Volume 2 Issue 27 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association September 2005   The Leaves....They will be A' Changin It's not too early to start planning your fall trip for foliage viewing. Anticipation of cooler temperatures, the crispening of breezes and the collage of colors the leaves turn, grows with each day. Everything you need to know to begin planning an autumn trip can be found on www.Arkansas.com Wonder which roadways offer the best views? You'll find it here. Want to know about attractions along the way? That's here also. Curious about how fast the leaves' colors are changing? You'll find weekly reports from our statewide spotter network here, beginning September 29. All this information, combined with the helpful Arkansas Vacation Planning Kit, which includes an official highway map, enables you to plan the perfect fall excursion to the Natural State.   Don't Procrastinate....If you want to be one of the first to stay at the new Mount Magazine State Park lodge or cabins. According to Arkansas State Parks Director Greg Butts, the park will begin accepting reservations September 6. The facilities are expected to open to the public in early spring of 2006. The lodge, which has 60 guest rooms and 13 cabins, is located on a bluff overlooking the Arkansas River Valley. The lodge will also have an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant, gift shop, and conference center. The cabins feature one, two, or three bedrooms and have kitchens, wood-burning fireplaces, and outdoor porches with hot tubs. Contact the park toll free at 1-877-665-6343 Reprinted from Arkansas Dept. of Parks & Tourism PETIT JEAN STATE PARK ORGANIZING LITTER PICKUP EVENT FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP KEEP PETIT JEAN STATE PARK BEAUTIFUL Petit Jean State Park Volunteers are needed for Petit Jean State Park's annual fall litter pickup campaign on September 10, 2005. The cleanup is being held in conjunction with the Great Arkansas Cleanup, the annual fall statewide litter pickup campaign presented by Keep Arkansas Beautiful, a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc. This year's cleanup will begin with registration at 8:30 am at Petit Jean State Park Pavilion A. The cleanup will go on all morning and will include picking up trash in all areas of the park, including, along trails, in the picnic/playground area, and around Mather Lodge and the Visitor Center. The park will supply trash bags and work gloves to all participants. This year's cleanup is sponsored locally by Tanyard Springs Resort & Conference Center, Green Bay Packaging Inc., Winrock International, Dalton-King Packaging Inc., Sound-Craft Systems Inc., Mayor Stewart Nelson, Wal-Mart, Sysco Food Service, Tyson Foods, Frito Lay, Agri Co-Op Supply, International Paper Co., Coca-Cola & Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. of Arkansas, Sonic of Morrilton, Sonic of Dardanelle, Sonic of Perryville, Petit Jean Meat/Morrilton Packing Co. Inc., Regions Bank, Museum of Automobiles, and Cedar Falls Hotel. About the Great Arkansas Cleanup The statewide kickoff date for the statewide Great Arkansas Cleanup is Sept. 10. Events are being organized across the state during September and October as part of the Great Arkansas Cleanup. Last year, the cleanup was the most successful ever, involving 197 events in 54 Arkansas counties. Just over 20,000 volunteers picked up almost 4 million pounds of trash; cleaned up 4,678 miles of roadway, 136 parks and public areas, and 1,063 miles of shoreline; and close 42 illegal dumps. Approximately one-quarter of the trash was diverted from landfills and recycled. The volunteer-driven effort provided the state and participating communities a cost-saving value of just over $2 million. The Great Arkansas Cleanup began 36 years ago as the Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Cleanup. In 1985, U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers guided legislation requiring an annual pickup event during the weekend after Labor Day on all federal lands. This law, the Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Act, honors the founder of the event. Mr. Garner continues his advocacy for a clean and litter-free environment as a member of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Foundation Board of Directors. The statewides sponsors for this year's cleanup are the Arkansas Dept. of Environmental Quality, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Dept., Keep America Beautiful Inc., Sam's Club and Wal-Mart Stores, and Glad Force Flex. About Keep Arkansas Beautiful Keep Arkansas Beautiful, a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc., works to engage volunteers to enhance local communities through effective actions to reduce litter, encourage recycling and promote scenic beautification. It operates as a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and is overseen by a nine-member commission appointed by the governor. The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission is funded by 1 percent of the one-eighth-cent conservation tax, and by utilizing volunteers, returns to the state a cost-benefit value of almost $7 in community for each program dollar spent. For more information about Keep Arkansas Beautiful, call 1-888-742-8701 or visit KeepArkansasBeautiful.com.     