The 16h Annual Spring Fairgrounds Flea Market and Salem Chamber of Commerce Community-Wide Yard Sale will be held April 13th in Salem, Arkansas. Flea Market officials report that there are a few inside vendor spaces available for crafters, antique dealers, direct sales consultants, or individuals needing to sell general household items in a climate controlled secure facility. Outside spaces are also available. Salem is the place to be to find bargains at the flea market and community-wide yard sales on April 13th. There will be something for everyone. Both events are advertised heavily throughout north central Arkansas and southern Missouri and will draw a lot of people to the Salem area on these dates. Admission and parking is free at the flea market located at the Fulton County Fairgrounds at 124 Arena Lane in Salem. Maps for the yard sales will be available at area businesses and at the Fairgrounds Flea Market. The Salem Chamber of Commerce will host Food Truck Friday on April 12th on the West Court Square in Salem. Food vendors will be set up as early as 9 a.m. Vendors include Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Crazy Cajun, El Taco Zone, Hillbilly Kettle Corn, Robert’s Countryfied Cookin’, Spring Dipper Ice Cream, The Cupcake Queen and White River Smoke. We encourage vendors coming into Salem on Friday to set up for the Flea Market to visit “Food Truck Friday.”For more information or to reserve booth space, call 870.895.5565 or email fultoncountyfair1@gmail.com. Vendor applications are available online and the rental fee can be paid online at www.fultoncountyfair.org.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current membership chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.