Featuring great music and comedy, these guys are as entertaining as anything you will see in Branson, show off our great local talent, and put on a great show.   They were a huge hit last year at the Marshall Alumni Banquet, and at last years Westfest event.   Tickets are only $ 5.00 and are available at the door. Contact the Searcy County Chamber of Commerce for more information at 870-448-2557.  

The Greater Searcy County Chamber of Commerce presents the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus in Marshall for one day only with 2 performances.   Sunday April 1st at 2:00 and 4:30 PM.  The big top will be located just off U.S. Highway 65, on the north end of town, near the site of the Marshall Mini Mall and Searcy County Baptist Church.   The Culpepper & Meriweather Circus is a  tented, one-ring circus. No seat is further than 40 feet away from the ring, so you don’t have to worry about missing any of the action!   They were here 2 years ago and performed to standing room only crowds at that time.   For more information about the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus visit their facebook page.

Tickets are being pre-sold now and are going fast.   Tickets for Children 12 and under are $6.00  each, and Adult tickets are $9.00 each.   Contact the Searcy County Chamber of Commerce for tickets and more information at 870-448-2557.

Both are located near major thoroughfares to Branson, Missouri and Mountain View, Arkansas.  The OHAC is located in a building constructed as a community hall in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration, or WPA.  It later became used as a gymnasium by the Leslie school system.  Inside the arts center is the 350-seat Killebrew Theatre.  It gets its’ name from Rex and Daphne Killebrew who remodeled the old Leslie school gym in 1992.  They gave it the name of the Ozark Heritage Arts Center.

Clarence Treat, who was part of the popular 60’s folk group, The New Christy Minstrels, is on tap to play the OHAC with his son Dean on Saturday, March  3 at 7:30 PM.   All profits from ticket sales will go to Spit for the Cure Breast Cancer Cohort to aid breast cancer research.  If you do some searching at http://www.uams.edu/spitforthecure, you can find out that a Marshall High School graduate, Susan Treat Kadlubar, Ph.D., along with Suzanne Klimberg, M.D., both of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, initiated the idea for Spit for the Cure.  Searcy County, where Clarence Treat’s benefit concert is being held, is also the home county of Dr. Kadlubar who grew up just a few short miles away from the Killebrew Theatre.

Clarence Treat

The OHAC’s house band, In Cahoots, or another band performs in the theatre every second or fifth Saturday.  Among those playing in February are the John Taylor Band, Red Hat Diva’s and The Barren Hollow Boys.  In addition to Clarence Treat’s performance in March, there will be performances by In Cahoots and a gospel group will perform on Mar. 31. Tickets can be purchased on site for $5 at 6:30 p.m.  Performances begin at 7 p.m.

The Volunteers

On Mar. 25 there will be a free concert in the afternoon by the U.S. Army band The Volunteers.  The Volunteers, according to the www.armyfieldband.com web site, is the Army’s premier touring show band.  The site states that they are a talented six-piece group performing a blend of popular American music, including rock ‘n’ roll, standards, country, jazz, and patriotic.

A new addition to the Leslie music scene is The Drop Zone which is located inside of Oak Street Station.  The Drop Zone is a no-alcohol and no-smoking family place.  It is also home to the Buffalo River Blues Society.  They have karaoke most every Friday evening in addition to live music the first and third Saturday of every month from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.  The Drop Zone is owned by Sandra Chidester and managed by Tom Anderson.

Anderson loves managing The Drop Zone and says it opened last September and can seat up to 80 people.  He said there is a calling for the blues in this area.  Among the four blues bands that have performed so far is CloverBlue.

Coming on Feb. 18 is Brethren, a blues band from Hot Springs. They’ve played their Mississippi Delta blues at music festivals and venues from Helena to Chicago. Mar. 17 is the date to hear Smooth Down Under, a rocking roadhouse blues band from Branson, Missouri. There’s going to be a youth concert on Mar. 24, with three local youth bands, Alive On Tuesday, WeBuiltThePyramids, and Arrows Point South.  At their Oak Street location in Leslie, The Drop Zone also has had updated bluegrass, rock n roll, and even Bohemian folk music.

