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Governor Beebe proclaims first place BBQ Cook-off winners official ‘IBCQ Arkansas State Champions� May 2, 2008 - No reporter cited

Terrica Hendrix
Assistant Editor

NASHVILLE – Governor Mike Beebe proclaimed that the Third Annual Peach Blossom Festival BBQ Cook-Off on Saturday will be an official state barbeque championship.

The Governor said that the Nashville Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the festival this Saturday to “celebrate the long history of the distinctive, delectable peach that grows in Howard County. This unique festival will bring communities and families together, drawing participants from throughout Arkansas, as well as from other states.”

He said that the festival’s barbeque cook-off “is dedicated to furthering the art of cooking, smoking and eating delicious barbeque...this cook-off is sanctioned by the International Barbeque Cookers Association and the first place winners for the best pork ribs, brisket and chicken will be named as the official IBCQ Arkansas State Champions.

Local merchants decided to combine the festival and the birthday celebration on Saturday.

“We are planning a huge treasure hunt to take place the day of the festival,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tammy Smith. “There will be 125 tickets hidden throughout Nashville inside of participating retailers shopping bags,” and not all bags will have tickets.

Retailers participating, as of press time, include: Merle Norman, Cruizzers Car Wash, Nashville Drug, Jeanine’s Fine Jewelry, ETC Boutique, Karters Dugout, Tollett’s Gifts, Unique Body Salon, Mainstreet Musician Supply, Western Auto, Asian Image Salon and Day Spa, Pic-A-Lily Flowers, Quality Shoe Store, Great Tans Plus, Factory Connection, Charlie’s Thriftway, Wal-Mart, Sharpe’s Department Store, ALPS, Sweet Aroma, Trails End Cafe, Fisherman’s Cove and Circle L Tack and Saddle.

Smith explained that “each merchant will be given a number of tickets to ‘hide’ inside of their sacks.

If you make a purchase with one of these merchants you will need to look inside your sack and see if you have a ticket. You will then bring that ticket up the street to the chamber booth to be placed in our hopper. At 3 p.m. we will draw one lucky winner.

You must be present to win. The amount of the cash prize and a list of participating businesses will be announced at a later date. There are more participants to come.”

Smith said that “some of the treasure hunt locations will be at the Peach Festival,” at local merchants booths.

“There will be food and crafts vendors, promotional and political booths, Rusty Relics Tractor Club, an antique car show and a barbeque cook off.”

“We are going to have a really large birthday cake for Nashville, punch and entertainment.”

The cake, provided by Charlie’s Thriftway, will be 4 ft. x 8 ft. with historical photos of Nashville. The punch will be provided by ALPS. Along with the cake, the punch will be served under a tent at the festival sometime after the “birthday speeches and welcome speeches are over after 11 a.m.,” she added. The festival will begin at 9 a.m. and last until 4 p.m.with the north end of Main Street closed to traffic. The live entertainment begin at 9 a.m. and last until 3 p.m.

Nashville officials encourages everyone to come out and and celebrate the birthday and the festival.

T-shirts celebrating Nashville’s 125th birthday and the festival are now available with sizes from small to 2X for $10 each and only adult t-shirt sizes are available. Bo Castleberry, with Kortlan Screen Printing, designed the shirts. Sponsors for the shirts are CCCUA, City of Nashville, Kortlan Screen Printing and Embroidery, Farm Bureau Insurance, Diamond Bank, Western Home and Auto, Larry Teague and Smith’s Ready Mix, Inc.

For more information, contact Smith with the Chamber of Commerce office at 845-1262.

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