Volume 2 Issue 15 Published monthly by the Arkansas River Valley Tri - Region Association September 2004 Natural State Golf Trail On the first tee of Hot Springs Country Club's Majestic Course, tourism and golf officials announced the formation of Arkansas' first golf trail today. The Natural State Golf Trail is part of a targeted effort to market Arkansans and out-of-state visitors. Ten 18-hole courses at eight facilities across the state are featured in the first year of the trail. Additional courses are expected to be added in the future. The courses included are Big Creek Golf and Country Club in Mountain Home, Stonebridge Meadows in Fayetteville, Sage Meadows in Jonesboro, Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs, Harbor Oaks Golf Club in Pine Bluff, Thunder Bayou Golf Links in Blytheville, Greystone Golf and Country Club in Cabot and Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs. Only Public courses are eligible to participate, and each course had to apply to participate. The Natural State Golf Trail Executive Committee appointed an advisory group to play and score each course based on a set of established criteria. Courses with the highest scores were included in the trail. Marketing efforts, including an advertising campaign, highway signage, brochures, a web site, toll-free number and special golf travel packages, are scheduled to begin in October. Arkansas tourism officials expect to start seeing an influx of visitors in spring 2005 as a result of the campaign. To ensure that golfers visiting the state will receive top-quality customer service, the staff at each of the courses and tourism businesses in the surrounding communities will complete the Arkansas Hospitality Association's training seminar, Hospitality University. Amendment 2 Arkansas State Parks, recreation, & Travel Commissioners approved a Resolution of Endorsement which will allow the legislature to create bonds to entice companies to come to Arkansas. Amendment 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Arkansas General Assembly, meeting in regular or special session, to approve a general obligation bond or bonds, not to exceed five percent (5%) of state general revenues, for the purpose of providing infrastructure and other needs to attract economic development projects investing a minimum of five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) and creating a minimum of five hundred (500) jobs.       It Th Russellville Depot Finds New Life as Event Venue By Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism   (Editor's Note: The following is one in a series of features on Main Street Arkansas, which this year is celebrating 20 years of service to towns across the state.) It seems appropriate that since the City of Russellville grew up around the railroad one of its elements of revitalization is the restoration of its downtown historic depot. Russellville became an incorporated city with a population of 275 in 1897, and grew to a population of 5,000 by 1919, despite a 1906 fire that destroyed 21 businesses. It became a trade center, and boasted three banks, a creamery, a large foundry and ironworks, a roller flour mill, two wholesale houses, the largest horse and mule market in the state, waterworks, a power plant, a theater, and a hospital. Wide streets and well-kept homes were other assets. Today, Russellville contains a collection of the historic commercial structures built between 1875 and the 1940s in its historic downtown, which is filled with businesses and services. The Missouri-Pacific Railroad tracks have always been one of the borders of the downtown and Russellville is drawing on that heritage by improving the historic depot. Encompassing a three-block area, the depot will serve as the focal point for visitor information and a venue for festivals and other community activities, such as the Farmer's Market. It contains a multi-use meeting room, kitchen, public restrooms and retail gift shop as well as unique characteristics such as the old weigh scale. A vacant lot across the street from the depot will serve as an outdoor site for events in conjunction with the depot space. A grand opening for the million-dollar depot project was celebrated May 29. City officials hope the activities surrounding the depot will lure visitors into other areas of downtown, which is only a couple of blocks from Scenic 7 Byway in the Arkansas River Valley. "This project has been about 10 years in the works," Betsy McGuire, director of Main Street Russellville, explained. "It will be the downtown square we've never had." The Main Street Russellville program is part of Main Street Arkansas, which began in 1984 and is a section of the state's Historic