If you have ever wanted to see yourself on the big screen, here’s your chance. The Sony Pictures Classics major motion picture “Mud” is gearing up for production in central and southeast Arkansas. Local filming will take place around Backgate and Pendleton and will begin on September 26th and last approximately 2 weeks. It stars “a-listers” Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey.

“Mud” written and to be directed by Arkansas native Jeff Nichols is a coming of age drama centered on two fourteen year old boys (Ellis and Neckbone) who encounter a mysterious fugitive (Mud) on an island in the Mississippi River. Intrigued by this man, the boys enter a pact to help him escape capture. A friendship evolves as Mud teaches the boys as much as he learns from them.

Matthew will be playing the fugitive named Mud who runs away to the coast of Mississippi River to obtain his freedom. Tree of Life’s Tye Sheridan will play the role of Ellis. The film’s casting agency in Arkansas has cast an Arkansan in the co-starring role of Neckbone, but the search still continues for May Pearl. The female character is 16 years old, 5’4” – 5’5” in height, and a fun girl, the director describes as “too cool for school.”

If you are interesting in a role in this film you may submit your resumes and a color snapshot photo/or headshot to:

“Mud” Casting
c/o The Agency
802 West 8th Street
Little Rock, AR 72201

You must also print and fill out the registration form at http://bit.ly/rlWcMP and put ‘Mud’ Casting Talent Form at the very top.

There will also be about 200 actors, extras and stand-ins for the film’s actors hired locally in Arkansas. Area residents will have the opportunity to “see their name” in the credits, along with an appearance in movie screens – even if just for a moment. You can submit an online application to appear in the movie. http://www.arfilmcasting.com/

This is Jeff Nichols’ third feature film. “Take Shelter,” scheduled for release in October by Sony Pictures Classics, follows the award winning “Shotgun Stories.” “Take Shelter” won the Critics’ Week Grand Prize and the Fipresci Award at the renowned Cannes Film Festival in May 2011, and is featured on many critics’ lists of likely Academy Award contenders.

New UHaul dealership is available to transfer to interested party.  The business is already generating cash flow, and the season is just starting.

For more information and specifics, please contact:

Extreme Sales — 870.377.1300

By: John Clower

If you have not visited the Veterans’ Memorial in downtown McGehee after dark, you really need to do so.  The large granite slabs are strikingly beautiful with the lights on them.  Work has begun on landscaping and it promises to also highlight the beauty of this wonderful memorial.  Kudos to the men and women who envisioned this project and then worked to make it reality. The memorial is a beautiful and fitting tribute to those who served in our armed forces.

The McGehee Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards’ Banquet will be held Thursday evening, November 4, 2010, at the McGehee High School Cafeteria.  The banquet will begin at 6 p.m.  Tickets are $15 each.  Tables are $125.  To purchase tickets or tables, contact Paula at (870) 222-4451 or via email:  admin@mcgeheechamber.com This year’s guest speaker is David Bazzel, owner of Fourth Quarter Productions, a major marketing company located in Little Rock, AR.  David, a former Razorback, is also known for his radio program on “The Buzz” with Tommy Smith.  For more information about David Bazzel, visit his website at www.fourthquarterproductions.com

Awards presented during the evening’s festivities include McGehee’s Man and Woman of the Year; Business of the Year; Volunteer of the Year; Teacher of the Year and recognition of Desha County’s Farm Family of the Year.

The McGehee Chamber of Commerce’s newly updated website, www.mcgeheechamber.com, is a resounding success!  The site, recently upgraded and updated, has received many positive comments.  The new site lists current members and also includes current information about the WWII Japanese American Internment Museum Project as well as membership meeting meetings, Owlfest information and Chamber updates.  The site will continue to evolve and change so visit often for the latest news and information.

The site was upgraded to a CMS (content management system) by ValueDelta and the site is hosted by eDelta.net, both McGehee companies.

Desha County Judge Mark McElroy on Tuesday, September 28, issued a Burn Ban for Desha County.  The Burn Ban will remain in effect until until weather conditions improve.

You may now submit news to Delta Current.  Just click on the “Submit News” link, and fill out the form.  All submission are moderated, and pictures for your post may be emailed to news@deltacurrent.com

The next McGehee City Council Meeting will be held on Sept. 14 at 5:30 pm.
Location: Municipal Building
Agenda:

It’s not very specific but here it is. It would be impossible to tell from this whether a person should make the point to attend.  Obviously not all citizens can make all meetings, but by knowing what specific business will be discussed, they can better make a decision on whether or not to attend.  We emailed the city for more details, and hopefully we will have more to pass along before the meeting tomorrow night.

McGehee City Council Agenda Sept.14 ,2010
1. Call to order-Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Invocation
4. Minutes
5. Treasury Reports
6. Bills
7. Vector Disease Report
8. Police Report
9. Old Business
10. New Business
11. Public Comments
12. Meeting Adjourned

ARKANSAS CITY (AGFC) – Nine miles of nature trails, a newly paved parking area and an access road will be dedicated at the Freddie Black  WMA and Deer Research Area East Unit at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 8.

The WMA is in Desha County near Arkansas City. The public dedication ceremony will be at the access ramp to the Rocky Hole Trail Head.

The nature trails at Choctaw Island were made possible through funding from the Arkansas Recreational Trails Program, through the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. The total cost of the project is $36,000. The AHTD provided $30,000 and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission provided the remaining $6,000. More than 9 miles of primitive trails are open to foot traffic. The AGFC manages these trails on 7,600 acres of public land inside the levees of the Mississippi River.

A new paved road provides access to the trails at Choctaw Island, and a new parking area will add convenience for visitors. The $303,765 road and parking area were largely funded through a federal grant from the Delta Regional Authority.

“I’m grateful for the completion of both of these projects,” said Arkansas House of Representatives Speaker Designate Robert Moore of Arkansas City. “The trails, made possible by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, will ensure local residents and visitors can enjoy the unique wildlife and beautiful natural scenery here for many years to come, and thanks to the Delta Regional Authority, folks will have convenient and easy access to the area.”

The WMA provides birding opportunities and is an excellent site to look for migratory song birds, including bay-breasted warblers, golden-winged warblers, Philadelphia vireos, black-billed cuckoos and other birds.

The area also supports nesting habitat for species that are hard to find in the state, such as least bitterns, king rails and common moorhens. Look for species such as roseate spoonbills, wood storks and black-bellied whistling ducks in late summer.

Fall provides a great opportunity to view bald eagles, migrating waterfowl and shorebirds as they begin their annual treks to their winter habitats. It is one of the best times of the year to experience the WMA.

During this time, hunting opportunities include squirrel, as well as bowhunting and early muzzleloader hunting for white-tailed deer. The WMA is considered one of the better “big buck” areas in the state.

The WMA was dedicated in 2009 in honor of former commissioner Freddie Black of Lake Village. Black, chairman and CEO of Simmons First Bank of South Arkansas, was appointed to the Commission in 2002, replacing former commissioner Marion McCollum of Stuttgart. His term expired in June 2009.