Delta Awards for tourism to be presented Feb. 1 at PCCUA

The 13th annual Delta Awards recognizing tourism achievement in Eastern Arkansas will be presented during festivities Friday evening, Feb. 1, at the Fine Arts Building of Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas. 1000 Campus Drive, in Helena.
After a silent auction at 5:30 p.m., the dinner and awards ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.
The event is sponsored by Arkansas Delta Byways, with support from Phillips Community College, the Delta Cultural Center, the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce and the Helena Advertising and Promotion Commission.
Arkansas Delta Byways, based on the Arkansas State University campus, is a nonprofit organization recognized by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism as the official tourism promotion association for 15 counties in Eastern Arkansas. Counties include Arkansas, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett and St. Francis.
The annual awards event is open to the public. Tickets are $25 per person or a table of eight for $175. For information on ticket availability, contact Arkansas Delta Byways, (870) 972-2803, fax (870) 972-3201, or e-mail: ardeltab@astate.edu.

Finalists for the awards are:

Media Support Award
ASU Creative Services, All Counties
Mark Spencer, Monticello
“Sunshine” Sonny Payne, Helena

Hospitality Award
Cajun Express, Wheatley
Edwardian Inn, Helena
Whitton Farms, Whitton

Entrepreneur Award
Handworks, Helena
Jones Bar-B-Q Diner, Marianna
Main Street Paragould, Paragould

Tourism Support Award
AR Midland Railroad Santa Train, Drew, Desha and Chicot Counties
150th Birthday Celebration of Cross County, Wynne
Southland Park Gaming & Racing, West Memphis

Festival/Event of the Year
80th Birthday Tribute to Johnny Cash, Dyess
Tyronza Stars & Stripes Jubilee, Tyronza
Zombie Walk, Paragould

Boot Strap Award
Granny Clay's Kitchen, Marked Tree
Helena Second Saturdays, Helena
Scarecrow Contest, Marion

Promotional Award
Hemingway-Pfeiffer Educational Center African Safari Exhibit, Piggott
Historic District Steamboat Partnership, Helena
Main Street Dumas National Historic District, Dumas

Outstanding Member Award
TBA

Cultural Heritage Award
Arkansas Post Museum State Park, Exhibit Buildings, Gillette
Bridging the Blues, Helena
Lakeport Plantation Exhibits, Lake Village

Tourism Person of the Year
Joe St. Columbia, Helena
Troy Keeping, West Memphis
Cindy Smith, McGehee