Volume 1 Issue 12 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri -Peaks Region Association June 2004 www.ArkansasStateParks.com     The architect's sketch shows the view of the Addition from the pool, the view from the West, and the floor plans for the Chapel. Coury House Chapel Construction To Begin   Subiaco Abbey will begin construction on the Coury House Chapel addition sometime after the first of June and completion is projected to be around the last of November and before Christmas. The Chapel will contain a meeting room for 100 people, a Blessed Sacrament Chapel, restrooms; two small conference/reconciliation rooms, a storage room, sacristy, and lobby or gathering area. The completed project will be a wonderful addition to Coury House and to the Abbey's Retreat ministry. The Architect is "Wallie" Sprick. He was native of Subiaco and an alumni of Subiaco Academy. Wallie is an architect with Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson, Inc., Little Rock. He is also the architect for the major renovation of the monastic living areas and monastic dining room of Subiaco Abbey, which is presently underway. For more information contact Br. Mel Stinson, OSB Director, Coury House, 479-934-1291 www.subi.org   $100,000 Awaits Amateur Angler   Somewhere in the Arkansas River's roughly 300 miles between Fort Smith and Dumas lurks a bass worth $100,000. That will be the top prize at stake June 25-26 in the fifth annual Arkansas Ford Dealers Big Bass Bonanza, the nation's largest amateur fishing contest. In all, some $270,000 (based on 3,000 entrants) is expected to be awarded during the tournament, which is being produced by the Arkansas Hospitality Association in cooperation with its major sponsor, the Arkansas Ford Dealers. Last year, Earl Wilson of Plumerville bested 2,639 anglers from 17 states by landing a 6.19-pound largemouth, while participants from seven states took home prize money. For the tournament, the Arkansas will be divided into five designated pools, each with its own weigh-in site, as follows: -- Pool One, from the Garrison Avenue Bridge, near Fort Smith, south to the upstream side of Ozark Lock & Dam with weigh-ins at Clear Creek Park on the river about 3.5 miles east of Kibler; -- Pool Two, downstream from the Ozark dam to the upstream side of Ormond Lock & Dam with weigh-ins at Lake Dardanelle State Park (Russellville side); -- Pool Three, downstream from the Ormond dam to the upstream side of the David D. Terry Lock & Dam with weigh-ins at the North Little Rock Marina and Boat Dock east of the Interstate 30 bridge in North Little Rock; -- Pool Four, downstream from the Terry dam to the upstream side of Joe Hardin Lock & Dam with weigh-ins in the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Regional Park at Pine Bluff; and -- Pool Five, downstream from the Joe Hardin dam to the upstream side of Lock #2 and Dam #2 with weigh-ins at the Pendleton Bridge on U.S. 165 about 9.5 miles east of Dumas. For determining the tournament's overall prizes, Pools One, Three and Four will be combined into Superpool A, while Two and Five will be designated Superpool B. The anglers weighing in the largest fish from the superpools will each earn $25,000, with the largest fish of the two earning a $75,000 bonus. Second through tenth-place finishers in both superpools will receive prizes ranging from $10,000 to $500. (Should the tournament draw less than 3,000 entrants, the number and size of those prizes may be adjusted.) Competition will run from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. both tournament days. Beginning at 8 a.m. each day, each of the five pools will host six hourly weigh-ins. Prizes of $500, $300 and $200 will be awarded for the three biggest fish produced at each of the hourly weigh-ins in all five pools. Anglers wearing a T-shirt and cap from the 2004 tournament when their prize fish are weighed will receive a $100 bonus. Anglers may fish the pool of their choice and may change pools at any time, but a fish must be weighed in at the site designated for the pool in which the fish was caught. Only live largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky spotted bass measuring at least 16 inches in length are eligible to be weighed. Tournament prizes will be presented during a party and awards ceremony for tourney participants to begin at 4 p.m. June 26 near the Pool Three weigh-in site on North Little Rock's riverfront. Attendance is free for contestants, who may bring guests at $5 per person. Drawings for prizes will be conducted with eligibility limited to those wearing a 2004 tournament cap and in possession of their 2004 weigh-in card. The tournament's Willow Leaf Award, consisting of $1,000 cash and a commemorative plaque, will be awarded to