May 15, 2013
Run Lizard Creek Announces Race Day for June 1
The bi-annual Run Lizard Creek is having its next race Saturday, June 1, 2013. Located in Judsonia, Arkansas, this permanent 8K obstacle challenge course features 30 obstacles—including a new 60 foot water slide—along a five mile stretch of mud, sweat and adventure. Located on more than 480 beautiful acres, this challenging course and timed race event provides a unique experience for runners and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. A kids course, three more miles and five more obstacles are all new this year to the challenge.
“Traditional 5 or 8K runs provide a healthy and fun way for people to enjoy the outdoors, however, they just don’t provide the thrill, physical and mental challenges that a race like Lizard Creek can provide,” said Tommy Conder, owner with his wife, Sue, of Run Lizard Creek. “While many participants will complete individually, it also serves as a real team effort event for many groups. There literally is something for everyone, including a healthy amount of mud-soaked accomplishment.”
“Registration couldn’t be easier,” said Joyce Casteel, events director of Run Lizard Creek. “Simply go to our website at www.RunLizardCreek.com or go to our Facebook page at ‘run lizard creek’ and click the Sign-Up-Now button.” Registering online before the day of event cost is $55. Participants can also register the day of the event for $65, with registration beginning at 7 a.m., and the race starting at 9 a.m.
Located about 20 miles north of Searcy, at 102 Moons Lane in Judsonia, Arkansas, the event will feature food and beverage vendors along with live entertainment. Event admission for adult spectators is just $10 and kids are free.
A portion of this events proceeds will go to Relay for Life. g
First Community Bank Supports
‘Teach Children to Save Week’
Josh Matthews, First Community Bank’s branch manager for the Cave City location, and bank mascot Seymour Squirrel visit with Cave City Students. Photo submitted
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Employees across First Community Bank’s network of branches have been busy teaching second grade students in the Batesville, Cave City, Cedar Ridge and Midland school districts the importance of developing good money habits, according to Boris Dover, the bank’s president and chief operating officer.
“During the fourth week of April, we had the pleasure of interacting with hundreds of second graders to introduce the basic financial skills they will need to carry them throughout their lives,” said Dover. “The sooner children learn the importance of managing money, the better. We understand that these students are tomorrow’s leaders. First Community Bank is committed to help them now, so that they will be prepared for the future.”
“Teach Children to Save Week” is part of a national program developed by the American Bankers Association’s Education Foundation to teach children about the importance of saving. Through fun activities, second grade students are encouraged to “spend a part, save a part, and give a part.” g
Museum to Present Program
on Prehistoric Art of Area
Old Independence Regional Museum will host a presentation by Batesville attorney Scott Davidson at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. His topic will be “Prehistoric Art of Independence County and northern Arkansas.”
Davidson is well-respected for his knowledge on this subject. “I have been a collector of prehistoric native American artifacts for over 40 years,” said Davidson. “I have enjoyed speaking on this subject in many schools and at civic clubs in the past.”
He has also served as an officer in national amateur archaeological and artifact collecting societies.
“I invite attendees to bring any artifacts they have for discussion and identification,” he said.
The Museum has an exhibit in its entry area that shows the life of native Americans that lived near Batesville. A panel of facts and a display of pottery, many pieces donated by Davidson, tell about these early people. Their villages lay scattered along the White River, between 500 to 800 years ago.
The program will be free and open to the public. Normal museum hours are: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for children. The museum is located at 380 South 9th St., between Boswell and Vine Streets in Batesville.
Old Independence is a regional museum serving a 12-county area: Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Marion, Poinsett, Sharp, Stone, White, and Woodruff. Parts of these present-day counties comprised the original Independence County in 1820s Arkansas territory. g
Portfest Welcomes Jimmy Riffle’s
“Gator Boys Road Show”
Gator Boys' Jimmy Riffle and friend.
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Jimmy Riffle’s “Gator Boys Road Show” will be featured at this year’s Portfest Festival on Saturday, June 8.
Riffle can be seen on the television series Gator Boys airing on Animal Planet. He has also been featured on the National Geographic channel, The Today Show, Inside Edition, Fox and Friends and Verminators. His documentary, In the Pit by Sean Lewis, was about Riffle’s childhood with alligator wrestling. He has been working with native and exotic wildlife since the age of 11 and has experience with gators, snakes, turtles, bears, exotic birds and big cats.
Under the supervision of his mentor, Mike “Skeet” Johns, he learned how to identify, appreciate and respect native wildlife and the land itself.
Becoming part of Animal Planet’s Gator Boys show has been a dream come true for Jimmy. His second passion is to bring his Road Show out to teach as many people as possible about animals and to give them a hands-on experience like he had.
Riffle will have two shows during Portfest at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. followed by meet and greet opportunities. The shows are free with gate admission on June 8.
