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2015 Portfest Press Release
May 14, 2015
34th Annual Portfest Festival The Marshall Tucker Band, Little Texas and Josh Thompson will be the featured performers during the 34th Annual Portfest “Rollin’ on the River” Festival on June 5-6. Hosted by the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce, Portfest is held on the banks of the White River at beautiful Jacksonport State Park, three miles north of Newport off Hwy. 69. One of the major Southern rock bands of the ‘70s, the Marshall Tucker Band was formed in Spartenburg, SC in 1971. They gained recognition through a tour with the Allman Brothers Band and found significant success during the course of the ‘70s, with most of their albums going gold thanks to songs like “Can’t You See” and “Fire On the Mountain.” Their peak came with the million-selling album Carolina Dreams and its Top 15 single “Heard It in a Love Song” in 1977. Still led today by founding member and lead singer Doug Gray, they represent a time and place in music that will never be duplicated. Opening the show on June 5 is Arkansas’ own Riverbilly. Along with their amped-up live show, Riverbilly’s incredible sound with three-part harmony combined together allows them to continue the winning of fans in city after city, night after night. Tickets for June 5 are $17 in advance or $22 at the gate (taxes included). Kids six and under get in free. Riverbilly performs at 7 p.m. followed by the Marshall Tucker Band at 8:30 p.m. Josh Thompson burst onto the music scene in 2009 with his debut single “Beer on the Table” followed by the success 2010’s singles “Won’t Be Lonely Long” and “Way Out Here.” His second album Turn It Up debuted at number seven on the Top Country Albums Chart and features “Cold Beer with Your Name on It” and his current single, the album’s title track, “Turn It Up.” Thompson’s live shows have earned him a solid fan base and gained him plenty of respect from those other acts that dared to follow him – including Brad Paisley, Eric Church, Justin Moore and Lynyrd Skynyrd, all of whom have taken Thompson on the road. Founded in 1998, Little Texas produced hit singles throughout the early to mid-90s. “First Time for Everything,” “What Might Have Been,” “God Blessed Texas,” “My Love,” “Kick a Little,” and “Amy’s Back in Austin” are just a few of the most popular releases from their gold, platinum and double platinum albums. Country fans the world over richly rewarded the band, buying up over 7 million of their albums, while critics showered them with 3 Grammy nominations plus honors from both the Academy of Country Music (Vocal Group Of The Year) and the Country Music Association (Album Of The Year). Tickets for June 6 are $12 either in advance or at the gate before 4 p.m. (taxes included; they will increase to $17 at the gate after 4 p.m. (taxes included). Kids six and under get in free. Little Texas is set for 7 p.m. followed by Josh Thompson at 8:30 p.m. with the fireworks extravaganza ending the show. Tickets will be available at outlets throughout the region including Searcy, Batesville, Jonesboro and Newport. Portfest welcomes Kenny’s Funland Carnival on June 3-6 at Jacksonport State Park. In addition, attractions for kids of all ages are free with admission on June 6 and include pony rides, inflatables, a petting zoo, trackless train rides, rock climbing wall and much more. A buddy bass fishing tournament, horseshoe pitching and Baggo tournaments will also be held on June 6. Other dates to remember: Portfest 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 16 at ASU-Newport and the free Kids Fishing Derby at Newport Lake on Saturday, May 30. Don’t forget your blankets and lawn chairs! Coolers are welcome, but there will be a $10 cooler fee at the gate. Free parking. For a complete schedule of events, go to www.portfest.org. Find Portfest Festival on Facebook or on Twitter @portfest.
Jackson County Community Theatre!
There's No Place Like Local This Holiday!