University of the Ozarks Clarksville, AR Oceanographer, forensic pathologist highlight U of O series Renowned oceanographer Jean-Michael Cousteau and forensic pathologist and Hollywood consultant Dr. Gary Telgenhoff will highlight a diverse group of speakers and entertainers who will visit University of the Ozarks during the upcoming year as part of the 2005-2006 Walton Arts & Ideas Series. The theme for the upcoming series will be "Imagination and Exploration" and will include seven events throughout the academic year. All of the shows will be held in the Walton Fine Arts Center on the Ozarks campus. Tickets are $10 per person for each show. Season tickets will also be available for purchase in early September. For more information on the 2005-2006 Walton Series or to order tickets, please contact Director Ginny Sain at 479-979-1346   Petit Jean State Park Founders Day In 1906, the Fort Smith Lumber Company sent a group of men to survey the are known at Petit Jean Mountain. At the time this seemed like just another survey, nothing out of the ordinary. However it was during this expedition that the idea of preserving Petit Jean as a park came to be. A man by the name of Dr. T.W. Hardison worked for years to preserve Petit Jean and in 1923 legislation was signed creating Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas' very first state park! On September 3, Petit Jean State Park will be remembering the founders of the park with a Founder's Day Celebration. At 8:30 in the morning, hike to the Natural Bridge and experience the scenery that inspired Dr. Hardison. At 11, walk through the camp and view structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. At 2, the annual Riddle Hunt will take place! See how well you know the park by figuring out clues. Take part in a game of Petit Jean Softball at 4. The final program of the day will be a presentation titled, "The Beginning of a Dream: The Tale of Dr. T.W. Hardison." All programs are free and open to the public. Make plans for this fun-filled day of honoring the men that made Petit Jean State Park into the place we enjoy today! For more information, visit them online at www.petitjeanstatepark.com or call 501-727-5441 ?DID YOU KNOW? Reprinted from Arkansas Dept. of Parks & Tourism * An 1834 Little Rock banquet honoring Colonel Davy Crockett, who was on his way to the Alamo, featured bear meat as the main course. While in Little Rock he stayed at the Hinderlighter Tavern, now a part of the Historic Arkansas Museum. * Though born in New York City, Winthrop Rockefeller (1912-1973), adopted Petit Jean Mountain as his home following World War II. Rockefeller became the first Republican elected governor of Arkansas since the Civil War. A member of one of the nation's wealthiest families, he served as governor of Arkansas from 1967-1971. During his tenure, he obtained approval of the first statewide minimum wage law and helped outlaw casino gambling in the state. * One of every five Confederate casualties at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee on April 6-7, 1862, was from Arkansas * One of the first "sit down" strikes in American history occurred at Coal Hill in 1886 when convict laborers refused to work in the coal mines.   LABOR DAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE AT LAKE DARDANELLE STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER Fish Aquarium at Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center Friday Sept. 2nd 1 pm- Great American Camper Quiz...Bring your whole family and see how much you know 4 pm- Deer, Beaver, and Bear Oh My!...Believe or not, these animals have had a rough history here in Arkansas. Learn what happened, why they've had a hard time, and how we've got them back 6 pm- Lake Cruise...Tours are free, but space is limited Saturday Sept. 3rd 1:30 pm- Fish Feeding and Nature Tales...Don't miss the excitement every Tues. & Sat. when park staff feed the fish in the large aquarium display 4 pm- Snakes ALIVE!...Learn how to recognize some of the most common venomous & non-venomous snakes of Arkansas 6 pm- Camper Cruise... (For campers only)...Go & explore Lake Dardanelle on an evening lake cruise 9 pm- Endangered Arkansas...Learn about the species we are in danger of losing, and what we're doing to help Sunday Sept. 4th 9 am- Sunday Stroll...Meet interpreter Amber at the head of Meadowbrook Trail to explore the area 1-3 pm- A Nibble of Nature-Insects...Stop by the visitor center and take a nibble of nature home with you 3 pm- Nature Movie...Enjoy a bit of nature on the big screen in the Visitor Center Classroom 7 pm- GO FISH!...Learn some interesting facts about the fish of Lake Dardanelle as presented by a colorful cast of characters Monday Sept. 5th LABOR DAY 9 am- Kayak Cruise...Join Park Interpreter for some basic kayak instruction and an outing on the lake. Space is limited 11 am- Seed Mosaics...Join Park Interpreter at the Amphitheater to make beautiful mosaic out of seeds you see and use everyday! 