Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels today reminded Arkansas businesses that annual reports and franchise taxes are due by midnight on Thursday, May 1 to the Secretary of State’s Business and Commercial Services (BCS) Division.

Every incorporated business, whether domestic or foreign, pays an annual fee to do business in Arkansas.  Earlier this year, the state’s 112,495 corporations were notified via mail or online about the upcoming deadline.  The taxes are payable between January and May 1 annually.  Around eighty percent of the state’s corporations pay the minimum franchise tax rate of $150.

Corporations have the option of filing their franchise taxes online, 24 hours a day, by visiting the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.arkansas.gov.  The easy-to-use system provides automatic calculations to eliminate math errors that can slow down processing time.  The system generates e-mail confirmations and copies of each completed filing.  Credit cards and electronic checks are accepted.

The UACCB Choral Singers will present their Spring Concert at Independence Hall , April 29, at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited.

Cleburne County Aging’s Annual WALK-A THON Saturday, May, 3 2008 At 9:00 until 12:00 this is our biggest fund raiser of the year we are hoping to raise $20,000.00 this year. If you would like to participate in this years walk please contact us at 501-362-2413 All proceeds benefit Meals on wheels in Cleburne County! The Walk will be held at the Waychoff Center at 320 Trailwood Drive* Heber Springs Every Dollar goes for senior services in Cleburne County Come walk with us!

Mountain View School Fine Arts and FCCLA Clubs are presenting a Drama and Dessert on Friday, May 2nd 2008 at 6:30 P.M. Event will be held at the Mountain View School Multipurpose room. Desserts at 6:30 and Drama at 7 PM. Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door. For more information, call Kim Cruce at 870-269-3943.

EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. –The New Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs opens its 40^th anniversary season Friday, May 2 with many changes to the script, score and set.

 To celebrate its 40^th anniversary, the play has been revamped with parables and text from different gospels in The New Testament, focusing on more miracles Christ performed in the days before his crucifixion and the days before his ascension.

 “Overall, our new script develops new elements in the character of Jesus,” said Rick Mann, artistic director and one of the actors who portrays Jesus. “It shows the impact of Jesus on the lives of Pontius Pilates’ wife, the high priests’ servant Malchus, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea in new and fuller ways, and returns to a focus on the miraculous in the life story of Jesus.

Those returning to see the play can still expect to find more than 150 actors and live animals on the 550-foot stage, but more than 90 percent of the scenes are new, along with the introduction of a new character – Satan.

 “New visitors will find an experience like no other,” Mann added.

 Performances run May 2 through Oct. 25 at 8:30 p.m. nightly, excluding Wednesdays and Sundays. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. after Labor Day. For more information, visit GreatPassionPlay.com or call 1-800-882-7529.

008 SPRINGFEST AUTOSHOW SATURDAY APRIL 26, 2008 COURT HOUSE SQUARE HEBER SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Line up 9:30 Trophy presentation at 2pm

Quality Art & Handmade Crafts, Food & Entertainment – Art, Jewelry, Pottery, Wood Art, Wrought Iron, Yard Furniture & Native American crafts are just a few of the booths in Spring Park, including Pony rides, Bungee jump, slides and much more for the kids. Entertainment throughout the weekend in Spring Park Jazz, Bluegrass, Blues, Gospel, Country, Dancers & more. For more information call 501-362-2444

For more information go to Heber Springs Chamber Website

There will be a “Drive-By” Food Drive on Saturday, April 26 from 10-2 at the Fairfield Bay Senior Center to benefit the Van Buren County Foods for Life. Area residents are asked to drop off canned/ dry food items and toiletry products. Girl Scouts from troop #661 and Thrivent members from Peace Lutheran Church and Faith Lutheran Church will receive and deliver the gathered items as part of the national volunteer program Join Hands Day.

U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that John McCain will continue his “It’s Time for Action Tour” on Friday, April 25th in Little Rock, Arkansas at Arkansas Baptists College Fine Arts Building Classroom 1621 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72202

An advance on Friday’s weather: a cold front will be coming through the state and there is a chance for severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Hail and damaging winds will be the main threat with these storms.