Late Summer or early Fall are always a good time to travel the back roads in Arkansas. Once again John and Dottie Miller planned a great Poker Run for our Ozark Section. Fourteen members and two guests of Dane and Diane Paulsen, Bill and Lona Noonan, from Holiday Island were able to join us along with new member Kelly Conley, from Perryville, Arkansas. Several members spent Friday evening in Russellville, Arkansas before the rest of the members met up with them Saturday morning.at the Clarion Inn. John Miller gave each car a detailed map of the route to take on Hwy. 7 and where we would make the next stops. Joel and Kathy Menold gave each person a snack bag with water and goodies to eat on the road.
The group started off at the Clarion Inn in Russellville with four stops drawing cards in the Poker Run at each stop. The most scenic stop was a Nimrod Dam and Lake in western Perry County. Nimrod Dam is the oldest project of the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers in the state of Arkansas created to control flooding along the Fourhe La Fave River. A very sweet elderly couple, who have lived at the Dam for 8 years, greeted our caravan of 8 Mercedes-Benz as we enter the park, and they were each given a snack bag.
We arrived in the Hot Springs downtown area in the heat of pedestrians and traffic. Once through downtown we finally arrived at the Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant on Lake Hamilton for our final poker card draw and awarding of prizes. At each stop one person’s name was drawn for a small gift donated by John and Dottie Miller. Winners were Kelly Conley, Kathy Menold, Terry Lowinger, Robin Retzlaff and Diane Paulsen. Kathy Retzlaff won the beautiful Italian pottery bowl filled with pasta, wine and many more wonderful items donated by John and Dottie. The poker cards were tallied and low-and-behold, John Miller was the grand champion along with Kelly Conley at the lowest.
Each person donated $15.00 towards the Poker Run. A portion of the entry fee proceeds was dedicated to our annual charity, the Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association, a portion for our Ozark Section and a portion to John Miller.
Much to our surprise Jim and Becky Deitz along with their daughter Katrina and brother-in-law were staying on Lake Hamilton and eating at the Fisherman’s Wharf. They saw our Mercedes in the parking lot and chased us down!!
As the afternoon ended several members remained in Hot Springs and spent the night at the Embassy Suite. Fun time by all!!!!
It was another FUN POKER RUN by the Miller’s. It takes time and effort to make these event happen. Thanks again to John and Dottie for this great event. For those that weren't available to join the trip we would love to see you at another drive.