The Drop Zone

Admission ranges from $6 to $10.  For more information, check out The Drop Zone on Facebook, or you can call 501-253-6373 or email thedrop.zone@yahoo.com .

According to Jack Treat, a member of the OHAC board of directors, the arts center has come a long way since 2010 when the facility was in a state of disrepair.  Several people have contributed time, effort and money to get the facility back on its feet.  Treat says the OHAC gives local talent a better venue in which to perform.

In addition to music, plays are occasionally performed in the facility.  The OHAC also hosts a small art gallery and a museum of interest to those who enjoy learning of Ozark culture and Leslie’s history.  On Jun. 1 the annual Ancestor Fair will be held there.

The arts center and museum are typically only open when there is a performance being held in the Killebrew Theatre.  For more information, please go to the Searcy County Chamber of Commerce web site.   And yes, the hills are alive with the sound of music.

By Darryl G. Treat     Leslie, Arkansas

On Friday, February 10th, 2012 at 7:00 PM,  at the Ozarks Heritage Arts Center in Leslie, the Operation Kindness, Searcy County Humane Society will be holding a Sweet Hearts Dance and Pie Auction.  All proceeds from the event will benefit the Humane Society Shelter Fund.     The dance will  feature the music of “Rendezvous”  with Joel and Randall Housley, and the Pie Auction will be held and sponsored by Ragland Auction Company, Michael and Roy Ragland.

There will also be Raffle’s and Door Prizes!!

Ladies, be sure and bring your Best Pies for the Auction to help support this good cause.  Admission is only $2.00 at the Door.   For more information, call 870-447-2166 or 262-949-0755.

For More information and a flyer of the event, click here.

It’s going to be a busy Spring at the Ozark Heritage Arts Center in Leslie.  Several music events are planned.  Check out the listing and times below and come out and help the Ozark Heritage Arts Center.

February 10, 2012  —  Sweet Heart Dance and Pie Auction    — Sponsored by the Searcy County Humane Society, Inc Shelter Fund      See more information here

February 11, 2012   — 2nd Saturday  – John Taylor Band

February 18, 2012  –  Red Hat Diva’s   — Gospel Group from Hot Springs

February 24, 2012 —  Marshall Rotary  — Music to be announced

February 25, 2012 —  Killebrew Theater Presents……  The Barren Hollow Boys    You don’t want to miss this performance!!!!!

March 3, 2012  – Clarence Treat  who played with the “New Christy Minstrels”

March 10, 2012 —  2nd Saturday  – “In Cahoots”

March 25, 2012  –   U.S. Army Military Band in Concert

Thank You…….

WestFest is a big new event coming to North Arkansas this fall. It will be a day long happening of fun and exciting activities celebrating western heritage and providing an opportunity to help our neighbors.  Built around The Great Ozark Trail Dog & Horse Race, which has been held for the past 5 years, WestFest will feature all new events for all ages. It will be for real cowboys and cowgirls, those that like to play like they are real, and those folks that just want to watch. A simple way to describe the day would be to call it a “Western Circus”.  There will be a “main attraction event” scheduled for each hour from 10 AM until (?), while at the same time there will be large variety of “sideshow events” happening all around the grounds.  A detail schedule and list of events can be found on the schedule page. Check back to this site often as updates and new information will be posted on a weekly basis.

Schedule of Main Events – Saturday, September 24, 2011

8-10 am

Cowboy Chuck-Wagon Breakfast  – Proceeds for the V.F. W. Building in Marshall

10-Noon

“World Stick Horse Rodeo Association” National Finals Rodeo.  Open to all Kids

Noon – 1 pm

Clog Dancing  – Main Stage

Winners announced for the First Annual Frontier Heritage Art Contest

Free Cowboy Chuck-wagon supper. Sponsored by the Thousand Hills Cowboy  Church

1 – 2 pm

The Great Ozark Trail Dog and Horse Race

2 – 3 pm

Pasture Roping

3 – 4 pm

Horse Race,  Quarter Mile Straight Track

4-5 pm

The “Barn Hollow Boys  – Music and Entertainment

Sponsored by the Western Horse Heritage Foundation

We will look forward to next year’s event and more information is located at the Searcy County Airport Website at  www.searcycountyairport.com or contact the event coordinators below.