1 pm- Flying Fish...Learn how fish in the wild are designed for speed, camouflage & protection against predators 2 pm- Ice Cream in a Bag...Join Park Interpreter on the back of the visitor center to cool down with some homemade ice cream you can make yourself For more information regarding schedule of events call 479-967-5516 or email lakedardanelle@arkansas.com 4th Annual Get WILD in Arkansas It is the 4th Annual get WILD in Arkansas, wild game cook off and Razorback watch party. It will be open to the public at 11:00 a.m. on Sept. 24th. It will be held at the War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, AR. General admission: Adults $10.00, kids over 5 $5.00. At that price you will be able to get in the stadium, able to sample all the best of the best wild game delicacies, and you can watch the Razorbacks play Alabama on three big screen TV's set around the concourse. Mid-Life Crisis will be playing throughout the day. The kids will be able to go play on the football field and play where the Razorback's play and other activities including moon walks, face painting, and assorted football games. Easter Seals will be having a beer garden where you contribute $10.00 to them and you have all the beer you want. They are also having a silent auction, and vendors selling food and Razorback items. All proceeds from this event are for scholarships to the University of Arkansas. So get out and watch the Hogs and be at the largest Razorback Watch Party! For more information or if interested in competing in the cook off you can contact Kelley Renard 501-664-0340 ext 343   New & Renewing Members * Denotes New Member * America's Best Value Inn & Suites Arkansas River Valley Arts Center Arkansas State Parks Arkansas Valley Farmers Assoc. Arvac Inc. Best Western Inn-Russellville Best Western of Arkansas Best Western Sherwood Inn- Clarksville Byrd's Adventure Center The Copper Outlet Catfish "N' Centerville Dragway, Inc. Chamberlyne Country Club Chambers Bank Chart Bank 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 Diamond State Brochure Distribution Service Dixie Cafe' First Electric Cooperative Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites Feltner's Whattaburger First Arkansas Valley Bank-Russellville First National Bank-Paris First Security Bank-Clarksville Great Arkansas Pig Out Gretchen's Fine Gifts Hampton Inn-Clarksville Hampton Inn-Russellville Heifer International Hot Springs Convention & Visitor's Bureau Lake Dardanelle State Park Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Morrilton KOA Mt. Magazine State Park Mt. Nebo State Park Museum of Automobiles Oark General Store & Cafe' Oppelo Flea Market Paris Area Chamber of Commerce Perry County Perry County Economic Development Corp Petit Jean Meats Petit Jean State Park Petit Jean Trail Rides * Petit Jean Vista Retreat Post Familie Vineyards & Winery Regions Bank-Clarksville Regions Bank-Russellville 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 University of AR Division of Continuing Ed-Fayetteville University of the Ozarks-Clarksville Wiederkehr Wine Cellars Williams Junction Grocery Yell County Telephone Yell County Mt. Magazine State Park Committee Yesterday's Restaurant & Bar Betty Selman Charles Gordon Russell Lyons We would like to extend a special THANKS to all our Members!!! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Automotive enthusiasts from all over Arkansas and the surrounding states will converge on London town hall (just outside of Russellville) the morning of Saturday, October 29th for the start of the sixth annual "London to Paris" road rally, hosted by the Arkansas Region (77) of the Sports Car Club of America. For more information call 501-888-1897 or 479-885-0603. For more information about the Arkansas Region (77) SCCA, visit website www.arscca.org. Arkansas' Wine Country Calendar of Events Dardanelle Sept 17: 57th Annual Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry Mt. Nebo State Park. 10k run/walk, delicious chicken dinner, horseshoe tournament, Lil Miss & Mr. Pageant, kids games and activities, inflatable rides, pony rides, arts and crafts booths, live entertainment, chicken calling contest, and lovely legs contest. For more information call Vicki Sutton 479-229-3328 Sept 24-25: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Fishing Tournament Lake Dardanelle is a hot spot for anglers from all over the country. Spectators are invited to watch them weigh in their lunkers and see what's out there for you to catch! For further information call 479-967-5516 or email lakedardanelle@arkansas.com. Free admission for Spectators. Russellville Sept 12-17: Pope County Fair Pope Co. Fairgrounds. For over 50 years fair goers have been enjoying the Pope Co. Fair in Russellville. With carnival rides and games, mouth-watering food and contests and stock shows, there is something for everyone. For more information call 479-968-7098. Admission: TBA Sept 24: 1st Annual AirFest 2005-Thunder in the Valley Russellville Regional Airport. Static displays of modern, antique and vintage aircraft, classic cars, and custom motorcycles. Numerous