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Convention registration deadline is tomorrow Paxton names two to leadership positions in Batesville
ARKANSAS
PRESS
Ar kansas
Publisher Weekly
Vol. 14 | No. 25 | Thursday, June 20, 2019
ASSOCIATION
Serving Press and State Since 1873
2019 Award Winner Makes Headlines with Oaklawn Expansion The oldest sports franchise continuously owned by the same family is doing something all new. Again.
Hotel Hot Springs.
“Oaklawn has always been an exciting and attractive destination and this expansion takes the resort to another level,” APA Executive Director Ashley Wimberley said. “The Cellas have been valuable contributors to the Hot Springs community since Oaklawn’s start, and it’s only fitting that we recognize Louis Cella’s contributions to the region and our state this year.”
While the 115-year-old Oaklawn Racing and Casino Resort is known throughout the horse racing world for its stability and longevity, it’s Oaklawn’s re-invention that keeps it thriving, said Louis A. Cella, president of the Oaklawn Jockey Club. Cella, the fourth-generation owner of the venerable track, announced last winter a major expansion at Oaklawn. By this time next year, a vastly expanded gaming floor and sparkling new hotel and events center will wrap around the race track. Oaklawn’s $100 million project is one of the largest hospitality investments in Arkansas history. Because of Cella’s visionary leadership and Oaklawn’s economic impact on the state of Arkansas, the Arkansas Press Association has named him as its 2019 Headliner of the Year.
Louis A. Cella
Cella will receive his award next week at the Arkansas Press Association’s annual convention in Hot Springs. The awards luncheon is Friday, June 28, at noon at the
In an interview, Cella said Oaklawn succeeds where other tracks may fail because it maintains focus on its primary function. From simulcasting to instant racing to electronic games of skill and now to casino gaming, Oaklawn has broadened its offerings to attract more visitors but never forgotten the track’s legacy. “We have always focused on horse racing, and tracks that find themselves in trouble take their focus off horse racing,” Cella said. “We’ve had four generations Continued on Page 2
APA Trade Show vendors connect attendees to community The annual Trade Show in conjunction with the Arkansas Press Association annual convention will give conventiongoers the opportunity to connect and network with the organizations and groups they often rely on for information and advertising.
The Trade Show is Friday, June 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the convention site, the Hotel Hot Springs in Hot Springs. This year, 15 exhibitors have registered to attend. They include:
• The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: Leslie Taylor, vice chancellor for communications and marketing, and Liz Caldwell, director of communications and marketing will be in attendance to meet with attendees about UAMS’s programs. They will offer UAMS materials and let people play a miniature golf hole to win a prize.
• Entergy Arkansas: Representing Entergy will be Kerri Case,
communications manager; Jim Garland, customer service representative; and David Lewis, communications specialist. The Entergy officials will offer information about advanced metering. • Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau: The Little Rock CVB will be represented by Libby Lloyd, communications manager. She will have various materials available, including lapel pins, and attendees can learn more Continued on Page 3