Arkansas Delta Byways Honors Tourism Achievement Winners

JONESBORO—The 14th annual Delta Awards recognizing tourism achievement in Eastern Arkansas were presented during festivities Friday evening, January 31, at Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis.

Winners of Arkansas Delta Byways Tourism Achievement winners (from left) Jack Myers, Thomas Jacques, Alyson Gill, Carol O’Connor, Linda Hinton, Joe Dan Yee, Calanda Young, Pam Garofas, Ron Kelley, Gina Jarrett, Larry Sims, Lynn Chadwick for Cathy Cunningham, Jeff Owyoung, Jack May and Marcel Hanzlik.

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. The event also received support from the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, the West Memphis Advertising and Promotion Commission and Main Street West Memphis.

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, 870-972-2803.

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

Media Support AwardCross County ERA, WynneRARN Radio, Multi-County*Sonny Payne, King Biscuit Time Radio, Helena

Hospitality Award*Arkansas Welcome Centers, Helena, Lake Village and West MemphisFairfield Inn and Suites, JonesboroHoots BBQ, McGehee

Entrepreneur AwardAin’t That Funky, DumasDr. John Bibb, Paragould*Dr. Cindy Grisham, Multi-County

Tourism Support Award*ASU Center for Digital Initiatives, Multi-CountyArkansas Post Museum State Park, “Fright Night,” GillettHistoric Tushek Building, Lake Village

Festival/Event of the YearOwlfest, McGehee*Battle of Helena 150, HelenaRockabilly Boogiefest, Jonesboro

Boot Strap AwardDowntown Farmers’ Market and Art Event, Forrest City*City of Dyess, DyessLepanto Museum USA, Lepanto

Promotional AwardASU Museum, “A World of Its Own,” JonesboroPiggott Chamber of Commerce, Piggott*The Great Race, Paragould and Monticello

Cultural Heritage AwardHemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center, “A View from the Hill,” PiggottWarfield Music Concert Series, Helena*WWII Japanese American Internment Museum, McGehee

Outstanding Member AwardLinda Hinton, Tyronza

Tourism Person of the YearCathy Cunningham, Helena

Arkansas Delta Byways Honors Tourism Achievement Winners — Winners of Arkansas Delta Byways Tourism Achievement winners (from left) Jack Myers, Thomas Jacques, Alyson Gill, Carol O’Connor, Linda Hinton, Joe Dan Yee, Calanda Young, Pam Garofas, Ron Kelley, Gina Jarrett, Larry Sims, Lynn Chadwick for Cathy Cunningham, Jeff Owyoung, Jack May and Marcel Hanzlik.