Jim Hartford Fishing Derby -- April 23

The Lions Club had a good day!  Please look for the full details of this terrific event in the next issue of the FOCUS !  Virginia Sanders will display pictures of the children with their trophies!

     The Diamondhead Lions Club is honored to host the 22nd annual Jim Hartford Fishing Derby.  The Arkansas Game and Fish commission's Aquatic Resources Education Program helps to sponsor fishing derbies all over the state.  Diamondhead has been part of this program for many years because of the volunteerism of the Diamondhead Community. 
     The Annual Fishing Derby draws help from practically every member of the POA staff.  This includes our general manager-Todd, golf course manager-Eddie,  chief of police-Pat, and all the many members of their teams.  All the volunteers, as well as those faithful Lions, are to be credited with keepiong the Derby a wonderful annual event for many Special Education students from local area schools.  This year we will have students from Lakeside, Langston, and Malvern schools.  We are expecting 60 young people, along with their teachers, counselors, aides, bus drivers and other school officials. 
     The students will begin by fishing in Diamondhead Pond near the front gate at 10 am.  The AGFC will be stocking the pond a few days before this event.  For lunch-- they will travel to the pavilion and enjoy a lunch and several gifts.  Next, it is on to the Kiddy Correl for play time.  Smokey Bear will make an appearance on a Lake Hamilton Fire Department fire truck.
      A LIFENET ambulance, with a first-responder crew, will be on hand as part of a static display and actual safety backup, should medical assistance be necessary.
     The Lake Hamilton Fire Department, in conjuuction with the Arkansas Forestry Commission, will have a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT or "Fire Bomber") make a low fly-over to emphasize our community FireWise program.   We also plan to have a Medical Evacuation Helicopter that will land right in the parking lot of the Country Club. 
     We are pleased to have sponsors from Malvern McDonalds, Price-Cutters of Hot Springs, and Coca-Cola of Hot Springs.  They are all excellent corporate neighbors.
     Please drop by the Pond between 10--> 11:30am to see some great kids catching some really nice fish.  Some of these young folks will be experiencing fishing for the first time in thier lives.  Come help them celebrate a major event.    Jim Willis, Lions Club President