May 16, 2012
Collins-Smith Announces
Run for State Senate
Lisa Collins-Smith
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State Representative Linda Collins-Smith of Pocahontas has announced her candidacy for the Arkansas State Senate in District 19, which includes Independence, Izard, Sharp and parts of Randolph and Fulton Counties.
Most of this new Senate District now is served by Sen. Missy Irwin of Mountain View. It was created by the redistricting that resulted from the 2010 census.
“I want to continue the work of bringing jobs to Northeast Arkansas,” said Collins-Smith, who was elected to the Arkansas House in 2010 to represent Randolph and Sharp counties.
“Governments do not create jobs,” she said, “successful businesses do. So our government should make sure Arkansas is a business-friendly state. We must reduce operating costs and eliminate unnecessary government regulations.”
Collins-Smith said that surrounding states have been more successful in attracting industry because they have better business climates. “Every state bordering Arkansas either has a lower capital gains tax, or none at all,” she said. “Doing away with that tax alone will allow businesses to keep more of the money they earn, and we will more than make up the lost taxes over time by the addition of businesses, jobs, and economic development.”
Collins-Smith serves on the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. During the 2011 legislative session she supported a bill to eliminate the capital gains tax, and helped move that bill to the House floor. “The house passed it,” she said, “but unfortunately, it died in the Democrat-controlled Senate.”
She also supported various bills that resulted in $35 million in tax cuts in the 2011 session. “That’s $35 million dollars that will remain in the pockets of hard-working Arkansas taxpayers,” she said.
Collins-Smith is strongly pro-life. She sponsored a bill that would have insured that the federal health care law (Obamacare) could not require the funding of abortions in Arkansas. “I believe unborn babies have the right to life, and that we should protect the life of every citizen from the womb to the grave,” she said.
She said the Arkansas legislature killed nine pro-life bills in the 2011 session. “That is a shameful record, and I will work hard to reverse that and to see that our state government reflects the pro-life values that most Arkansans believe in,” she said.
Collins-Smith also supports the Second Amendment right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. “It is not just about hunting rights,” she said. “The Second Amendment insures that good citizens will be able to defend themselves and their families from harm and threats of harm from whatever source.”
Collins-Smith said she is a “true conservative” who believes in limited government and personal liberty. She said the founding fathers “created an amazing framework for good government.” But she said governments at both the federal and state levels now are “out of control because they ignore the plain language and principles of the U.S. constitution.”
Collins-Smith, a former State Ethics Commissioner, owns and operates the Days Inn and Suites in Pocahontas. Before being elected to the state legislature, she was involved in marketing, real estate sales, and in various community development activities in her home county.
She is past president of the Arkansas Lodging Association (ALA), and now serves on the ALA’s Executive and Finance Committee. Her work in promoting Arkansas as a tourism destination and has earned her numerous awards and citations, including the “Stars of the Industry” award and the Department of Parks and Tourism’s top honor for volunteerism, the Henry Award.
“I will be a Senator who represents all of District 19,” Collins-Smith said. “I live in Randolph County, but the needs of every community in the district are just as important to me as those of my home county. That is how I have served my House district, and it is how I intend to serve as your Senator.”
In the House of Representatives, Collins-Smith also is a member of the City, County, and Local Affairs Committee, and is alternate chairman of the Joint Energy Committee.
Collins-Smith is married to Philip Smith and has two adult children and two grandsons. They are members of Sutton Free Will Baptist Church near Pocahontas.
Lucero Family Picnic Returns
to Batesville This Weekend
Shooter Jennings
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The annual Lucero Family Picnic returns to Batesville’s Riverside Park after a four year absence. Lucero, the acclaimed Memphis Americana rock band, said they wanted to come back to Batesville and do the Picnic as a reward to their huge following in the Batesville area, according to Steve Thomas with Batesville Promotions, the company producing the event. The band’s ninth and latest studio album, Women & Work, is on ATO Records.
Lucero first came to Batesville’s Melba Theatre in 2001 playing to a sold out audience, and the band has continually developed a larger following year after year. The current tour in support of Women & Work has resulted in sold out shows at venues across the country.