Preservation Program that provides technical assistance and design services to help create economic development in downtown areas. In the 90s, the city appeared to be thriving unless one took a look at the downtown. Traditionally a blue-collar, working-class town, Russellville didn't start out with a "quaint" downtown like some other cities, explained McGuire. Then, beginning in the 70s, growth and development sprawled to the outer edges of the city, leaving the downtown in a slump. But, with the help of Main Street Russellville the city has developed a flourishing, diverse downtown full of retail shops, restaurants, and business and office space. Its National Historic District encompasses 60 buildings and an eight block area, although there are over 100 businesses spanning a 20-block area within the entire Main Street district. Since Russellville came on board with the Main Street Arkansas program in 1992, over $7 million has been reinvested in the downtown. McGuire said the program has had a catalytic effect in revitalizing downtown. As the first visual improvements to the area were made businesses then began coming back to the area and filling up the storefronts. Since the establishment of the program, no buildings downtown have been lost to neglect. "Now unique shops are utilizing the look of old buildings," McGuire said. One turning point for the area was not only the preservation of a prime building on the main drag, but also its new use as a restaurant. "The Italian restaurant brought night life to downtown. There were only two other places to eat before that," McGuire explained. Now, there are seven restaurants. The Main Street program has provided a growing awareness for older structures, the value of history and preservation of the heart of the city. Educating the public and property owners on the need to preserve the buildings and helping them with technical and financial support were key in the revitalization efforts. Providing an attractive gateway to the district is Burris Memorial Plaza. It contains a fountain, arbor and six benches representing six Russellville citizens that were killed in an American Airlines plane accident at the Little Rock airport in 1999. One of the victims, Judy Thacker, was involved in the efforts to turn the empty lot into a gateway for the main street district. "People just started donating money. American Airlines gave us money," McGuire explained. "It has a lot of symbolism and meaning to the community." Main Street Russellville received an award for the Best Downtown Public Improvement Project from Main Street Arkansas for the Burris Memorial Plaza. Main Street Russellville acquires monies for its efforts from fundraisers such as its annual Taste of the Valley in the spring and Fall Fest, the last Saturday of October. It has also received about $600,000 in grants and helps business owners obtain Model Business Grants. The downtown is currently in the midst of the new frontier for successful downtowns as it works to develop more second floor spaces into living quarters. The future of vacant properties gains attention next. "That is the one thing we have not had, buildings in-fill downtown," McGuire said. "How the overall design fits into the current landscape will be important." McGuire is quick to point out that success in this venture cannot be attributed solely to Main Street Russellville. "It takes everybody getting on board. It's not just about Main Street Russellville," McGuire added. "It's building on what you have and just making it better."                   In News Release     The Johnson County Fair at Clarksville will open on Tuesday, September 7th at Noon. The fair will run from September 7-11, 2004. At 7:00 p.m. the 10-member "Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down Show" from Eureka Springs, AR will perform. Tickets for this event can be purchased at the Gate, Harvest Foods, or the Chamber of Commerce for $10.00 per person. Wednesday night at 5:00 p.m. the 2nd Annual Johnson County Baby Pageant will begin. The pageant will have five categories ranging from birth to 7 years old. Entry fee will be $5.00 and registration forms can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce until September 1st. The "Prison Band" will begin performing at 7:00 p.m. and should finish around 10:00. Thursday evening has always been Gospel Night and will be again, this time with different groups, a Gospel Singing Jamboree. The Tumbelson and Birdsong Family will begin at 6:00 p.m. and "The Redeemed" following at 7:15 p.m. all from Clarksville. The Harold Williams Family of Dover will begin at 9:00 p.m. which will conclude that evenings performances. The 7th Annual Johnson County Fair