the parent/child or grandparent/grandchild weighing in the largest bass. There are no age limits for the prize, which is intended to encourage family members to fish the tournament together. The tournament entry fee is $160 for both days or $80 for one day through June 8 and an additional $10 per day thereafter. Tournament caps and T-shirts are available for $22, which includes both items. Contestants may register in advance in person at designated sites in Fort Smith, Van Buren, Dardanelle, Russellville, Little Rock, Sherwood, Pine Bluff, Redfield, Dumas and Hot Springs. For information on the designated registration sites (and other tournament information) or to request entry forms, phone toll-free 1-800-472-5022 or 376-2323 if in Little Rock. Requests may also be faxed to (501) 376-6517 or sent by e-mail to aha@arhospitality.org. Entries can be submitted via the tournament's Web site at www.fordbigbass.com. Advance registration fees are payable by cash (except by mail), money order, cashier's check, VISA, MasterCard and through June 8 by personal check. Cash only will be accepted from those registering at weigh-in sites on tournament days. By Jim Taylor, travel writer, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism PETIT JEAN STATE PARK HOSTS NATIONAL TRAILS DAY Trails and Health a Natural Connection   Petit Jean State Park is planning a day of hiking and entertainment as part of National Trails Day, the Nation's annual celebration of trails. The event will occur on Saturday, June 5, starting at 8:00 a.m. at Petit Jean State Park. The entire state is invited to attend. The theme for National Trails Day is "Trails and Health . . . A Natural Connection." The American Hiking Society wants people to know the benefits of hiking and volunteering on trails. Not only are you doing a good deed for the environment, you will also improve your health. These health benefits include lower stress levels, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. Petit Jean State Park is perfect for hiking on this special awareness day and any day of the year. The park will have guided hikes and tours to the state's most amazing sites. These include hikes to the 95-foot waterfall and the Seven Hollows Region that burned in the wildfire of August 2000. Schedules of all the activities can be found at the Visitor Center and Mather Lodge. A prize drawing will also be held that evening where present guests can win free float trips, hiking prizes, and much more. National Trails Day is coordinated nationally by American Hiking Society, a national nonprofit trails organization, and locally by Petit Jean State Park. In addition to the event at Petit Jean, thousands of similar events will be held across the country and enjoyed by over one million Americans. For more information on this event contact the park at 501-727-5441, or visit www.petitjeanstatepark.com. For more information about the nationwide National Trails Day effort or additional Hiking Society at (800) 972-8608 x206 or visit www.AmericanHiking.org.   Mount Magazine International Butterfly Festival   Lured by more than 90 species of butterflies, enthusiasts from around the world will gather to enjoy the 8th annual Mount Magazine International Butterfly Festival in Paris on June 25-27. The festival takes place on the Paris town square and at Mt. Magazine State Park.   Festival activities on the town square will include a pageant, live entertainment, street dance, butterfly costume contest for kids, arts and crafts, butterfly conservatory and children's activities. On top of Mt. Magazine, park interpreters will offer guided hikes, seminars and additional children's activities. Mt. Magazine is Arkansas's highest peak at 2,753 feet. The altitude, geography and climate combine to create unique habitats for butterflies such as the rare Diana Fritillary butterfly. Mt. Magazine has an extraordinary richness of butterfly species. Of the 127 resident species in Arkansas, at least 91 occur on the mountain's plateau-like summit.   Admission is free. For more information, contact the Paris Chamber of Commerce at 479-963-2244, the state park at 479-963-8502, or visit www.butterflyfestival.com. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism   Presidential Guide Distributed   Presidential Pathways in Arkansas, a new publication that chronicles Arkansas presidential history since 1841, encourages travelers to visit the entire state and explore the history of presidential sites. It is being distributed through Tourist Information Centers, some visitor centers, Arkansas State Parks, Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas airports, selected chambers of commerce and the presidential sites. The publication can be downloaded by visiting arkansasglobecoming.com or arkansas.com. FLAG ETIQUETTE Upcoming Flag Day on June 14 and Fourth of July celebrations remind us that many Americans are flying the United States flag as a symbol of our nation and our freedom. Below are the rules for flag etiquette, as well as the proper ways to display and honor our national symbol. These rules and other flag information are available at www.usflag.org. Information for this article is adapted from "Getting Back to Business - Resources for Restaurateurs" as produced by the National Restaurant Association.   