Flying Jam Music Festival

Annual Fly-in, mini air show with Powerchutes, music festival featuring local musicians, food vendors, crafts and displays. Fun for the entire family. Music stage is in the hangar so bring folding chairs for comfort. Free admission to the public. Free parking.

Fly-in Coordinator for pilots, Richard Craig, 870-447-3032
Flying Jam musical groups sign-up, Jack Treat, 870-448-4488
Vendor information and sign-up, Dick Groves, 870-448-5809

Friendship Community Care is happy to announce the first annual Friendship 5k Run/Walk to be held September 17, 2011 in Marshall, AR.  Proceeds for this event will benefit The Children’s Tumor Foundation.  We are currently seeking sponsorship for our special event and would be delighted if your company/organization could contribute.  Any donation you are able to contribute would be greatly appreciated and would help make this event a tremendous success.

The Children’s Tumor Foundation is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting neurofibromatosis (NF).  NF is a devastating disorder affecting 1 in 3,000 individuals.  NF causes tumors to grow throughout the nervous system, and can cause learning disabilities, blindness, deafness and bone deformities.  There is no cure, but effective treatments are being researched.  The money raised from this event will be used to support the NF research program through Children’s Tumor Foundation.

Please consider partnering with Friendship Community Care and the Children’s Tumor Foundation for this opportunity to give back to the children we serve.  Your support will go a long way in helping us accomplish our mission.  Sponsors giving donations of $200 or more will earn a 4.5 x 2 inch add for their business on the race day t-shirt.  Companies who donate $100-$199 will have their company name on a single line on the race day shirts. Sponsors desiring a t-shirt advertisement must submit donation by August 11, 2011.  The names of companies/organizations that donate $99 or below will be listed as sponsors in the race day packet given to the runners.  A complete list of our sponsors will be posted in the paper before September 17, 2011.   Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.  Please mail donations to the address listed above.

Sincerely,

Keri L. Wyatt

(870) 448-5976

Run Flyer

Registration Form

Come enjoy a Haycation with the whole family! Wake to the sounds of farm life, feed a bottle to a goat, or brush a horse… even see the stars without city lights dimming their glow. This beautiful 3 bedroom cottage on a working farm located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Arkansas has a fully equipped kitchen, dining area that seats 8 people and has 2 full baths. The master bedroom has a private bath and views on three sides. There are two guest rooms, one with aqueen bed and one with two twin beds. The living room is cozy and is equipped with family games, TV w/DVD/VCR. There is a queen sleeper in the living room. Central heat and air provide comfort year round.

The front porch and back deck offer relaxing views of the wildlife & hummingbirds. Horses and goats graze on the hillside. Children are welcome and we encourage you to turn off the TV and get out the games. Bocce ball and horseshoes on the lawn or board games inside. The back deckprovides beautiful views of the rolling hills and bluffs, a 3-person hot tub and a grill. Adults can unwind in the hot tub while watching shooting stars.

The very spacious Master bedroom is on the far side of the house with a queen size bed and a private bathroom. There is a writing desk and sitting chairs. The views from three sides face the garden as well as the fields and the rolling hills.

The 2nd bedroom has a queen size brass bed with handmade quilts. The views are of the rolling hills. The 3rd bedroom has an Americana theme with 2 twin bedsand views of the gardens and the fields. The Living room is equipped with a queen sleeper sofa.

• Policies:

• Daily rate:
  • In season: $175
  • Off Season: $125
• Rates are based on 2 persons. Each additional guest $10/per person/day.
• Children under 6 no additional charge.
• Weekly rates available.
• Restrictions: no smoking, alcohol or pets
• Accepting cash/check/ CHN certifichecks. Soon accepting credit cards
• Check in 4 pm; Check out 11am, flexiblity if available.
• Deposit: Weekends are to be paid in advance. Contact us for weekly deposit.
• Cancellations: 2 weeks prior for full refund. After 2 weeks- half refund. Less than 4 days, no refund unless we are able to rebook the days.