aircraft, powered parachutes and rotor-copters perform before skydivers descend on the airport. Professional pilots perform exciting aerial aerobatic maneuvers. For more information call 479-880-7003 or visit website www.fly-low.com/rvpa Admission: $5 in advance, $7 at the gate. Oct 29: 14th Annual Downtown Fall Festival and Championship Chili Cookoff Train Depot, Historic District. For more information, call 479-967-1437 or email msrsvl@cei.net Clarksville Sept 6-11: 107th Annual Johnson County Fair Johnson Co. Fairgrounds. Horse show, livestock, pet show, exhibits, Fair Queen, Teen Miss, and talent contests, log sawing contest and carnival. For more information call 479-754-2340 Sept 17-18: AATRC/Fearnot Team Roping Foothills Arena. Admission: Free Sept 23-25: Team Josey Barrel Clinic Foothills Arena. For more information on these events, contact Nila Moore 479-497-2688 or visit website www.tangleshoe.com Oct 1: Diamond Bluff Horse Sale Oct 1: 20th Annual Chamber of Commerce Talent Show Clarksville Fine Arts Bldg. For more information call 479-754-2340 or visit email cjccofc@centurytel.net Oct 8: Fire Safety Awareness Parade & Kidfest Safety Fair East Hill to Marvin Vinson Center. For more information, call Dayna Trembley Hilton 479-979-7328 or email daynark@cswnet.com Oct 8: DHS Teacup Auction for the Kids Johnson Co. Fair Bldg. Admission: Free. For more information, call Carol Blackard 479-754-2355 Oct 20-22: Arkansas Rodeo Association State Finals Foothills Arena. For more information on Foothills Arena, contact Nila Moore 479-497-2688, website www.tangleshoe.com, email foothillsarena@centurytel.net Morrilton Sept 5: Petit Jean Founders Day Petit Jean State Park. In 1923, Petit Jean became the first state park in Arkansas, thanks to the efforts of Dr. T.W. Hardison. Ten years later, Civilian Conservation Corps laid the foundation for the park as we know it. Join them for a special programs and activities honoring the founder. For more information call 501-727-5441 or visit their website www.petitjeanstatepark.com. Admission: Free Sept 10: Great Arkansas Cleanup Petit Jean State Park. Help "Keep Arkansas Beautiful" by joining the folks at Petit Jean for a few hours of litter pickup along the park's roads and busy areas. Volunteers will be rewarded with a free cookout lunch, followed with door prizes sponsored by their supporters. Admission: Free Sept 20-24: 98th Annual Conway County Fair Conway Co. Fairgrounds. Parade, amusement rides, livestock, exhibits, and outdoor concerts. Admission: at the gate. For more information call 501-354-2377 Sept 21-24: Petit Jean 8th Annual Fall Swap Meet & Military Vehicle Rally Museum of Automobiles, Petit Jean Mountain. Over 1,500 spaces available with cars, parts, antiques, crafts and much more. Military Vehicle rally on Friday and Saturday. Open daily 8 a.m to 6 p.m. No admission. For more information email info@museumofautos.com or visit their website www.museumofautos.com Oct 18: Fall Senior American Special Petit Jean State Park Oct 29: Halloween on the Mountain Petit Jean State Park. For more information on these events, call 501-727-5441 or visit their website www.petitjeanstatepark.com. Subiaco Sept 10: 7th Annual Subiaco Abbey Arts Fair Abbey grounds. Outdoor art fair sale. Society for creative anachronism performance add demonstration musical entertainment and food. For more information call 479-934-1005. Admission: Free Paris Sept 24: Highpoint Rendezvous Mount Magazine State Park. Visit a mountainman encampment to experience frontier life as living historians demonstrate camping, clothing, cooking, firearms, archery, and other activities during Arkansas' highest rendezvous. For more information call 479-963-8502. Admission: Free Oct 1: 26th Annual Mt. Magazine Frontier Day Downtown Paris. For more information call 479-963-2244, email parischamber@centurytel.net, website www.paris-ar.com Centerville Dragway Sept 4th & 18th: Points Race Oct 1: SL/TNT Oct 2: Points Race Oct 8: SL/TNT Oct 9: CLOSED Oct 15: SL/TNT Oct 16: Double Points Race Oct 22nd: 13th Annual Street Legal State Championships Oct 23rd: Possible Make-up day for Street Legal Championships Oct 29: SL/TNT Oct 30: Points Race For more information on the above events call 479-576-4001 email cvdrag@arkwest.com website www.centervilledragway.com Perryville Sept 24: Global Village Day Heifer Ranch. Take a walk around the world during this day of music, food, and fun celebrating international cultures and Heifer International's work around the globe. Hands-on activities, Heifer Ranch animals, and more! For more information call 501-889-5124 or visit their website www.heifer.org. Admission: Free Altus Wiederkehr Village Sept 23-25: 42nd Annual Wiederkehr Village Weinfest Grounds of Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, Inc. Help them celebrate their 125th Anniversary at the 42nd Annual Weinfest. Swiss/German theme, grape-stomping contest, live music, arts & crafts, horseback rides, free polka lessons, tram rides, tours and tasting with games, contests, food, wine, and lots more! For more information call 1-800-622-9463 or visit their website www.wiederkehrwines.com