The monthly OACOC General Meeting will be March 12th at Wiederkehr Wine Cellars at 12 noon. Mitchell Adams from Kiva Zip is the guest speaker. He will share valuable information how Arkansas entrepreneurs can obtain Kiva Zip interest free loans for small business startups and expansion of existing businesses. For more information https://zip.kiva.org/ This month’s ‘Business After Hours‘ will be hosted by Mayor Carol Sneath at The Lamplighter Bed & Breakfast on March 20th from 5:30-7:00 p.m.. The 3rd Annual ‘Chowdown at Rivertowne’ for the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce scholarship fund will be April 23rd from 11:00 – 2:00 at Rivertowne BBQ. Community leaders ‘work’ as servers at to help raise money from tips for qualifying local high school senior’s college scholarships. Scholarship applications can be found at OACOC Scholarship Application. ‘Taste of the Ozarks & Business Showcase’ is April 24th from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. featuring food and gifts from local vendors and businesses. The cost is $5 per person for this fun filled event. Sponsor applications for this event can be found here. For a full calendar of Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce Events click here. The Ozark and Altus area is honored with three nominations for the 2014 Henry Awards, which recognizes significant contributions to the tourism industry in Arkansas. The awards will be presented at the Governor’s Banquet at the conclusion of the 40th Annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism to be held March 11th at the John Q. Hammonds Convention Center in Rogers. The Award nominees are:
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Altus Veterans Memorial for The Bootstrap Award – Altus Sunset Rotary Club Ozark’s Old Fashion Square Gathering for The Grand Old Classic Special Event Award – Main Street Ozark Wakarusa Music Festival for The National State Award – Mulberry Mountain Lodge & Events
Look for our next issue to come out April 2nd.
Tony’s Tips from AVECC Close shades and drapes at night to keep heat in during the winter. Make sure drapes and shades are open during the day to catch free solar heat in winter.
From Tony Wilson, Member Services/Key Accounts
From The GrapeVine Post Winery's New Store and Visitor Center Now Open for Tours and Tasting. Our retail store is open daily, with a wide range of premium wines to browse. We have fresh air, accessible parking and restrooms, free Wi-Fi, gourmet snacks and neat gifts for you and your guests. Located at the intersection of Highways 64 and 186, Post Winery is a two hour drive or less from Little Rock, Conway, Russellville, Harrison, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Fort Smith or Hot Springs, three hours from Oklahoma City and five hours from Memphis. Overnight lodging is available. Come "Toast with Post"!
Main Street Ozark held its annual Museum Volunteer Appreciation luncheon Wednesday, FEB 19th at the American Legion building in downtown Ozark. The volunteers received community service awards for their work in 2013 and were treated to a pizza lunch with salad by Ruth Hoffman and a wonderful desert by Emily Williams. Ozark is very fortunate to have such a dedicated group who love their community and are willing to give of their time to make it a better place. The museum volunteers logged in over 1469 hours in 2013 and continue to make Ozark stand out in the state as a community that takes pride in itself and wants to share our heritage with others. The American Legion went above and beyond to make the luncheon a success. They not only allowed us the use of their building, Emily and Carla Price did a great job getting the room ready for us and were generous enough to stay and serve our volunteers. The American Legion certainly showed their appreciation of the many hours our dedicated volunteers donate each year and we would like to thank them for all their hard work as well. We appreciate all the American Legion does for the community. They are doing an amazing job of renovating the old armory building for much needed event and activity space that will soon be available to the public for rent. The American Legion is another great organization that Ozark can be proud of and brag to world about! We’d also like to thank Mayor Sneath for showing her appreciation by helping serve the volunteers and expressing her gratitude for all they do for Ozark.
Museum Volunteers Receiving Awards Pictured: Sonny Hill, Brenda Mann, Charles Ray White, Bill Brandt, Judy Howard, Jim Bearden, Bob Howard, Barbara Becker (Co-Director), Frank Maier, Wayne Becker (Co-Director), Ruth Hoffman. Not pictured: Vernon McDaniel and Alice Brooks.
