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“Trashiest Team” Cleanup Contest Seeking Local Teams
Aug 16, 2019
The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce is currently recruiting teams to participate in the “Trashiest Team” contest during the Great Arkansas Clean-Up, the annual fall statewide litter pickup campaign promoted by Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB), a state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc. and a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Businesses, organizations and individuals are asked to form a four to six person team that will pick up trash on a one-mile stretch of road (approximately) either Friday, Sept. 6 or Saturday, Sept. 7. Teams will be competing for the “Trashiest Team” title and trophy, which will be determined by the team that collects the most trash.
Civic and service organizations, church and youth groups, school groups and clubs, scouts, individuals, families, neighborhoods, and businesses can put together cleanup teams and pitch in. Don’t forget that this contest is not limited to roads only – your team could also consider cleaning up a ditch or lake bank too. Last year’s contest had more than 60 participants who collected 158 bags of trash on 10 miles of roadways, parks and lake banks throughout the Newport area.
Trash pick-up will last approximately one to three hours. Teams are asked to meet at Lockwood Park at 9 a.m. on their chosen day for assignments and contest information. Arrangements can also be made to pick up items in advance. Trash bags and plastic gloves will be provided for the event. Participants will receive a free t-shirt while supplies last, so register early!
Entry forms are available at the Chamber office by calling 523-3618 or email director@newportarchamber.org. Deadline to enter a team is Wednesday, Sept. 5.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
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
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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.
