Formerly known as the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences (ASMS), the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science, and the Arts (ASMSA) is the only public, residential high school in the state of Arkansas and only one of sixteen in the country. They specialize in educating talented and motivated students who are interested in and have the capacity for mathematics and science as well as a passion for creativity, humanities, and the arts. History            The concept of a residential math and science school in Arkansas came from, then state first lady, Hillary Clinton and, the director of the National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Dr. Ronald Hart. Hillary Clinton recommended the idea to her husband, Governor Bill Clinton, as a way of helping the state meet the national education goal of having the United States produce the best math and science students in the world by the year 2000. The Arkansas general Assembly approved the bill and enacted the foundation of the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences in 1991. The school formally opened in 1993 under the direction of the Arkansas Department of Education and its pioneering batch enrolled as juniors and graduated in 1995. In 2004, the state […]

Lake Hamilton is a 7,460-acre man-made lake located South of Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is one of three man-made lakes along the Ouachita River. It was created following the completion of the Carpenter Dam in 1932. Lake Hamilton is named after Hamilton Moses, then soon-to-be President and Chairman of the Board for Arkansas Power and Light. Fun Facts Lake Hamilton is Arkansas’ most popular site for recreation and residence. Virginia Clinton Kelley, the mother of President Bill Clinton, resided in Lake Hamilton until her death in 1994. The shoreline of Lake Hamilton is populated by several resorts, restaurants, and hotels. The lake is one of Arkansas’ most productive fisheries as it is home to numerous species of fish including largemouth bass, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, and crappie. The Arkansas State record for striped bass was broken twice in March 1997 with a 53lb 9oz striper followed by a 53lb 13oz striper. The record has since been broken. The northernmost tip of Lake Hamilton is an excellent spot for trout and striped bass fishing. The crystal clear waters allows easy sighting of the fish. Hill Wheatley Park, located on the northern tip of Lake Hamilton, is home to the lake’s […]

Enjoy countless hours of fun under the sun this summertime and take your Jet Skis to the pristine waters of the beautiful Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. But before you do, be sure to learn the different rules and guidelines around Lake Hamilton to ensure that you have a great and safe time. Remember, these rules and regulations were created for your and your family’s protection so be sure to abide by these rules. Pre-Departure Wear your life vest and make sure they are strapped on properly. Check if you have sufficient fuel. Always follow the recommended capacity of your motor vehicle to ensure the safety of your passengers. Remember that the minimum age for operating personal is 16. Those aged 12 – 16 are still allowed to drive personal watercrafts, provided that they are riding with an operator aged 18 or older. Have your Jet Ski inspected days prior to use to make sure there are no problems. Leave a float plan with a relative, friend, or someone at the marina that contains details such as make of the vessel, planned route, time of departure, and estimated time of return. Always check the weather forecast for possible changes […]

Turn your house into a winter wonderland with a great selection of cool-season annuals. They have blooms that open from fall through winter, giving your winter landscape a splash of color. Here’s a good selection of winter-flowering annuals. All can hold their own in pots or planting beds in winter, unless otherwise stated. Cool-season Annuals Marigold (Calendula officinalis) Often referred to as Mary’s Gold, this daisy-like flower can bring a variety of colors, including its traditional golden yellow color, deep orange, a variety of pastel hues, and bicolor blends from late fall to spring. They have the ability to self-sow. You can pinch the seedlings to encourage branching and more blooms to grow. You can also remove spent blossoms to promote more flowers to form.   Nemesia They have snapdragon-like blooms that provide strong colors for beds. They like consistently-moist soil and are very low-maintenance as they don’t need spent blossoms removed to grow new ones. They are available in many shades such as purple, blue, yellow, white, red, and many different hues in between those shades.   Violas and Pansies They provide gray days with sweet fragrances and vibrant colors. Violas are smaller than their relative, the pansies, but […]

It’s summer once again and you know what that means: it’s swimming and boating season once again. Hot Springs, Arkansas is one of the best places in the country for some lake and boating action, especially during the summer. But before you hit the lakes, you have to remember to keep not only personal safety in mind, but also the safety of those with you. Here are a few safety tips to help you keep safe while you and your family have fun on the great lakes of Hot Springs. Always Examine the Pre-Departure Checklist It is always proper to have a checklist of safety rules, precautions, and essential items or supplies and to check the list prior to departure to make sure nothing has been overlooked or forgotten. Take Note of the Weather Before departure, make sure to check local weather reports, not just for present conditions but also for later in the day as things can change fast, especially on a lake. And while on the water, keep an eye out for darkening clouds, changing wind patterns, or sudden drops in temperature. Those are usually good indicators that you need to get out of the water. Provide Information […]