- Sandy Key, Main Street Ozark
http://www.ozarkchamberofcommerce.com/Library /Franklin-County-Library-61
Historic Turner Bend on the Mulberry River, Arkansas
Turner Bend, where the National Wild and Scenic Mulberry River meets the Pig Trail National Scenic Byway. For over one hundred years travelers have stopped at this spot to admire the river, forests and mountains. The Mulberry River is known for excellent whitewater floating with class II rapids flowing deep in the Ozarks. The Pig Trail is a twisting, curving drive through the Ozarks with views from the valley floor to mountain top vistas. Check them out at: http://turnerbend.com/
Calendar of Events: March 6 – Kids’ Campus Student Migrant Workshop
Contact Information Phone: 479-667-2117 Fax: 479-667-5588
March 6 – Kids’ Campus after school tutoring program March 11 – Graduation and Career Fair for students March 13 – Kids’ Campus after school tutoring March 17 – Clarksville High School Preview Day March 18-19 – FAFSA Days – Financial Aid March 18 – Kids’ Campus tour Ozark Elementary – 3rd graders March 19 – Baby Steps for area high school students March 20 – High School Preview Day and FUNd day March 24-28 – Spring Break
To learn more about Arkansas Tech-Ozark and its offerings, visit www.atu.edu/ozark.
Don’t forget: Daylight Savings Time begins March 9th! Set your clocks ahead one Hour.
Well March has arrived like a lion, so it should leave as a lamb. Hope you have thawed out from the last blast of ice. Robins have been spotted, so spring is just around the corner. KEEP THE DATE OPEN – MARCH 31, 5:30 AT ATU CONFERENCE CENTER We will be joining together as a community for the “Community Economic Development Forum”. Progress Ozark, which took place in late 1990’s gave us a list of projects, developments, ideas to be addressed over the then 20 Year community plan. We will be revisiting that list to check off our accomplishments and making a new list for the next 20 year community plan. If you have something that you would like to see accomplished, please attend and give us your ideas and support. If we are all rowing in the same direction, we will have success and continue to make OZARK a community to be proud of. A few things are coming together. Watch for an announcement in April, we will be having a ribbon cutting to start the construction of “Hillbilly Lane”. You will also be seeing some improvements at the Westside Park and also at the Depot before too long. OZARK is moving on….
National Wild & Scenic Mulberry River Canoe, kayak and rafting season is here! The clean and clear free-flowing 62 mile long Mulberry River offers about 40 miles of exciting spring time floating. The Mulberry River is definitely one of the state’s wildest rivers for public floating during the spring. Visitors can expect prime Ozark Mountain scenery with a good chance to see an assortment of wildlife in the immediate vicinity. Water levels vary based on local rainfall giving all paddling skills the opportunity to experience a great outdoor adventure. Below 1.6 feet – low water with very little current 1.6 to 1.9 feet – great for beginners 2.0 to 2.3 feet – moderate whitewater challenging for beginners 2.4 to 2.9 feet – intermediate level whitewater skills are needed 3.0 to 3.9 feet – strong intermediate whitewater skills are necessary 4.0 to 4.6 feet – advanced whitewater skills are crucial 4.7 to 4.9 feet – no rental boats on the river Above 5 feet – river is considered unsafe for floating Safety First: Always be appropriately equipped and outfitted. It is strongly recommended life jackets (PFDs) be worn at all times on the river. Outfitters: Turner Bend - Byrd's Adventure Center - Mulberry Mountain Lodge Lodging and camping are available at all three outfitters. Canoe, kayak and raft rentals as well as shuttle services are available at Turner Bend and Byrd’s Adventure Center. Coming Events: 23rd Annual Mulberry River Clean Up Day – Saturday, March 1st 10th Annual Spring ATV Rally – March 7th & 8th 33rd Annual Jungle Boater Race – Sunday, March 9th Swiftwater Rescue Operations Course – March 21st , 22nd & 23rd Ozark Overland Rally – March 28th & 29th The 39th Annual Arkansas Canoe Club School for Whitewater Paddling – May 2-4
Royce Gattis- Tourism Committee Chairman For more information visit our webpage at.http://www.ozarkchamberofcommerce.com/news_events
