Saline River Chronicle

Preserving our past: Celebrating 116 years of the Ozark National Forest

Preserving our past: Celebrating 116 years of the Ozark National Forest

March 7 holds a special significance in the annals of conservation history. On this day in 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt penned a proclamation that echoed through time, creating what we now know as the Ozark National Forest. This act of preservation marked a pivotal moment in Arkansas’s conservation past, laying the groundwork for the protection…

Roar, soar, and explore at the Little Rock Zoo’s Dragon Kingdom exhibition

Roar, soar, and explore at the Little Rock Zoo’s Dragon Kingdom exhibition

LITTL ROCK – The Year of the Dragon is upon us, and the Little Rock Zoo is ready to celebrate!  The Dragon Kingdom Exhibition kicks off during Spring Break at the Zoo, March 16-24, and continues through Sept. 28. The exhibition includes life-size, animatronic models ranging from 10 to 40 feet. Of course, dragons are mythical creatures, but their real-life distant cousins,…

Celebrating Arkansas’s beloved State Bird: The Mockingbird

Celebrating Arkansas’s beloved State Bird: The Mockingbird

March 5, 2024 marks a significant anniversary in Arkansas history, as we commemorate the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution Number 22 by Governor Harvey Parnell and the Forty-seventh General Assembly on this day in 1929. This resolution declared the mockingbird as the official state bird of Arkansas, a decision that has stood the test of…

Celebrating Arkansas’s first state park: Petit Jean’s enduring legacy

Celebrating Arkansas’s first state park: Petit Jean’s enduring legacy

Nestled within the rugged beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Petit Jean State Park stands as a testament to Arkansas’s rich natural heritage and pioneering spirit. Established on March 1, 1923, by Act 276 of the Arkansas General Assembly, Petit Jean holds the distinction of being the state’s inaugural state park, marking a significant milestone in…

Entergy Arkansas encourages customers to get spring storm ready

Entergy Arkansas encourages customers to get spring storm ready

LITTLE ROCK – Spring weather is welcomed for its sunny skies and cool breezes, but the season has also proven to bring dangerous thunderstorms. Ahead of the seasonal switch, Arkansas has declared Feb. 26 to March 1 as Severe Weather Awareness Week. Entergy Arkansas is encouraging customers to observe the week by making a severe weather…

Remembering the legendary sniper, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock

Remembering the legendary sniper, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock

In the annals of military history, certain names resonate with awe-inspiring tales of skill, bravery, and unparalleled marksmanship. Among them, the name Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock stands tall, a legend whose story is etched into the fabric of American military folklore. On this day, February 22, 1999, the world bid farewell to a true American…

Love in Bloom: The History of Valentine’s Day

Love in Bloom: The History of Valentine’s Day

As February unfolds, hearts adorned with crimson hues and the sweet scent of roses fill the air, signaling the arrival of Valentine’s Day. While for many it’s a day of celebration and romance, few may know the intriguing history that underpins this cherished tradition. Dating back centuries, Valentine’s Day finds its origins in ancient Rome,…

Fridays on the Farm: A Journey to Food Equity and Community Building

Fridays on the Farm: A Journey to Food Equity and Community Building

Meet Armondo White, a veteran and Black farmer in Marvell, Arkansas. Amidst the sprawling fields of the Delta, Armondo works with his wife, Andrea, and their two daughters, Madam and Ava, to combat food insecurity by bringing fresh, healthy produce to their community. Top photo: Armondo and his daughter, Madam, inside their hoop house. Photo…

Arkansas Heritage seeks nominations for Food Hall of Fame

Arkansas Heritage seeks nominations for Food Hall of Fame

Food traditions often serve as cultural landmarks, preserving culinary heritage and connecting generations. Long-standing food establishments carry the flavors and techniques passed down through time, offering a taste of history on each plate. That is why in 2016, the Division of Arkansas Heritage launched the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.  The Arkansas Food Hall of Fame…

Artist Erica Daborn’s ‘Dialogues with Mother Earth: Drawing to Save the Planet’ opens Feb. 23 in Pine Bluff

Artist Erica Daborn’s ‘Dialogues with Mother Earth: Drawing to Save the Planet’ opens Feb. 23 in Pine Bluff

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Artist Erica Daborn captures the attention of the public via 13 large-scale charcoal-on-canvas murals that explore the critical issues facing the planet. Her artwork records fictitious historical events based on issues relevant to climate change. “Dialogues with Mother Earth: Drawing to Save the Planet” by Erica Daborn opens Friday, Feb. 23,…

Arkansas Adult Education increases enrollment by 20 percent

Arkansas Adult Education increases enrollment by 20 percent

Little Rock, Ark. (January 31, 2023)—The Adult Education Section of the Division of Workforce Services (Adult Education) has experienced a 20% enrollment increase during its 2022-2023 school year, showing a trend toward pre-COVID enrollment. More than 16,000 Arkansans came through the doors of an Adult Education Center and nearly 10,000 Arkansans utilized adult education services…

ARTx3 Campus to Host Auditions, Workshop in February for ‘Matilda The Musical’ 

ARTx3 Campus to Host Auditions, Workshop in February for ‘Matilda The Musical’ 

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The theater program at the ARTx3 Campus is seeking performers ages 8 and older for its summer musical of 2024. Auditions for “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical” are set for Friday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb. 25. To help prepare performers, the ARTx3 Campus is hosting a free audition workshop on…

Arkansas Historic Preservation Program announces 2024 Sandwiching in History tours

Arkansas Historic Preservation Program announces 2024 Sandwiching in History tours

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) has announced the 2024 Sandwiching in History tour schedule, which highlights the following six historic sites across Arkansas: Since 1997, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program has hosted tours of historic properties around our state. These are called “Sandwiching in History.” Tours generally last less than one…

Visitor from France finds 7.46-carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Visitor from France finds 7.46-carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park

On Thursday, January 11, Julien Navas, of Paris, France, visited Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park for the first time. While there, he found a 7.46-carat diamond on the surface of the park’s 37.5-acre search area. Navas was visiting the U.S. to see the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur Rocket launch in Cape Canaveral, Fla.…