Back on the road through eastern and northeastern Arkansas -- Update

I'm at the Capitol and am about to board the bus for more stops across Arkansas to discuss legislative issues with Arkansans in eastern and northeastern Arkansas. Today's schedule is as follows:

9:30 a.m.: Forrest City -- Event on St. Francis County Courthouse grounds
11:45 a.m.: Osceola -- Mississippi County Deviled Egg Festival at the Courthouse
2:00 p.m.: Paragould -- Event at the Greene County Courthouse
3:00 p.m.: Walnut Ridge -- Event at Airport Museum

I hope you Hog fans will provide the play by play on Twitter on today's baseball game at the College World Series for those of us away from TVs.

Update (Sunday): We had a good trip Saturday. We think it's important to get out in all parts of the state and discuss not only what we accomplished in the 87th Arkansas General Assembly but to find out what's on the minds of voters. We were asked about the economy and healthcare at every single stop. Of course healthcare is on the forefront of voters' minds right now because of the current agenda in Washington, but the people we talked to cut right through both sides' cable tv talking points and got right to the heart of the details of the federal proposals. That's exactly why we're taking these trips.

We stopped in Forrest City early at the St. Francis County Courthouse and met Senator Jack Crumbly, Rep. Jerry Brown, Circuit Clerk Bette Green, members of the St. Francis County Dem Central Committee, and other voters. Here's a picture:

Forrest City

We then traveled on to the Mississippi County Deviled Egg Festival in Osceola. The event was held on the courthouse grounds and was led by Gary Phillips. Several elected officials and candidates spoke, including Sen. Blanche Lincoln (pictured right talking to Rep. Linda Tyler) and Sebastian County Clerk Doris Tate, who's running for Secretary of State. We also heard from former state Sen. Tim Wooldridge. Here are a few pictures:

Rep. Johnnie Roebuck (D-Arkadelphia) discusses the implementation of the lottery in Osceola, which Arkansas voters approved last November. In the background: Rep. Lindsley Smith (D-Fayetteville), Rep. Charolette Wagner (D-Manila), Rep. Linda Tyler (D-Conway), Rep. Tommy Baker (D-Osceola), and me.


Rep. Charolette Wagner (D-Manila) offers one of the dozens of plates of deviled eggs to Linda Tyler.

Visiting with Circuit Judge David Burnett, who's seeking the seat being vacated by Sen. Bryles

Several awards were given for the deviled eggs, including "most like mom's"

U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln gave the keynote address:


After leaving Osceola, we drove north through Blytheville, Gosnell, and through a portion of the bootheel of Missouri before turning west to Paragould. We met the Greene County Judge and several others on the grounds of the Greene County Courthouse for our next event:

Rep. Lindsley Smith (D-Fayetteville) discusses the need to repeal the remainder of the grocery tax (and other taxes on necessities) in Paragould as Greene County Judge Jesse Dollars listens




After leaving Paragould, we drove back over Crowley's Ridge and drove to Walnut Ridge before making our last stop of the day at the Air Field Museum and the old Army Flying School in nearby College City. I was amazed at the rich history of the air field and the old flying school. I could've spent all afternoon looking at the World War II memorabilia. Here, we met Rep. J.R. Rogers and other Lawrence County officials and voters:





We'll continue next week with stops in southern Arkansas.