Citizen's Bank's Celebrate America fireworks show, presented by Sonic, will take place at Riverside Park in Batesville on Tuesday, July 4th. There will be fun for the whole family! Spend the afternoon walking the banks of the White River lined with vendors ready to serve you up some great food and good times. We will end the night with live entertainment leading up to the glittering fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. Don't miss it. Make plans to be in Batesville this Independence Day to Celebrate America with us!

The Independence County Library is teaming up with Peer Specialists Josh and Ashley Ramsey to provide free Narcan training for the public on Monday, July 10th, 2023, at 10am. In addition to the training, each participant will receive Narcan to use in the event of an opioid overdose. Program participants will receive training on recognizing the signs of an overdose and administering naloxone. Narcan, also known as Naloxone, is a medication that can rapidly reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug, such as heroin or prescription pain medications. When administered, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain to restore breathing and prevent death. This training is free, but registration is required. Please call the library at 80-793-8814 to register.

Just because summer is coming to a close doesn’t mean it’s too late to plant! Michele will teach us how to extend the gardening season and prepare for spring by putting plants in the ground this fall.

Join us for HealThy Self with Tammy Ferrell. This month, Tammy she will teach us about proteins.This program is free and open to the public; registration is not required to attend.

Young artists, family members and faculty from area school districts recently joined Lyon College students, faculty, staff and patrons of the arts in the Kresge Gallery for a reception honoring participants in the Batesville Area Young Artists juried competition sponsored by Lyon College.

The BAYA event is the first community exhibition of its kind on campus, said Dustyn Bork, professor of art, Kresge Gallery director and BAYA organizer.

Bork, along with Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Abigail Smithson and Dean of Admissions Tommy Newton, made the awards presentations.

Sarah Stair of Batesville High School earned the first-place award for her oil painting titled “Sailing in the Blue.” Darcie Taylor of Cave City High School took second place for her ceramic piece, “Pua.” Third place went to Maysun Ring of Southside Charter High School for her pen and ink drawing, “Dead Men Walking.”

Kaitlyn Roberts received an honorable mention for her colored pencil on paper drawing, “Pacman Frog on Wood.” Audrey Clayton of Southside Charter High School also received an honorable mention for her scratchboard piece, “Tammie.”

All submissions were juried by Mountain Home artist and guest juror, Dusty Mitchell. The first-place winner received a cash prize of $300, while the second and third-place winners received $200 and $100, respectively. Honorable mentions were awarded $50 art gift cards. In addition to the cash prizes, the top five winners were rewarded with Lyon College Art Scholarships of up to $500 per year.

The exhibition is open to the public through Friday, Aug. 4, providing ample time for art enthusiasts and visitors to witness the creative expressions of these young artists. The exhibit is a fantastic opportunity for these students to showcase their skills and gain recognition for their hard work.

The Kresge Gallery is located in the historic Alphin Humanities Building at Lyon College, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays during the summer. Admission is free.

For more information about BAYA or the Lyon College Art program, please contact Dustyn Bork at dustyn.bork@lyon.edu.

To see more photos from the event, visit the Lyon College Facebook page.

CONCERT LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR 2023 LEVITT AMP BATESVILLE MUSIC SERIES 

The countdown to a memorable season of free concerts under the summer fun in Batesville, Arkansas, is underway! The Levitt AMP Batesville Music Series announced its impressive lineup of artists who will perform at Riverside Park each Thursday at 7 p.m. through August 3. So grab your family, friends, and neighbors and get ready to experience the power of free, live music to bring our community together! 
 
Sponsored in part by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a social impact funder supporting nonprofits nationwide at the intersection of music, public space, and community building, the Levitt AMP Music Series injects new life into underused public spaces through free outdoor concerts across the nation. 
 
The Levitt AMP Batesville Music Series will present ten free, family-friendly concerts to the public this summer at Riverside Park. 
 
The series will feature a diverse lineup of high-caliber talent spanning soul, folk, indie, and rock and roll genres. Upcoming performances include Latin Grammy artist Gina Chavez, Miles over Mountains, a soulful Marcella and her Lovers, and Victor Wainwright and the Train.
 
The public is invited to bring their picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs to the concerts, which will have an open lawn setting. Along with free music, there will also be a kid zone designated for children to run and play, a vendor alley, food trucks, outdoor games, art, and more. 
 
The Levitt AMP concert series is located at Riverside Park in Batesville. Admission is free.

There is Hope. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to connect with compassionate care and support for mental health-related distress. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, 988 provides a 24/7 connection to confidential support.

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice of business in Independence County, providing chamber members advocacy, promotion, and resources. The Chamber works to set the standard for service, collaboration, growth, and high quality of life in the Batesville area. We are unwavering in our commitment to strengthening our business community.