Anglers of all ages are in for a treat this weekend as the Hot Springs Fishing Challenge brings us its Free Fishing Weekend at Lakes Catherine and Hamilton. State fish hatcheries, including the Andrew H. Hulsey State Fish Hatchery, will also be offering special derbies for anglers up to 15 years old. The local derby will take place from 9 AM to 2 PM on Saturday. Adult supervision is required. There will be imposed limits such as one rod and reel/cane per child and three fish per child. There will also be a casting contest, an archery range, a BB gun range, and fishing on a stocked pond.  Prizes will be awarded and drawings will be held throughout the derby. Free Fishing Weekend runs from Friday through Sunday. Anglers will have a chance to win lots of prizes as the prize money on $500 tags will be double during the Free Fishing Weekend, as announced by Visit Hot Springs, the sponsor of the ongoing Hot Springs Fishing Challenge. The Free Fishing Weekend begins at noon on Friday and will run until midnight on Sunday. During that time, residents and non-residents are allowed to fish without the fishing licenses or trout […]

Race director Cindy Baswell has announced that a second mountain will be added to the half-marathon route of the Spa Running Festival and will be welcoming American long-distance runner and Olympic medalist Deena Kastor as the official race starter for the November 17 event. The annual race has been renamed from the Summit 2 Challenge Half Marathon to the Summit 2 Summit Half Marathon to accommodate the addition of the new route, which will take runners over both North and West Mountains, according to Baswell. The new Summit 2 Summit Half Marathon will travel from the Hot Springs Convention Center to Central Avenue, directly through Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park and up Fountain Street to the North Mountain summit. From there, it will continue to Whittington Avenue and West Mountain. “We’re pretty excited about this,” Baswell said. “We’ve been trying to get that ever since we started the half marathon and we’re fortunate enough this year that the Park Service partnered with us in making that happen. It will just make it a much better running venue for runners being able to see both mountains and seeing the different scenery. It’s just going to make it a better […]

The 2018 celebrations for the nation’s independence will be off to a great start as the 32nd  annual Spa Blast at Oaklawn will be kicking off Independence Day celebrations in Hot Springs, Arkansas on the third of July. The annual free event, presented by Budweiser, will be held in the infield at Oaklawn. Gates will open at 5 P.M. and will feature live music, which will be headlined by Led Zepagain: a Tribute to Led Zeppelin and a Kid Zone with a rock wall and petting zoo. The festivities will be culminating with a fireworks display at around 9:30 P.M. The annual event is one of the biggest events held at Oaklawn each year and according to Jennifer Hoyt, Oaklawn’s media relations manager, attendance is fairly consistent. “Depending on the weather, obviously; if it’s hot, we’ll have a late crowd,” Hoyt said. “I think it was two or three years ago… it was really nice and people came early. We’ll definitely have, I think, 15,000 to 20,000 people. It will just depend on the weather how early they come. The fireworks themselves will start right about 9:30.” Spa blast will be rescheduled for July 6 in the event of rain. […]

History lovers will surely love spending time at Hot Springs’ most iconic district: Bathhouse Row. It is composed of eight surviving bathhouses dating back to 1830 and described as the grandest collection of bathhouses of their kind in the nation. Along with the Grand Promenade, the area was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1987 and has become the architectural core for downtown Hot Springs. Follow us as we tour you around this historic district, provide you with an escape into the past, and explore this city’s colorful history. Lamar Bathhouse As you travel down Central Avenue from south to north, the very first bathhouse you will see is Lamar Bathhouse. It is named after former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, the Interior Secretary when the bathhouse was built in 1888. The Lamar Bathhouse is one of six bathhouses with Spanish-style architecture with its gorgeous white stucco façade. It offered a range of tub lengths to accommodate people of various heights and a coed gym with a separate area just for women. Today, the Lamar is home to the Bathhouse Row Emporium and several National Park offices. The Emporium is the place to go for […]

The city of Hot Springs, Arkansas is a small city located fifty miles southwest of Little Rock, the capital of the state. It is a spa city that gently rests in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains and is quite popular for its thermal waters that flow through the city. If you are planning a trip to America’s Spa City, then here are a few ways you can travel to and around the city to have the best time during your Hot Springs adventure. Getting to Hot Springs By Plane You can take a flight to the Bill and Hilary Clinton National Airport at Little Rock using Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, United, Frontier, or VIA from across the country. Upon arrival to the airport, you can rent a car or ride the shuttle going to Hot Springs. You can also fly directly to Hot Springs Memorial Airport from Dallas/Fort Worth using Southern Airways. By Car If you prefer to travel using a personal or rented vehicle, you can drive directly to Hot Springs. Form Interstate 30, take the Hot Springs US 70 West exit south of Benton, the Hot Springs US 270 West exit at Malvern, or the Hot […]

