Newport Upcoming Events
The Billy Jones Band will be performing at the next Arkansas Steel Associates Bluesday Tuesday Concert on Tuesday, July 17 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Front Street park. Free admission, concessions will be provided by the Downtown Newport Farmers Market. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to Frankie’s Place, 306 Front Street
Retirement Party for Mr. Jack and Mrs. Virginia Austin, July 19, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Thursday, July 19, Harris Ford will be holding their 6th annual Golf Tournament at the Village Creek Golf Club. The tournament will be a 4 person Scramble, and the cost is $400 per team. All proceeds will benefit Arkansas Center for Independence. To register your team, contact Shane Fairley at (870)523-5559 or (870)512-9141.
Newport Campus of Central Baptist Church is proud to present Hank Parker, Professional Bass Fisherman and TV Host, July 21st at ASU-Newport. Join us at 6:00 p.m. for great food from Wild Bill’s Catfish and hear Mr. Parker speak. All proceeds from the event will go to the Cornerstone Transition Home. For tickets call Tamya Stallings at 870-761-8595.
Safe Sitter sponsored by White River Health System, will be hosting a class for students sixth through eighth grade. It is designed to prepare students when they are home alone or watching younger siblings,or babysitting. The Class is July 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jackson County Library. The Class fee is $25 and lunch is provided. Pre-registration is required. To register call (870) 262-6555 or email tmcmullin@wrmc.com
On Wednesday, July 25, The Artist in U art workshops presented by Unity Health will be held for High School children (seventh through twelfth grades). Donna Hohn and Debra Jackson will do pet portraits from 10:30 to Noon and Dewanna McIntosh will teach a class from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Space is limited for both workshops, so please RSVP by calling 523-3618 to reserve your child’s spot.
The River Country Concert will feature The Memphis Yahoos on Thursday, July 26. Sponsored by M&P Banking, Insurance and Investment Services, the concert is free and fun for all ages. Show begins at 7 p.m. on the Terry Scoggins Memorial Stage in downtown Newport. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to Frankie’s Place, 306 Front Street.
Community Resource Fair is Friday, August 3, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Located in the Village Mall at 2101 Malcolm Avenue. For more information call Sonja Ross (870) 495-3318 or email sross@GoodwillAR.org
Scrub Sale for Unity Health Auxiliary Fundraiser will be August 8, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located inside Conference Room 1. Best name brands and a variety of styles will be available.
August 10, The Bright Star Children’s Theatre will be in Newport thanks to Farmers Electric. “Chicken Little” begins at 10 a.m. at the Jackson County Library, and “Alice in Wonderland” at 3:30 p.m. at the Newport Business Resource Center, 201 Hazel Street. Both shows are free!
The ASU-Newport Movies in the Park will be held on Saturday, August 11, featuring CoCo from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Movies are held in the Front Street park in downtown Newport. In the event of inclement weather, movies will move to the Newport Business Resource Center, 201 Hazel Street. Free for all!
The ASUN 5k Run/Walk is set for the August 11, at 6 p.m. Help raise money for student scholarships by running the certified course on the Newport campus. Registration is $15 and will include a t-shirt.
Jubliation Jazz will be performing at the Arkansas Steel Associates Bluesday Tuesday Concert on Tuesday, August 21 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Front Street park. Free admission, concessions will be provided by the Downtown Newport Farmers Market. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to Frankie’s Place, 306 Front Street.
On Wednesday, August 22, The Artist in U art workshops presented by Unity Health will be held for Preschool children. Amy Morris will do painting from 10:30 to Noon and Peggy Meitzen will teach drawing animals and bugs from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Space is limited for both workshops, so please RSVP by calling 523-3618 to reserve your child’s spot.
The River Country Concert will feature Queen Ann’s Revenge Dueling Piano show on Thursday, August 30. Sponsored by M&P Banking, Insurance and Investment Services, the concert is free and fun for all ages. Show begins at 7 p.m. on the Terry Scoggins Memorial Stage in downtown Newport. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to Frankie’s Place, 306 Front Street.
The Jackson County Single Parent Scholarship Fund fall deadline is September 15. Go to www.aspsf.org to apply.
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 serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current publicity 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.
