Arkansas State Parks: Making memories safely

By Kim Williams Photos available here. For nearly nine decades, Arkansas State Parks have been a destination for generations of residents and visitors alike. During the pandemic, parks throughout Arkansas were a respite during unprecedented times. The department’s mission, to “enhance the quality of life through exceptional outdoor experiences, connections to Arkansas heritage, and sound resource…

Visitor Finds 2.23-Carat Diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — The summer of 2020 started with a sparkling surprise for one western Arkansas woman. Fifty-six-year-old Beatrice Watkins, of Mena, visited Arkansas’s Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, on Saturday, June 20, with her daughter and granddaughters. Within 30 minutes of arriving, she had unknowingly picked up the largest diamond found there, so far this year.   Visitors to the park search for diamonds in…