August is art month at the Garvan Woodland Gardens with a series of art exhibits and workshops already in line for the entire month. Take a tour around the 210-acre garden and drop by the various art exhibits at the Magnolia Room. The World Around Us Hot Springs Village artists Shirley Anderson, Barbara Seibel, and Caryl Joy Young collaborate on an exhibit that interprets the feelings of all three artists in a vivid expression of color and emotion through different mediums such as oil, pastel, and watercolor. Shirley Anderson was recently elected to the Board of the International Association of Pastel Societies and serves as the Exhibition Chair. Her passion in plein air painting (painting outdoors) has brought her to various countries across the world and she annually flies to California to join other plein air enthusiasts. Shirley performs demonstrations for art groups and teaches workshops in the Central Arkansas area. Barbara Seibel began painting at the age of eight when she took her first art lessons. She later operated art schools in Kentucky and North Carolina. She has won numerous rewards for her watercolor skills. She teaches plenty of art workshops within the region and abroad, aboard luxury cruise […]

Located just a few miles from downtown Hot Springs, the 7,460-acre Lake Hamilton is one of the top attractions America’s First Resort has to offer. It has plenty of attractions that entertain visitors year-round. We’ve got one left to go before the end of summer – one last chance to soak in the sun. Make the last days of count. Make it memorable. Explore Lake Hamilton.   Garvan Woodland Gardens The Garvan Woodland Gardens is part of the University of Arkansas and was founded by local industrialist and philanthropist Verna Cook Garvan. The garden is renowned for its gardens that abound with beautiful flowers, colorful peacocks roaming the grounds, and the stunning Anthony Chapel. It is also home to the award-winning Japanese Gardens. Be sure to check it out. The Garvan Woodland Gardens is open all year long, Mondays through Saturdays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.   Adventureworks Hot Springs Just a couple of miles east of Lake Hamilton is Adventureworks Hot Springs. The zip line park provides adventurers with a new vantage point to view the surrounding forest, with 12 zip lines. Soar through the air on steel cables and take an aerial tour of the trees, plants, and […]

Back-to-school shopping can really put a dent on your budget if you fail to plan accordingly and just go with what you feel your child needs. But it can go smoothly and not make a big impact on your budget at all if you’ve actually taken the time to create a plan and make a budget. For one thing, back-to-school shopping is something that most, if not all, parents do on a yearly basis so it should be considered a periodic expense and something that should be planned for. It’s best to work with your children to understand everything they need for the upcoming school year. Since school opening is just around the corner, here are some back-to-school shopping tips to help you stay in budget. Make a List Before you go running off to the bookstore, you should take note of everything that your child will need and make a list. Talk to your child or your children’s teacher to find out what school supplies they’ll need, whether or not they have a dress code or specific pieces of clothing they’ll need, or if there are any planned activities for the year and items they’ll need. Check the school’s […]

The Hot Springs Fishing Challenge has just recently concluded but fishing season isn’t over just yet as the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup, sponsored Fishing League Worldwide, is set to open on August 10 and will through August 12. The Cup will be held at the beautiful waters of Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In line with the opening of the fishing championship event, FLW has released the live schedule for the event. Live coverage begins at 6:30 A.M. CT until 12:30 P.M. CT. The expanded live broadcast will include live video streams of the top anglers’ boats and expert commentary from hosts Travis Moran and Rob Newell. Daily weigh-ins will be broadcast live from the Bank of the Ozarks Arena in downtown Hot Springs. The 2018 FLW Forrest Wood Cup is an annual event where the top anglers will compete for the $300,000 prize for first place. This year’s field includes the 2017 FLW Tour Angler of the Year, the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup champion, the top 40 anglers in the 2018 FLW Tour AOY standings (invitations were extended down to 44th place due to double-qualifications by other means), the 2018 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League All-American champion, […]

Are you ready to hear a unique message and experience a weekend that will encourage, challenge, and change you? Join us and hear a powerful, inspirational message from best-selling author Beth Moore. Be filled with the spirit as you sing and hear worship songs lead by Dove Award-winning worship leader Travis Cottrell. Witness the event live at this year’s Living Proof Live Event at the Bank of the Ozark Arena in the historic downtown Hot Springs this August 17 – 18, 2018. Laugh, pray, and study scripture with thousands of women from all walks of life this weekend and leave with a renewed sense of calling, purpose, and love for Christ. Living Proof Ministries is dedicated to encourage people to come to know and love Jesus Christ through the study of Scripture. Living Proof Live is a perfect place for a time of renewal, fellowship, new friendships, drawing close to God and His great love for you! Take note of the schedule for this weekend’s live event. Friday, August 17, 2018 5:30 p.m. Doors Open to Attendees 7:00 p.m. Event Begins 9:30 p.m. Dismiss   Saturday, August 18, 2018 7:30 a.m. Doors Open 8:30 a.m. Event Begins 10:00 a.m. Break […]