Co-headlining this year’s Picnic is Shooter Jennings, the son of the legendary Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. Jennings new album, Family Man, returns the singer-songwriter to the roots of traditional country music. Family Man was released in late March and reached to number 10 on the Billboard Country Charts.
Other acts to be featured include Glossary from Nashville,Tenn.; rockabilly artist Austin Lucas, John Paul Keith, the One Four Fives, and Guy Venable Jr., all from Memphis; and teen country artist Luke Williams from Beebe who has played with Brad Paisley, Charlie Daniels, and Jamey Johnson.
There will be food and craft vendors at the festival along with a special wrestling show provided by ASWF Wrestling and Jimmy Hart. The matches will be a tribute to classic Memphis Wrestling. Jimmy Hart will use his vast knowledge of great matches in the history of Memphis and re-create them for the Picnic.
Gates open will open 1 p.m. with the wrestling starting at 2 p.m. The music will kick off at 4 p.m. Advance tickets are $22 for general admission and $40 for VIP. Tickets are available at Batesville Cold Storage, Factory Return Outlet, Denim Blues, S & S Liquidations, Bryan’s Grill, and U.S. Pizza Co. in Batesville; Butler’s Tobacco and Bait in Pleasant Plains; George’s in Newport; Old River Package Store in Elgin; Tommy’s famous in Mountain View; and Mark’s Pharmacy in Melbourne. Tickets can also be ordered online batesvillepromo
tions.com or by calling Batesville Cold Storage at (870) 698-2288.
Shooting Sports Complex Celebrates One Year Anniversy
When the Paul H. “Rocky” Willmuth Shooting Sports Complex opened, it consisted of three skeet fields, three trap fields, two pavilions and an education center. Since the range’s dedication, another trap field has been added along with two archery fields, a scoreboard, and external bathrooms — all signs of positive growth and use.
The range has hosted tournaments that have attracted over 600 shooters and their families. It also was the home for a Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce fundraiser with 125 shooters. And it is provided shooting and practice facilities for 26 Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program (AYSSP) teams and clubs.
But one major benefit of the range’s success can be found in the results of the AYSSP tournaments that have been held at the Remington Range in Lonoke. These events have over 5,000 kids in the shooting programs funded by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). At the state finals for the Junior Division in Lonoke on June 1, Batesville will have three teams and Southside will have two. And in the Senior Division, Batesville, Salem and Cave City placed first, second and third, respectively.
And all of those teams regularly utilize the Paul H. “Rocky” Willmuth Shooting Sports Complex.
The project represented nearly $800,000 in grants, donations, and in-kind work by the city of Batesville, Independence County, companies and private citizens. The range is run by the Independence County Shooting Sports Commission and falls under the umbrella of the Independence County Quorum Court. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the AGFC also have oversight on the range operation. Larry Pinkston is range’s manager.
To learn more about the complex, visit their website at indcotrap.net or visit their Facebook page. The phone number is (870) 698-0361.
Unity Fest Coming May 26
One person will drive away from the seventh annual Unity Fest in a new 2012 Ford Ranger “Sport” truck, autographed by Mark Martin. Other major prizes will include a 48-inch cut, 26 HP MZ Series Bad Boy Mower, and a 46-inch Sanyo HD television.
Unity Fest will be held Saturday, May 26, at Riverside Park in beautiful Batesville Arkansas. The one-day event will be packed with Christian entertainment for the entire family, according to a spokesperson for John 3:16 Ministries, which co-sponsors the event.
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and area elected officials are planning to attend. Unity Fest is the major annual fund-raising event for John 3:16 Ministries. Headline entertainment will include Gerald Crabb along with other local talent that will keep the entire family entertained.
Activities will get underway at 3 p.m. with non-stop entertainment and a catfish dinner starting at 5 p.m. The “kid’s corner” will include several jump-and-bounce attractions. An old-fashioned pie auction will be staged, featuring special desserts created and donated by area businesses.
Advance tickets for the catfish plates are $10 for adults, with all proceeds going to John 3:16 Ministries. The winner does not have to be present at the time of the drawing.
Persons planning to attend the event are reminded to bring lawn chairs and stay for several hours of wholesome entertainment, a spokesperson for the event said.
John 3:16 Ministries is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping men with additions. It receives no funding from state or federal agencies. Their support comes from area churches, businesses and individuals. The long-term program is free to any man needing help.