We have now entered our third week of the Fiscal Session. We have accomplished a great deal, but still have substantial work to do in order to balance a $5 billion budget. So far, the Governor has signed more than 50 appropriation bills into law. An appropriation gives an agency the authority to spend money if and when it becomes available. The granting of an appropriation does not confer the right to money. A program must obtain both authorization in the form of an approved appropriation bill, as well as a method of obtaining funds in order for it to exist. A program can get funds from a dedicated tax, another government unit or from allocations from the General Assembly through the Revenue Stabilization Law or the General Improvement Distribution Law. One of our last items of business during this session will be to vote on the Revenue Stabilization Act. It is in that bill where we expect to see increases in funding to education and our correctional facilities. Most of our time on the House floor last week was spent debating on HB1150 and SB111. These bills are the House and Senate appropriations for the Department of Humans Services Division of Medical Services. Included in the bills is the appropriation for the Private Option, Arkansas’s alternative to Medicaid expansion. Appropriation bills need 75 votes to pass. HB1150 failed to get the needed votes on the floor three times this week. The Senate passed the identical version of the bill, SB111, on the 20th. The Senate version failed on the House floor with a vote of 71-18. House rules do not limit the amount of times, members can vote on an appropriation bill. Discussion on this bill continues. Meanwhile, the House did adopt an amendment which could help to fund the state’s share of the program in future years. Members voted in favor of an amendment which would divert the taxes collected on insurance premiums sold through the Private Option to the Health Care Independence Trust Fund. These taxes could generate more than $20 million a year . Fiscal Sessions are limited to only budget matters unless 2/3 of both chambers agree to take up another issue. The only non-budget item, the General Assembly agreed to in this session was a bill addressing vacancy of the office of Lt. Governor. Currently, the Governor is required to call a special election within 150 days of the office being declared vacant. Lt. Governor Mark Darr resigned from the office February 1st. A special election could cost the state over $1 million. That is why there was overwhelming support for SB139 which will allow that position to remain vacant until the November election. I will continue to update you on our budget process as we progress. And remember you can watch all House floor proceedings on your desktop or mobile device at arkansashouse.org.
-Bill
Subway inside Loves #271: The special for February is the Chicken Enchilada Sub or the new Flatizza Pizzas are 2 for $5. The 12” special is the meatball marinara for $5. Hillbilly Hideout at The I-40 Travel Center: The Hillbilly Hideout offers daily lunch specials, and a deli both open 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. You can call in your order for pick up at (479)-667-0711. KFC/Taco Bell: $2.99 Mon-Wed special. Monday: Chicken Fried Steak, Tuesday: 2 piece thigh and leg, Wednesday: 2 piece chicken strips. All come with mashed potatoes and gravy, cole slaw, and a biscuit. Also there is a 9 piece special: 9 pieces of chicken, 6 biscuits and 3 large sides for $19.99. The Coffee Break: All sandwiches and Panini’s are $6.00 each and are served with a pickle spear and your choice of regular or BBQ chips. During the colder months, you can get soup instead of chips. Rivertowne BBQ: BBQ ribs, sandwiches, salad, bean ‘slop’, burgers and more. Choose from beef, chicken, or pork. Carry-out and catering available. (479)-667-1808. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM8:00 PM. Saturday 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday. Wiederkehr Weinkeller Restaurant: Coupon in The Spectator- “The Boss Eats Free’ if he/she brings the staff of 5 or more to lunch. Good Monday-Thursday. Limit 1 per customer. Expires 3-31-14. Subway on Commercial: The special for February is the Chicken Enchilada Sub or the new Flatizza Pizzas are 2 for $5. The 12” special is the meatball marinara for $5. For $3 the special is the 6” ham with your choice of bread and vegetables. Southern Grill: Serving breakfast 6-11 a.m. then lunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Daily specials and carry out orders. Call 667-0704. Altus Handy Mart: All Day Every Day! Buy any 1 Topping 14 in. Pizza for $8.99 and get a 14 in. Cheese Pizza for only $6.99 or get a 16 in. Cheese Pizza for $10.99 Offering breakfast and lunch. There are lunch specials every day. Lunch combos come with fries and a drink including chicken strips, hot ham and swiss, burgers, etc. Salads as well as individual foods like crsipitos, corndogs, eggrolls, etc.