Mark your calendars folks. Multi-platinum country star Sara Evans, along with country duo Thompson Square and singer-songwriter Jerrod Niemann, is coming to Hot Springs this end of August to perform as part of Oaklawn’s Finish Line Theater Concert Series for 2018. The country star will perform on the fourth week of Oaklawn’s annual concert series. Part of this year’s slate of past performers includes The Isley Brothers, The Commodores, and Night Ranger and Dennis DeYoung performing the music of Styx. “Over the last few years, fans have come to expect some of the biggest names in music during the Finish Line Theater Concert Series and this year’s lineup certainly won’t disappoint,” said Director of Marketing Kim Baron during the announcement of the 2018 lineup. “Whether you’re a fan of Motown, country music or rock and roll, there’s going to something for everyone.” Sara Evans is among country music’s leading ladies. She has released eight studio albums Three Chords and the Truth (1997), No Place That Far (1998), her best-selling Born to Fly (2000) album, Restless (2003), Real Fine Place (2005), Stronger (2011), Slow Me Down (2014), Words (2017), and the Christmas album, At Christmas (2014). She has charted more than […]

Get ready to experience a cycling event like no other as SHAM Events presents the Cross Boss Cyclocross Race Series in Hot Springs on Saturday, August 25. The start line will be at 461 Wildcat Road, Hot Springs, Arkansas. For those unfamiliar with the event, cyclocross is like a triathlon but with more focus on the biking aspect. Participants will ride their bicycles throughout the course but will be required to maneuver around man-made barriers and obstacles on foot, which requires having to shoulder the bicycle as you move through the course. The course for the Hot Springs race may include grass, gravel, pavement, barriers, mud, and stairs, among others, and will follow USAC cyclocross regulations. Register now. This is a cycling event you will never want to miss. Event Rules Register online at bikereg.com Course, race day registration, and number pick-up will open at 11:00 a.m. Preregistration closes Thursday 9:00 p.m. before race day Race day registration closes 10 minutes before each race Racers may enter a second category for $10 via preregistration or race day. Checks should be made out to SHAM Events. All racers who have an annual license must show license at time of registration USAC licenses […]

Plan a getaway to Hot Springs this weekend and enjoy a night of passion and smooth jazz as Grady Nichols performs at the Spa Banquet Room at The Hotel Hot Springs. The event is presented by the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas, Inc. as part of their annual fundraiser to raise awareness and fund research for lupus. Grady Nichols picked up his first saxophone in the sixth grade and fell in love with the instrument. He was raised in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and studied under legendary saxophonist Joe Davis in his high school years. He moved to Tulsa after graduating from John Brown University and became recognized on the scene for his mix of jazz and gospel hues. Grady released his debut album in 1996, entitled “Between You and Me”, which was mainly a live recording. He released “Mysterious Intentions” the following year. He has shared the stage with everyone from the O’Jays and Bill Champlin to Herb Alpert and Huey Lewis & The News. Among Grady Nichol’s various appearances include the gospel television show “Hour of Power”, annual charity concerts, and the World Pulse Festival in Indiana. When not performing on land, he frequently performs on cruise ships. Catch Grady […]

No, we’re not talking about the iconic Ford car. This time, it’ll be a different kind of bronco – the highly-acclaimed Mustang Sally Band. The band whose name and brand has become synonymous with the phrase “must-see entertainment” around Music City, Music Row, and countless stages across the globe will be making an explosive appearance at the 13th annual Motorcycle Rally on September 7th at the Bank of the Ozarks Arena in downtown Hot Springs, AR. The Mustang Sally Band boasts a power-packed combination of Pizzazz, Panache, Spunk, and Passion will be performing on the second night of the three-day event and will be sure to liven up the end of the day’s festivities. About the Band The Mustang Sally Band is an established touring band based in Nashville, Tennessee. They boast a music style that is influenced by all genres of music, having the ability to play all styles of music for club and casino performances. The lead mustang herself is Tobi Lee who hails from North Vernon, IN. Her strong vocals, never-ending energy, humor, songwriting, and multi-instrument play always leaves audiences amazed by her performance. Lisa Romeo from Omaha, NE, the leader of this band of broncos, is […]