Newport Christmas Parade The Newport Christmas parade will be held Thursday, December 14, 2023 beginning at 6 p.m. Entries are now being accepted at the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce for business and nonprofit organization floats, walking groups, antique vehicles, beauty queens, horseback riders, school clubs and organizations, etc. Participants will be traveling down Hwy. 69 to Malcolm Avenue then down to Village Mall parking lot. Awards will be given for first, second and third place for both the commercial and non-commercial categories. Entry is free, and participants may choose their own holiday theme. However, Santa Claus will be flying in early from the North Pole as the last entry in the parade, so please do not plan a “fake” Santa on your float. Float judging will begin no later than 5:30 p.m. Please include the name of your business or organization somewhere on your float for faster judging. Line up will be held in the parking lot across from Riceland Foods no sooner than 5 p.m. (McLain and Hwy. 69). Walkers and dance groups should line up on the Riceland side of Hwy. 69. Vehicles that are entered in the parade are to enter the parking lot from McLain Street and face toward Hwy. 69. There will be a line up crew on hand. The line up area will be very crowded. Those who are driving vehicles that will not be in the parade are asked to find parking on the Riceland side of Hwy. 69 and walk across to the line up area. If dropping off a parade participant, please do not enter the parking lot. If you are planning to watch the parade along the route with children, please make sure that they stay by the street curbs and not in the road for safety purposes. Immediately following the parade, there will be a drive-by Christmas display event at the home of Dr. Patti Mullins, 4 Sue Circle. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there. Enter by clicking the link below. Entry forms are also available at the Chamber office, 201 Hazel Street. Completed forms may be faxed to 523-1055, dropped off at the Chamber at 201 Hazel Street, or emailed to director@newportarchamber.org . In the event of inclement weather, parade participants will be notified of an alternate date. Parade Entry Form
Mary Alice Holden Conner Memorial Park Closed For Maintenance
Public Notice for KOKR Radio
Public Notice for KNBY Radio
25th Annual Depot Days
18th New Vision Newport Leadership class now accepting applications!!
Newport Alumni Hall of Fame Banquet Thursday, August 10, 2023
NEDC Wins Settlement Worth $2.5 Million in Medical Marijuana Lawsuits For Immediate Release Newport Economic Development Commission Newport, Arkansas director@newportaredc.org The Newport Economic Development Commission won a settlement with a value of $2,518,015.00 yesterday in two separate lawsuits concerning the relocation of a medical marijuana cultivator previously located in Newport, Arkansas. In November of 2020, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission approved a transfer of Natural State Wellness, LLC’s license to Good Day Farms, LLC. At that same meeting, the Commission also approved a transfer of location, allowing the facility to move from Newport, Arkansas to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Jon Chadwell, Executive Director of the Newport Economic Development Commission made a formal request to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission to reverse the decision to move the facility. That request was denied. In April of 2021, Attorney David Couch, a Newport native, filed a lawsuit for plaintiffs the Newport Economic Development Commission; the City of Newport; the Newport Charitable Foundation and the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board against the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission; the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division; Good Day Farm, LLC; Natural State Wellness, LLC and Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. in Circuit Court of Jackson County. The suit was to recoup economic damages caused by the relocation of the facility. That lawsuit was followed by another lawsuit in October of 2021 by Couch for the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board to recapture possession of the property sold to Natural State Wellness with all improvements, including the building constructed on the property by Natural State Wellness. The lawsuit against the property owner BLRS was moved to federal court. On February 22, 2023, a mediation process was held with Couch and Chadwell representing the plaintiffs and individuals and attorneys representing Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. and Good Day Farms, LLC. Through the process, the defendants agreed to a settlement which returned the building and land to the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board, awarded $1,000,000 in cash restitution to the community and covered the legal fees and costs. The total value of the settlement is $2,518,015.00 which is being paid through a negotiated agreement between Harvest Health and Recreation, Inc. and Good Day Farms, LLC and a transfer of property from BRLS to the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board. “We feel vindicated to receive this settlement from Harvest Health and Good Day Farms on behalf of Newport,” stated Jon Chadwell. “We have many exceptional businesses in Newport that are significant partners in growing the community. However, when a business does not live up to its commitments, we feel obligated to take action behalf of the community.” Newport Mayor Derrick Ratliffe said, “The City of Newport has established a very pro-business environment and we are excited to have this building back under local control so we can use it to recruit another company to our community.” This settlement brings an end to the two-year process of seeking restitution for Newport and Jackson County.
