Plans are in the works for Fulton County Homecoming Festival, to be held Memorial Day Weekend in Salem, Arkansas (Fulton County) on May 28-29th with “We grow in different directions, but our roots bring us back home” as the theme. The Salem Chamber of Commerce Festival Planning Committee is excited about this years’ Festival.
Some of the most popular events will still be part of the Memorial Day weekend festivities along with some new activities. Apple Pie 5K, Downtown Parade, Squirt Race, Street Dance, Terrapin Race, and Movie on the Lawn are just a few of the planned activities. Runners can register for the Mark Thomas 5K Memorial Run online at www.runsignup.com. Exact dates and times for other events will be published in the coming weeks.
To go along with the theme of our “roots bring us back home” the Salem Chamber is revitalizing the Homecoming Parade which at one time was the highlight of the weekend. The 2021 Parade will feature antique cars, State Champion sports teams, local businesses, clubs, and organizations. Anyone interested in participating in the parade is encouraged to call Marcia Allen at 870-895-2545 or contact the Salem Chamber of commerce on their Facebook page.
For information on the Annual Fulton County Homecoming Festival, call the Salem Chamber of Commerce at 870-895-5565.
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.