Volume 1 Issue 1 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association July 2003 Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor and Education Center Grand Opening Lake Dardanelle State Park opened its $3 million visitor and information center and fishing pavilion on June 19, 2003. Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Sharon Trusty, Richard Davies, executive director of Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism; Greg Butts, director of Arkansas State Parks; Andy Thomas, Lake Dardanelle Park Superintendent were among the 300 attending the grand opening. Freshwater aquariums in the visitor's center have more than 7,000 gallons of water with tanks representing the Illinois Bayou and Big Piney Creek tributaries, the Arkansas River and Lake Dardanelle. History panels, touch screen kiosks, a large topo relief map and living exhibits including a zebra mussel tank, a prey tank, a wet touch table for turtles and a live bee hive make this a great destination for Arkansas families and tourist. Visitor's can also watch a short video in the theater on the natural and cultural history of Lake Dardanelle State Park. The center also houses a classroom, multipurpose meeting room, park staff offices and exhibit hall to host traveling exhibits. The center is open Friday and Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm, and Sunday through Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm. For more information contact the park at 479-967-5516.     On Thursday several Tri Peaks Board members were in attendance for the official opening of the new Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor and Education Center. Mingling with the dignitaries were Vicki Lyons, Betty LaGrone, Lou Vitale, Wally Scherry, Jim Ray Holbrook, David Flugrad, Beebe Huett and Patty Styles. Other Tri Peaks meeting regulars Angela Bonds, Andy Thomas, John Brown, Shannon Sheppard, and Mike Dandurand were working the crowd or just plain working hard to make the day a success. Russellville A & P sponsored the Watta Burger catered meal. It was a great day for Russellville, State Parks and the Tri Peaks Region. Tri Peaks will begin holding their regular monthly board meetings at the facility beginning in July. Photos by Jim Holbrook   Johnson County Peach Festival Parade "Peach Stars and Stripes" is the theme for this year's Peach Festival Parade. The parade will take place July 19 beginning at 10 a.m. in Clarksville. Parade entries will travel from West Main to East Main, turning at Holy Redeemer Church to Cherry Street and ending at the University of the Ozarks. Peach Festival events will take place during the week of July 14-20th: contact Lois Roble. 754-7312. www.jocopeachfestival.8m.com/       Firework Safety Set off legal fireworks only in an area where it's allowed by local laws. Supervise the use of fireworks when children are nearby. Set off fireworks only in a clear area away from dry brush or lots of people. Light fireworks one at a time and then move quickly to the recommended safe distance. Never light fireworks in your hand.   Watercolor Workshop at Arts Center Cynthia Schanink will offer a unique method of painting with watercolor in a three-day workshop July 21-23 at the Arkansas River Valley Arts Center. Schanink has studied watercolor for more than 20 years and has taught watercolor workshops in Summit House, her home/studio on Mt. Nebo. Several techniques will be taught including wet on wet, wet on dry, stamping, stenciling and more. For information or to register contact the ARV Arts Center at 479-968-2452 by phone or email arts center@centurytel.net Tri-Peaks Monthly Tourism Information June tourism information for the Tri-Peaks region has been sent to 41 states. June request totals: Web Site - 53 Phone Inquiries - 18 AR Vacation Planning Kit - 147 Spring & Summer Inserts - 27 Business Leads Reports - 12 Visitors to WEB site -624     Promote Arkansas Travel Alliance Partners (TAP) includes 26 group tour operators in the United States and Canada (all of which are National Tour Association members) who have teamed to market their products and services nationwide. TAP has offered Arkansas an advertising special consisting of at least one "Arkansas Style Treasure Tour" editorial in their respective newsletters, brochures and/or Web sites. This will result in 26 new opportunities to promote The Natural State. For more information, contact Jane Ellen Frazier, Group Travel Manager, janeellen.frazier@mail.state.ar.us.     "Hot Deals and Packages"  To give summer business an extra boost, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism has mounted a special campaign promoting hot deals and packages during June. Television spots in Dallas, Memphis, Tulsa, Joplin and Shreveport will emphasize Arkansas's proximity to these locations, detail the state's diverse activity selection and invite viewers to visit www.arkansashotdeals.com. The Web address will take potential visitors to the "Hot Deals and Packages" page of arkansas.com. For information on how to get your business listed contact Kerry Kraus at (501) 682-1925 or kerry.kraus@mail.state.ar.us, or contact Sarah Harper at (501) 682-7602 or sarah.harper@mail.state.ar.us American Legion Tournament To Be Held In Clarksville The Clarksville Farmers Bank American Legion Baseball Team has been selected to host the American Legion Tournament to be held July 17th through the 22nd at the Clarksville City Park. Teams participating in the double elimination tournament will be from Paris, Greenwood, Ozark, Alma, Bentonville and Clarksville. Event coordinator, Bruce Wilson said, "I'm sure all of the teams will be looking for places to eat and some may be looking for motel accommodations, gas and other amenities". "The many tourists this five-day event will bring to Clarksville and Johnson County will have a substantial economic impact on our community. Call Bruce Wilson at 479-754-3790 for more information.     Hospitality Seminar   The Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce annual Hospitality Seminar was held June 4, 2003 at the Clarksville Hampton Inn. Motivational speaker Paul Vitale, President and CEO of Vital Communications, presented the seminar this year. Participants learned how to deliver exceptional service and partner with customers, resulting in more repeat business, great word-of-mouth advertising, and increased profitability. The seminar covered verbal and nonverbal communication; listening; guest needs and expectations; and attitude. The training program taught employees how to see things from the customer's point of view. Employees learned about striving for service excellence. All 60 participants received certificates from the Arkansas Hospitality Association in Customer Service.   Travelin Arkansas Events "The Pulitzer Prize Photographs: Capture the Moment," an exhibit of every photo that has won a Pulitzer Prize since their establishment in 1942, is currently on display at the Hot Springs Convention Center and will continue through July 25. The exhibit is free and open to the public. 501-321-2027 www.hotsprings.org /1-800-SPA-CITY   Hang out in Fort Smith during July for the Fort Smith National Historic Site's Execution Anniversary Program. The interpretive programs are presented on the anniversary dates of executions that were carried out during the years that the federal court had jurisdiction over Indian Territory, 1873-1896. Anniversary dates of executions are the only times nooses are hung from the gallows. The number of nooses each day matches the number hung that day. The gallows program is not a reenactment of the punishment. The program is free. (479) 783-3961. Heralding summer, the 59th annual Rodeo of the Ozarks will take place nightly at 7:30 July 1 through 4 in Springdale. For ticket information, call (479) 927-4530 or 1-877-927-6336. Admission ranges from $9 to $15. Online tickets are available at www.rodeooftheozarks.org. The rodeo is held at Parsons Stadium on Ark. 265 in Springdale. In conjunction with the rodeo, the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale is hosting an Old West Film Fest. On July 1-4, vintage western movies, this year featuring Will Rogers, will be shown each day at 1 p.m. Admission is free (479)750-8165 www.springdaleark.org/shiloh. Square dancers from across the Southwest will celebrate Independence Day at Mt. Nebo State Park on July 3-5 during the 52nd annual Mt. Nebo Square Dance. The public is welcome to join the heel-stompin', toe-tappin' fun in the large pavilion in the campground each evening. The park is seven miles west of Dardanelle on Ark. 155. [NOTE: Ark. 155 zigzags up the mountain and includes hairpin curves. Trailers over 24 feet should not attempt the climb. (479) 229-3655 On July 4, the Arkansas Post Museum State Park near Gillett will celebrate Independence Day with special activities from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. billed as An 1804 July 4th. All activities associated with the event will be free. Admission