The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we respect the flag, also contains specific instructions on how to fly and maintain the flag.   WHEN DISPLAYING THE FLAG OUTDOORS: ·When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony or building, the union (the stars) should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff. ·When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - for instance, with a state, community, society, or Scout unit flag - the flag of the United States must be at the top. ·When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building. ·When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, place the flag of the United States in the position of honor to the farthest left. The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger. ·No other flag should be placed above it. ·Raise the flag of the United States first and lower it last. ·When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.   WHEN RAISING AND LOWERING THE FLAG: ·The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily, it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night. ·Salute the flag of the United States as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is longest. ·To salute, all persons come to attention. Those in uniform give the appropriate formal salute. Citizens not in uniform salute by placing the right hand over the heart and men with head cover should remove it and hold it to their left shoulder, hand over heart. Members of organizations in formation should salute upon command of the person in charge.   WHEN DISPLAYING THE FLAG INDOORS: ·When on display, the flag is accorded the place of honor, always positioned to its own right. Place it to the right of the speaker or staging area or sanctuary. Other flags should be to the left. ·The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of states, localities or societies are grouped for display. ·When one flag is used with the flag of the United States of America and the staffs are crossed, the U.S. flag is played on its own right with its staff in front of the other flag. ·When displaying the flag against a wall, vertically or horizontally, the flag's union should be at the top, to the flag's own right and to the observer's left.   WHEN THE FLAG IS USED IN MOURNING: ·To place the flag at half staff, hoist it to the peak for an instant and lower it to a position half way between the top and bottom of the staff. The flag is raised again to the peak for a moment before it is lowered. On Memorial Day, the flag is displayed at half staff until noon and at full staff from noon to sunset. ·The flag is to be flown at half staff in mourning for designated, principal government leaders and upon presidential or gubernatorial order. News from the Arkansas Hospitality Association   "SEE ARKANSAS FIRST"   KATV in conjunction with Arkansas Parks and Tourism will choose and feature thirteen "See Arkansas First" destinations every Thursday May 13 through August 5, during the 5pm and 6pm weathercast with Ned and Barry. Every Friday, Good Morning Arkansas will do a "See Arkansas First Travel Guide" segment informing viewers of additional places to visit and things to see throughout the state. Viewers will be encouraged to visit all participating "See Arkansas First" destinations to pick up a registration form and mail to KATV for their chance to win one of three SUV's. Registration forms will be compiled and placed in a random drawing, which will take place on August 6 during the Good Morning Arkansas program at the River Market Pavilion in Little Rock. For more information or to participate contact Maryanne Campbell at KATV, 501-324-7500, mcampbell@katv.com.   ROOM CLEANLINESS A BIG CONCERN   Cleanliness and safety are typically the top issues of concern among hotel guests, but health officials say the degree of cleaning offered by hotel staffs varies considerably. And while some may fret over a stray hair or spot on the carpet, experts say the TV remote can be the most germ-ridden item in a hotel room, as are any places around moisture, such as toilet tank lids, sinks and taps, which can hold bacteria.   Beware of Identity Theft   Attorney General Mike Beebe is advising consumers not to submit thei