INDEPENDENCE COUNTY LIBRARY LAUNCHES SUMMER 2024
(Batesville, AR) Get ready to embark on a literary adventure as the Independence County Library hosts its Registration Celebration on Saturday, June 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library’s patio. This event marks the official kickoff for Summer 2024 and promises an afternoon filled with food, fun, and fantastic prizes.
Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy fresh grilled hotdogs, generously provided by First Community Bank, and the library will offer an array of chips and refreshing drinks, ensuring that guests are well-fed and hydrated throughout the celebration.
Join us as we dive into the excitement of Summer 2024! Families are encouraged to bring their children, tweens, and teens to register for the Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme, “The Adventure Begins,” sets the stage for an unforgettable journey through the pages of captivating stories and thrilling adventures.
“We’re thrilled to kick off Summer 2024 with our Registration Celebration,” said Carlene Morrison, Director of the Independence County Library. “This yearly event is a fun opportunity for families to come together, enjoy lunch, and sign up for our Summer Reading Program.”
Don’t miss out on the excitement! Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 8, and join us at the Independence County Library for a day of food, fun, and literary exploration. Let the adventure begin!
For more information about the Registration Celebration please contact Sloane Lott at or sloane@indcolib.com
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.