Talent Show will begin at 7:00 p.m. Registration will be taken until 7:00 p.m. and is open to all amateur talent in this area. We will have four categories: 0-8 years old - no entry fee 9-15 years old - $10 entry fee 16-20 years old - $10 entry fee 21 years and up - $15 entry fee. Awards will be given to the top three in each category. Rules for contestants and other awards are listed on pages 10 & 11 of the 2004 Johnson County Fair Catalog. The catalogs can be picked up at the local extension office, or call 479-754-2240. The emcee will be Dale Stalmaker, a local guitarist who won the 2003 Johnson County Talent Show. Saturday evening the Johnson County Fair Princess, Teen Miss, and Queen pageants will begin at 5:00 p.m. After the pageants the Mike Nichols Show from the "Moe Brandy Theater" in Branson, MO will perform at 8:00 p.m. All these events will be held in the new covered entertainment pavilion next to the old outside stage site. Gate admission of $2.00 will be charged on Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00-10:00 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 1:00-10:00 p.m. R   Calendar of Events September Clarksville September 7th-11th 2004 Johnson County Fair Lake Dardanelle September 3-4:00 pm turtle Talkin' 6:30 pm Snake Show 8:30 pm Movie under the Stars September 4- 9:00 am Labor Day Lollygag 11:00 am Native American Games 2:00 pm Interpreter Tales 4:00 pm Lake Cruise 8:00 pm Owl Prowl September 5- 1:00 pm Nature Scavenger Hunt 4:00 pm Lake Cruise 7:00 pm Amazing Mammals September 6- 9:00 am 3-2-1 Blast Off! 1:00 pm Eye Spy Something 3:00 pm Water Games September 11- 1:30 pm Feeding Frenzy! September 12- 2:00 pm River Study Table 6:00 pm Lake cruise September 18- National Public Lands Day 2:00 pm Interpreter Tales September 25- 2:00 pm Interpreter Tales 4:00 pm Lake Cruise Morrilton Late September-Annual Fall Antique Auto Swap Meet, Held at the Museum of Automobiles atop Petit Jean Mountain (501) 727-5427 Paris Labor Day Weekend- St. Joseph's Labor Day Picnic & Bazaar. Games, entertainment, food, and rummage sale (479) 963-2131 Petit Jean September 1- 8:30 am Whitetail Deer Hike 11:00 am Vulture Venture 2:00 pm Frogs Chorus 3:00 pm Trees, Trees, & More Trees 4:00 pm Mammal Signs 8:45 pm Black Bears in Arkansas September 2- 8:30 am Shine on the Mountain 11:00 am The Incredible Casting Can 1:00 pm Ropes to the Rescue 2:00 pm Hidden in the Woods 4:00 pm Fishing Basics 101 8:30 pm The Adventures of Florence the Flying squirrel September 3- 8:30 am Mather Lodge to Bear Cave Hike 11:00 am Arkansas Tarantulas 2:00 pm Rock Art 3:00 pm Valley View 4:00 pm Petit Jean Challenge 8:00 pm Petit Jean Talent show September 4- Dr. TW Hardison Day-8:30 am Natural Bridge Hike 11:00 am Mather Lodge Tour 12:00 pm Cake and Ice Cream 1:00 pm Remembering Dr. Hardison 2:00 pm Riddle Hunt 3:00 pm Cedar Falls Overlook 4:00 pm Petit Jean softball 8:45 pm Your in the CCC Now September 5- 8:30 am Nondenominational Worship Service 9:30 am Bear Cave 11:00 am Ohh Deer! 2:00 pm Animal tracking Expedition 3:00 pm Cobra Impersonator 4:00 pm Camping Outburst 8:45 pm A Tale of Spiders September 6- 8:30am Cedar Creek Trail Hike 11:00 am "Fire and Famine" The Story of Seven Hollows 2:00 pm Leaving Their Mark 3:00 pm Seven Wonders of Petit Jean 4:00 pm You Can Really Eat That?! September 11- Annual Great Arkansas Clean Up at Petit Jean State Park Perry County LateSeptember- Adona Fest. Entertainment, food, games, ATV/tractor pulls, pageants, and live music (501) 662-4508 Dover Late September- Annual Ozark Memories Day Festival craft booths, food, parade, artisan exhibits, and music (479)331-2094 Mount Nebo Late September- Mount Nebo Chicken fry. Children's activities, events, great food, and politicians (479)229-3328         Due to an error in communications at some level, the Subiaco Abbey Arts Council sponsored concerts of Tuesday, September 28, and Wednesday, November 3, 2004, are being billed as presentations by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. This is simply not true, since the guest artists were are having are all members of the ASO Arts Partners, who happen to be employees of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. The September 28th concert will feature the Quapaw String Quartet with additional strings, English horn, and harpsichord performing Francaix's Quartet for English Horn and Strings, Piazzola's Four for Tango, and Vivaldi's Four Seasons. The November 3rd concert will feature the Rockerfeller String Quartet with additional strings presenting Gershwin's Lullaby, Tchaikovsky's String Quqrtet No. 1, and Brahms' Sextet for Strings No. 2. For additional information call 479-934-1276 or email bdersch@subi.org.