Tickets are available in Batesville at the main branch of Citizens Bank, the main branch of First Community Bank, and Dairy Queen. For more information about Unity Fest and other places to purchase tickets, call (870) 799-2525 or visit www.john316ministry.com.
Pioneer Classic Scores for Batesville High School Athletic Department
From the moment Dale Cole, First Community Bank chairman and chief executive officer, threw out the first pitch, the 20th annual Pioneer Classic was off to a great start. According to Batesville High School athletic director, Dave King, the tournament was a grand slam for the school’s athletic department and for Batesville’s economy. The athletic department scored big with $4,733 in gate sales, coupled with a generous donation made to the program by First Community Bank.
“We couldn’t be happier with the results of this year’s tournament,” said King. “The new building for concessions at the North Complex, coupled with increased ticket sales at the gate made the event a complete success. We can always count on First Community Bank to support our schools. When the bank sees a need in our community, they do their best to take care of it. First Community Bank’s on-going support helps the athletic program to advance the opportunities we have available to the young people in our district.”
“Baseball is great exercise, both physically and socially,” said Boris Dover, the bank’s president and chief operating officer. “First Community Bank always looks forward to planning this annual event with the Batesville High School athletic department because we know that this tournament is good clean fun, building camaraderie and character in the kids of our communities.”
This year’s tournament drew players from 24 schools. Competing against more than a dozen schools, the Midland Mustangs, coached by Donnie Branscum, won in the 1A-4A divisions. The Marion Patriots, whose head coach is Mac Hurley, walked away with the championship in the 5A-7A divisions, upsetting teams from seven schools.
“The Pioneer Classic is a great way to introduce visitors to our wonderful town,” said Mark Rush, head baseball coach for Batesville High School. “In addition to the immediate boost to the town’s economy, we like to think that this tournament shows people what a great place Batesville is and keeps them coming back for more.”
The event’s coordinator, Dee Turner, said the Pioneer Classic draws out-of-town visitors to the Batesville area during the weeklong tournament; many stayed in Batesville overnight. The influx of visitors impact many local businesses, including hotels, restaurants and other retailers.
Southside 4-H vice-president Kaitlyn Gramling (left) and president Lane Callahan (right) take peanut butter and jelly donations from White River Medical Center Auxiliary president Janiece Haworth (Center). The WRMC Volunteers collect food and donate it once a month to the Southside 4-H Food Bank. The 4-H uses the food to provide qualifying children in the area with meals for the weekends. Photo submitted
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Team Arkansas Twisters, a youth baseball team from the area, recently won the Crown Trophy Gold Ring at the United States Specialty Sports Association baseball tournament in Jonesboro. Pictured, (left to right, top row): Coach Brad Mace, manager Stephen Wyatt, Shawn Patterson, coach Ronnie Jeffrey, Logan Holman, Jordan Dunegan, head coach Dean Holman, Marshal Wyatt, Ronnie Jeffrey. Bottom row (left to right): Seth Salter, Hayden Mace, Bryce Dodd, Chaylun Dennis, Andrew Pitts. Photo submitted
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The Batesville Kiwanis Club recently awarded college scholarships to three local Key Club members. They are: (top) Austin Pearson, Midland High School, $1,000 Key Club Scholarship. (center) Russ Hughes, Batesville High School, $1,000 Keller Crosby Memorial Scholarship and (bottom) Devin England, Southside High School, $1,000 Kimberly Moore Memorial Scholarship. Photos submitted
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Citizens Bank of Batesville recently donated $500 to the Friends of Scouting Campaign for Boy Scouts of America. Funds from the campaign will assist local scouting activities and troop members with educational programming. Pictured (left to right): Lackey Moody, Jacob Landers, Quapaw Area Council district executive, Ron Lewallen, Citizens Bank, vice president, and Trey Moody, Pack 600 Cub Scouts. Photo submitted
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Sulphur Rock 4-H members recently attended an Independence County Activity Night at Southside School. Sulphur Rock 4-H group members Daniel Latus (left) won first place in Horticulture Plants and second place in Seed Identification. Joddie Shutt (right) won first place in Tree Identification. Photo submitted
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