Arkansas Delta Byways Recognizes Tourism Achievement in 2017
The Cultural Heritage Award was presented for The Circle, at Arkansas State University
The Festival/Event of the Year Award went to the Johnny Cash Heritage Festival, organized by A-State Heritage Sites
JONESBORO – Arkansas Delta Byways, the tourism promotion association for 15 counties in Eastern Arkansas, presented its 18th annual Delta Awards recognizing tourism achievement Friday, Feb. 23, during festivities at the Marianna Civic Center.
The event was sponsored by Arkansas Delta Byways with support from the City of Marianna, Mayor Jimmy Williams, and the Marianna Chamber of Commerce.
Marcel Hanzlik, president of Arkansas Delta Byways, served as master of ceremonies and presented the awards.
The winners of the various tourism awards were:
- "Media Support Award": Rex Nelson, columnist, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
- "Hospitality Award": Wilson Community Gardens, Mississippi County
- "Entrepreneur Award": Piggott City Market, Clay County
- "Tourism/Promotional Support Award": Corning Welcome Center, “The Great American Eclipse Watch Party,” Clay County
- "Festival/Event of the Year Award": Inaugural Johnny Cash Heritage Festival, Dyess, Mississippi County
- "Boot Strap Award": Helena Downtown Partnership, Phillips County
- "Cultural Heritage Award": The Circle, Arkansas State University, Craighead County
ADB presented its "Outstanding Member Award" to Gretchen Sacotnik of Greene County and the "Tourism Person of the Year" award to videographer Gary Jones, who also is a student in the Heritage Studies Ph.d. program at A-State. A special achievement award was presented to Paula Oliver of Helena.
Arkansas Delta Byways (ADB) is the official tourism promotion association recognized by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for the region. Member counties are Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett and St. Francis.
ADB is based on the A-State campus in Jonesboro and receives administrative support through the university’s Arkansas Heritage Sites Office.
For more details, contact Arkansas Delta Byways, (870) 972-2803.
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