Arkansas Delta Byways distributes awards

The 23rd annual Arkansas Delta Byways Awards were presented recently and there were several winners from Northeast Arkansas. The Delta Byways covers a 15-county region in East Arkansas.

Arkansas Delta Byways is based on campus at Arkansas State University. The nonprofit organization is recognized by the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism as the official tourism promotion association for 15 counties in Eastern Arkansas, including Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, and St. Francis counties.

The tourism support award went to the Jonesboro A&P Commission in Craighead County. The city hosted the 50th Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The three-day event was held last February and more than 400 people attended.

“It couldn’t have gone better at GOVCON,” said Craig Rickert, executive director of the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission. “The teamwork it took to prepare for and conduct the event shows that nobody does hospitality better than the people of Jonesboro. We showed people from all over the state and the country that Jonesboro is a special place. This is an award for the entire city of Jonesboro.”

Other winners from the Arkansas Delta Region include:

Hospitality Award: City of Tyronza
Entrepreneur Award: Callapalooza and RNT Duck Calls in Arkansas County
Event of the Year: The Tri-County Fair in Lee, Monroe, and Phillips counties
Bootstrap Award: Watler Morris Jr. in Phillips County
Cultural Heritage Award: Johnny Cash Statue Unveiling
Distinguished Service Award: Renee Robison, executive director of Grand Prairie Center
Tourism Person of the Year: Thomas Williams, Helena-West Helena
Silent Auction Superstar: Phillips County