News Release Arkansas Delta Byways Awards January 25 at Technical Center for the Delta at Wynne

8^th Annual Delta Awards for Tourism Achievement

The eighth annual Delta Awards recognizing tourism achievements in Eastern Arkansas were presented during festivities Friday evening, January 25, at the Technical Center for the Delta in Wynne.

The event was sponsored by Arkansas Delta Byways, the nonprofit association recognized by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism as the official tourism promotion association for 15 counties in Eastern Arkansas. Counties include Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett and St. Francis.

Arkansas Delta Byways is located on the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro and receives administrative support through Arkansas State University’s Arkansas Heritage SITES Office.

For more information, contact Arkansas Delta Byways. (Phone: 970-972-2803, fax: 9870-972-3200;

e-mail: pmiles@astate.edu.)

Finalists for the awards were as follows, with the winner designated by an asterisk:

1. Media Support Award

Leigh Ann Kennedy, Crittenden County

Premiere Magazine, Greene County

*Kim Williams, All Counties

2. Hospitality Award

*Bayou LaGrue Lodge, Arkansas County

Cajun Express, St. Francis County

Mallard Pointe Lodge and Reserve, Monroe County

3. Entrepreneur Award

Carriage Square, Phillips County

Lakeside Hunting, St. Francis County

*Pumpkin Hollow, Clay County

4. Tourism Support Award

*Audubon Arkansas, All Counties

City of Blytheville, Mississippi County

West Memphis Carriage Rides - Christmas Lights Tours, Crittenden County

5. Festival/Event of the Year Award

“Autumn on the Square,” Lee County

Ding Dong Days, Dumas, Desha County

*Parkin Archeological State Park – Black History Month School Days , Cross County

6. Boot Strap Award

*Collins Theatre, Greene County

New Hope School, Cross County

Selma Rosenwald School, Drew County

7. Promotional Award

Friends of the St. Francis, Lee and Phillips Counties

*RHDI – Arkansas Delta Made Project, All Counties

Tour da Delta, Phillips County

8. Outstanding Member Award
Niki Jones, St. Francis County

*Main Street Arkansas, Crittenden, Greene, Desha, Mississippi and Phillips Counties

Billy Ray, Phillips County

9. Cultural Heritage Award

Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, Poinsett County

St. Francis County Museum, St. Francis County

*Lakeport Plantation, Chicot County

10. Tourism Person of the Year Award

Terry Eastin, All Counties

*Robert Moore, Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot and Desha Counties

Mary Gay Shipley, Mississippi County