Hart Center Fun Olympics

The Hart Center is proud to announce the 2009 Fun Olympics on Friday, July 3, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come join in the fun and games with the free-throw contest, water balloon toss, pool games and more!!! We will also provide freshly grilled hot dogs and refreshments. The cost per team (4 players) is only $20. This event is for everyone not just members, so come out and test your skills against others.

Please pre-register at the Hart Center by June 26, 2009. For more information contact Kelly Farrell, Fitness Coordinator at 501-884-7777.

Bay View Pool Nears Completion

Construction of the Bay View pool is almost complete. Once completed this will be a fantastic amenity for the Club and will be one of the nicest and most scenic pools in the region. A renovation party is scheduled for June 20 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. the public is invited. the cost is $10 per person with entertainment by Brenda & Ellis.

Fairfield Bay RV Park Grand Opening

The City of Fairfield Bay is proud invite the public to attend the Grand Opening of the Fairfield Bay RV Park on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10 a.m.

The Grand Opening will feature KFFB on site broadcasting with free hot dogs and drinks. KFFB will draw for prizes including tickets to Branson shows. Lots of fun free activities are planned; face painting, clowns, balloons, Stas’ the Storyteller, with area artists drawing throughout the campgrounds, Animal Shelter and Master Gardeners displays. See page 16 to get the full Grand Opening Agenda.

The City has remodeled areas C and D in the RV campground area and are very please to bring this exciting new facility to Fairfield Bay. The sites feature 70 foot long sites, 30 and 50 amp power, water and free firewood in a beautiful scenic setting alongside Greers Ferry lake.

Greers Ferry Lake Get’s Stimulus Funds

The Little Rock District of the Army Corps of Engineers will receive about $137 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The funds will be used on 57 projects, mostly to repair, rehabilitate or modernize existing water resources infrastructure in Arkansas and southern Missouri.

The work will be contracted out to engineering and construction firms, with the first contracts expected to be awarded in May.  Some similar projects will be bundled together into single contracts to save time and money. In addition to creating jobs quickly, there are huge long-term benefits.  In 2008, district projects prevented nearly $430 million in flood losses.  The district’s seven hydropower plants generated enough clean electricity to power nearly 400,000 homes.  About $2 billion in commodities were shipped on the Arkansas River.  District parks generated $294 million in visitor spending.  These facilities are aging, and many are in need of extensive repair and updating.  The funds will help ensure these projects continue providing substantial benefits to taxpayers for years to come.

“This provides a unique opportunity for us to make a tremendous and long overdue difference for the Corps, the region, and our Nation,” Little Rock District Engineer Col. Ed Jackson said.  “Successful execution will require a team effort, and in doing so, it will energize businesses and help stimulate job markets.”

The lists of Corps projects nationally and information on the Corps’ role in the Recovery Act are available on the Web at . Information about bidding on Little Rock District contracts is on the Internet at , or you can call 501-324-5720.

Here is how part of the stimulus money will be used on Greers Ferry Lake.

Award construction contract to clean spillway foundation drains, hone risers to remove calcification, replace damaged risers and install sleeves to extend life to reduce the risk of failure and increases safety. $300,000, Award construction contract to repair powerplant roof and rehab elevator to protect equipment from failure and increase safety during operation.  $1 million, Award construction contract to construct tainter gate bulkhead closure structure to enable repairs to the tainter gates, reducing the risk of failure and reduced future maintenance costs.  $3.5 million.