Miss Arkansas River 2014, Savannah Valentine, visited in Mrs. Shaffer’s first grade classroom at Elgin B. Milton Primary School on Friday, February 21. She read a book to the classroom and was assisted by Miss Arkansas River Little Miss 2014, Marlee Cagle, who is a student in the classroom. The students enjoyed the “royal” visit. Kelly Burns, Principal
The Judge’s Jot Filing has begun at Franklin County Courthouse. The Franklin County Library held a groundbreaking. The Quorum Court meeting was full of new business for the February meeting. The courthouse has started seeing individuals come in for the approaching filing deadline on Monday, March 3rd. We are all excited to see all the new faces and some great incumbents. The Franklin County Library held its groundbreaking Tuesday, February 18 at 10am. Several were in attendance including Judge Janet Powell, Librarian Nancy Smith, David Stobaugh and several others. We are all very excited about the transformation that will take place at the library. Franklin County was deemed a disaster area for the ice storm that occurred on December 5th and 6th. Our office along with the County Road Department, and FEMA we are still working to collect data and clear downed debris. We look to be finished with this project sometime in April, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as being declared a disaster is a lot of work for everyone involved. Quorum court voted to appropriate funds for the construction of a new EMS building in Charleston. EMS director Randy Boren is very excited about this expansion and knows that the residents of South Franklin County will be equally excited. The Sherriff’s Department received a grant for $4,300.00 to purchase portable breathalyzers. This will be a great help for county officials. The Justice’s also approved an ordinance allowing Judge Powell to enter into a loan agreement with Bank of the Ozarks to help fund the library project. Thanks for reading about Franklin County and as always if you have any questions or comments please contact my office anytime. 479-667-4726
- Janet Powell, Franklin Co. Judge
Spotlighting Altus
Greetings from the wonderful City of Altus, where History lives. The city of Altus is a very unique city of 750 people with its tourist attractions, a museum, wineries and many other wonderful sights to see. You will also find many different churches that will make you feel very welcome. It really is a great place to live. For the month of March, I am spotlighting the Mt. Bethel Winery, owned and operated by Eugene Post and his family dating back to three (3) generations. Mt. Bethel Winery is a business you must visit as you tour Altus, it’s surrounded by a wooden fence painted black where you will see horses running and playing in their pasture. As you travel up their drive you will want to stop and take a photo of this picturesque scene of the original home place built in 1880 nestled at the foot of St. Mary’s Mt. When you walk into their tasting room you are gripped with a feeling that you have stepped back into time. The original wine cellar is still being used as a tasting room where you walk up to a bar made of cedar, surrounded by many different Fruit Wines, Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Elderberry, Muscadine, and a host of other varieties. Michael and Kasey Post handle the day to day operations and will make you feel very special for visiting Mt. Bethel Winery. It is truly an extraordinary experience, one in which you will have fond memories of in your future. I encourage you to stop by and take a tour; you will leave with a feeling that you have just been a small part of history.
Larry W. Stacy is Mayor of Altus Arkansas. Contact him at 479-213-7081 e-mail: mayorstacy@centurytel.net Follow me on facebook