assessment and habitat establishment or restoration. For more information on these events call 501-727-5435 or visit website at www.wrcenter.net Reprinted from wrcenter.net University of the Ozarks News Walkers donate $2.96 Million for Teacher Education Program Clarksville, AR- the U of O has announced a $2.96 million gift from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation of Fayetteville that will give teacher education in Arkansas another big boost. The gift will endow the maintenance and operations of the University's Walker Hall, the 34,000 square foot, state of the art, teacher education and communications center that opened on the Ozarks Campus in 2002. …More good news from the University. CenturyTel made a donation of $5,000 to the U of O on Dec. 12th. The donation will be used to increase the University's bandwidth and expand the capacity to provide quick, reliable internet connectivity for U of O students. Reprinted from Ozarks.edu Eagle Awareness Weekend January 13th - 14th Join the folks at beautiful Petit Jean State Park as they spend two days devoted to our national symbol, the bald eagle. A variety of programs will be offered, including an introduction to eagles, field trips to Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge to see the wintering bald eagles, a live Raptor show and the Vultures of Petit Jean. Contact the park for more information at 501-727-5441 or visit them online at www.petitjeanstatepark.com. Admission: Free   American Bald Eagle Lake Cruises at Lake Dardanelle The air is crisp and our American bald eagles have returned to the lake for the winter! Park interpreters will lead weekend boat excursions on the lake in search of our national symbol. Contact the park for times and to make your reservation. Space is limited. American Bald Eagle Lake Cruises will be held from now until February 28, 2007 at Lake Dardanelle State Park. For more information; contact the park at 479-967-5516 or email lakedardanelle@arkansas.com. Admission: Free     Arkansas River Valley Arts Center News Winston Taylor to Exhibit Pottery- Sun. Jan. 7th 1-3 pm at the Arts Center POTTERY CLASSES Instructor Winston Taylor Children's Pottery 8 weeks, 55.00 members 60.00 non-member 1st-5th Grade Wednesdays 4-5:30 begins January 10, 2007 All Supplies include Teen Pottery 8 weeks, 65.00 members 75.00 non-members 9th-12th Grade Tuesdays 4-6 p.m. begins January 9, 2007 All Supplies included Adult Pottery 10 Weeks 115.00 members 135.00 non-members Days: Tuesdays 11 am - 2pm begins January 9 Wednesdays 11 am - 2 p.m. begins January 10, 2007 Evenings: Mondays 6-9 p.m. begins January 8, 2007 All Supplies included For more information; call 479-968-2452 or visit website www.arvartscenter.org   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. 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 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 Russell Lyons Ron Knost Lou Vitale * Denotes New Member Cedar Falls, Petit Jean CALENDAR OF EVENTS   Centerville Jan 6: New Year's Bracket Showdown Jan 7: Make up Date For more information; call Centerville Dragway @ 479-576-4001 Clarksville Jan 1: A-Ok New Year's Blowout Barrel Race Jan 13: Arklohoma Cutting 9 am Jan 20: Central AR Stock Dog Assoc. Sheep Trial 8 am Jan 26-27: World Champ "Jerry Barrett" Pole Bending Clinic For more info on the above events; call Hurley's at 479-754-5555 Jan 12: Saddle Series Barrel Race 6:30-8 pm @ Foothills Arena Jan 13: Timed Event Series-Open/CRRA Approved 1-6 pm @ Foothills Arena Jan 20-21: Ed Wright Barrel Clinic (hrs set @ enrollment) @ Foothills Arena For more info on the above events; call Nila Moore at 479-497-2688 Morrilton Jan 13-14: Eagle Awareness Weekend @ Petit Jean State Park For more information call 501-727-5441   THOUGHTS TO THINK ABOUT "The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be." ...Marcel Pagnol "Just Hug and Hold On Tight" ...Author Unknown "If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things." ....Albert Einstein Reprinted from Team Max, Inc. Newsletter