Portfest tickets for June 8 are $10 before 4 p.m. or $15 after 4 p.m. Activities begin at noon with attractions for the entire family. Music on the main stage begins at 5:30 p.m. with the Larry Lee Cheshier Band followed by Eddy Raven at 7 p.m. and Jo Dee Messina at 8:30 p.m.
Portfest weekend kicks off on Friday, June 7 with music starting at 5:30 p.m. featuring Riverbilly. Country greats John Conlee and the Bellamy Brothers will perform at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. respectively. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate for Friday’s show.
For more info, go to www.portfest.org or contact the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce. g
WEST MAGNET K-KIDS — West Magnet K-Kids of West Magnet School in Batesville recently held their last meeting of the year with an awards ceremony. Projects they participated in this year included: serving at Kiwanis Pancake Day; making and selling centerpieces for Kiwanis Installation Banquet; participating in a school-wide coin drive for Christmas projects; sponsoring two Angel Tree children; donating approximately 200 gloves to Central Avenue United Methodist Church’s Joy to the Children program; picking up trash around the school; mailing “thank you” notes to soldiers overseas; and participating in other charitable events. West Magnet K-Kids Officers for 2012-2013: President Corbyn Snell, Vice President Kaylee Gallagher, Secretary Ivan Sifontes, Treasurer Alex Keller, Fifth Grade Representative Lily Gillihan, Sixth Grade Rep Summer Dowell, Public Relations Chair Madelyn Cunningham, Kiwanis Family Chair Claire Gleghorn, and Service Project Chair Jasmine Brown. Photo submitted
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MEET WITH REP. CRAWFORD — Representatives from Arkansas Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies met with Congressman Rick Crawford during the Child Care Aware of America’s National Symposium. The group advocated for the Child Care Development Block Grant which is up for reauthorization. This grant to each of the 50 states addresses public policies such as background checks on individuals that seek to be licensed by the state for child care services, and is the source of funding for many preschool programs.
Child Care Aware of North central Arkansas (CCANA) is a resource and referral program serving 14 north central Arkansas counties. The agency provides a variety of services and information for children, parents, providers, employers, and communities. Individuals and businesses can contact Debbie Webb or the staff at CCANA, a program of White River Planning and Development, and quickly find out which child care facilities may have openings or where licensed facilities are located, weekly rates, quality information, etc. The representatives also attended a week-long symposium in DC regarding various child care issues. Pictured (left to right): Regan Miller; U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford; Geania Dickey; Renee Long, president of CCANA’s Advisory Council; Debbie Malone; Carolene Thornton; and Debbie Webb, program director for CCANA. Photo submitted
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Members of the White River Health System (WRHS) Board of Directors recently received certifications after completing a six session training course in Essentials of Healthcare Governance given by Best On Board, LLC. Essentials of Healthcare Governance is a comprehensive course that helps strengthen the ability of participating trustees and leaders to serve on a health care organization governing board. The course was made available by the Arkansas Hospital Association and WRHS. Pictured with their certificates (L to R) are WRHS Board members Dianne Lamberth, Debbie Frazier, Connie Schirmer, Leo Sutterfield, Charlie Schaaf, WRHS Board President Steve Case, Dick Bernard, Dr. Doug Bernard, and James Mack Street, WRHS Board treasurer. Not pictured were Boris Dover, WRHS Board vice president, Dr. Rob Emery, Leslie Frensley, WRHS Board Secretary, and Gerald Meacham. Photo submitted
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Cave City Middle School
Teacher Wins Award
Trish Turnbough has received the James H. Atkinson Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Arkansas History. Turnbough, a teacher at Cave City for 26 years, received the award during the Arkansas Historical Association conference held in West Helena on April 12.
The award’s namesake, James H. Atkinson, a leader in Arkansas history education, was a founder and twice president of the Pulaski County Historical Society and editor of its journal for over ten years. For more than twenty years, he served on the editorial staff of the Arkansas Historical Quarterly, and in 1952 he became president of the Arkansas Historical Association. He was also chairman of the Arkansas History Commission for eight of the twelve years that he served on its board. Elementary and secondary teachers who teach a course in Arkansas history are eligible for the award.
“One way I intertwine Arkansas History into the classroom is by allowing students to do alternative assessment projects where they can research their family history as related to events being studied. This provides students an opportunity to examine their own history to discover how their relatives played a role in developing our state and country,” says Mrs. Turnbough. “It’s an easy way to intertwine Arkansas History into each class and for the students to not only learn about their own family’s history, but encourage an interest and a love for history.”
When she isn’t teaching, Mrs. Turnbough enjoys sponsoring the Middle School History Club, spending time with family, and traveling to historic places. She has been selected to attend a National Endowment for the Humanities Workshop in Savannah, Georgia this summer. She is married to Ed Turnbough, who retired from teaching last year. She has two sons, Robert and Clint, and two grandchildren, Madi and Bentley. g
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