fees for touring the museum are $2.50 (plus tax) for adults and $1.50 (plus tax) for children six to 12. Children under six are admitted free. www.nps.gov/arpo. The 17th annual World Championship Cardboard Boat Races will take place on July 4 in Heber Springs. The fireworks display, proclaimed the largest in the state, will start at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, but there is a $5 parking fee. (501) 362-2444 www.heber-springs.com. A performance by country music singer Trace Adkins, a patriotic tribute and a fireworks show will be among the activities July 4 as the southwest Arkansas town of Nashville hosts its annual Stand Up for America Celebration in the City Park Amphitheater. (870)-845-7405 nashpark@arkansas.net. Arkansas's colorful heritage will be celebrated on July 12 at Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park's Homespun Day in Scott. (501) 961-1409. Experienced and novice butterfly watchers are invited to participate in the annual Butterfly Count to be conducted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Queen Wilhelmina State Park near Mena on Saturday, July 12. Those wishing to join the count should bring binoculars and a butterfly field guide and meet in the lobby of the park's lodge. Located 13 miles northwest of Mena atop Rich Mountain. (479) 394-2863. www.queenwilhelmina.com. Arkansas native and rockabilly music legend Sonny Burgess will perform a free outdoor concert on Saturday, July 19 at the Old State House Museum in Little Rock. (501) 324-8649. A two-session workshop, "Fun with Family History," will be offered from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. July 17 and from 9 a.m. to noon July 24 at the Shiloh Museum in Springdale. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. For more information, call the museum at (479) 750-8165. Altus celebrates the 20th year of the Altus Grape Festival on July 25-26 in the Altus City Park. The festival begins at 5 p.m. July 25 with an opening ceremony followed by a street dance for all ages until 11 p.m. Events begin the next morning with breakfast in the park from 7 to 9. Food and fresh grapes will be served, and there will be grape-stomping competitions and other grape-related games throughout the day. Admission is free. For more information, contact the Altus Chamber of Commerce at (479) 468-4191. Daisy State Park, located on Lake Greeson about 47 miles southwest of Hot Springs via U.S. 70, will host its 14th annual Fun Day on Saturday, July 26. The day of free activities will begin at 9 a.m. and will include such events as water-balloon tossing, horseshoes, volleyball, a scavenger hunt and tote-sack races. (870) 398-4487 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.   Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks&Tourismwww.arkansas.com/media Calendar of Events July-August 2003   August 7-9 Bargains Galore on 64 130 mile YARD SALE from Fort Smith to Conway   Adona July 10-12 28th Annual Summer Bluegrass Music Show August 7-8 27th Annual Cystic Fibrosis Benefit Bluegrass Show Clarksville July 17-20 Johnson County Peach Festival July 19 JC Peach Festival Parade July 19 JC Peach Festival Race July 17-22 American Legion Baseball Tournament Lake Dardanelle State Park August 2 Floating through History on the Arkansas River August 20 Angler's Choice August 27 Angler's Choice Morrilton to Aug 15 2nd Annual Rialto Country and Gospel Music July 2 Lunch & Learn Conway County Library "Native Pictographs and Petroglyphs in the Area" July28-31 Kids Camp at the Rialto August 1-2 15th Annual Great Arkansas Pigout August 4-7 2nd Rialto Creative Kids Camp Too Mt. Nebo Stare Park July 3-5 52nd Annual Mt Nebo Square Dance July 4 4th of July Fun Day July 12 Mt. Nebo Remembers Day August 4th Annual Critter Craze August 23-24 Civil War Days August 23-24 10th Annual End of Summer Fly In         Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Tourist Association 101 N Johnson Clarksville AR 72830 1-800-561-6508 1-479-754-6543   Paris July 4 Independence Day Fireworks Petit Jean State Park July 4 July 4th Fun and Game Day August 30 Dr. T.W. Hardison Day Russellville July 4 Community Fireworks Old Post Park July 14 Teen Pottery Classes ARV Arts Center July 21-23 Watercolor Workshop at Arts Center August 15-16 13th Annual Valley Fest July 28 -Aug 1 ARV Arts Center "Art Where the Wild Things Are" August 11-15 ARV Arts Center "Around Our World Art Tour" Subiaco August 10- Sep. 3 Ceramics by TY Brunson & Paintings by David Mulrininach