Washington news in brief

Former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross attends chamber's fly-in; state goods offered at Taste of South; Arkansas student now bears cherry blossom title

Ross in attendance at chamber's fly-in

WASHINGTON -- The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce held its 59th annual Washington Fly-In last week. The trip culminated with a dinner Wednesday at the Hill Country Barbecue Market.

The gathering drew members of the state's congressional delegation, plus dozens of staff members, businessmen, lobbyists and others.

This year's attendees included former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, one of the last Democrats to represent Arkansas on Capitol Hill.

After six terms in Congress, Ross took a job in Little Rock. As the Southwest Power Pool's senior vice president for government affairs and public relations, he continues to closely monitor developments inside the Beltway.

"Part of my job is to come to Washington and educate legislators, members of Congress, from our 14-state region on who we are, what we do, how we fit in their state and how we ensure that consumers get reliable, cost-effective electricity," Ross said.

When Ross was in Congress, the Fly-In dinners were held at a hotel in the suburbs. Back then, the speeches were longer and the event was a little more formal, he said.

"I like this better because it's a chance just to visit," he said.

Randy Zook, the chamber's president and CEO, said the meal is primarily an opportunity to spend time with Capitol Hill staff members.

"They're the ones we work with most of the time," he said.

Since moving the meal to the Hill Country three years ago or so, "it's a lot more fun, it's more casual, it's more interesting," he said.

The Hill Country menu is always "something really healthy," he said with a smile: Texas barbecue, brisket and chicken, macaroni and cheese, and beans.

State goods offered at Taste of South

Arkansans participated in this year's Taste of the South, an annual charitable event highlighting foods from Dixie.

Thirteen Southern states participate in the sold-out fundraiser; tickets for Saturday's event were snapped up quickly.

On Friday, Arkansas committee chairman Rachel Harris said there would be plenty of Natural State options on the menu.

Roughly 2,400 people were expected.

"We'll be featuring chicken. ... We're also serving corn dogs from Tyson, as well," she said.

Seventy pounds of corn dogs, to be precise.

Mountain Valley Spring Water provided refreshments. Riceland Foods sent rice. Hanna's Candle Co. donated candles and the Bryant Preserving Co. contributed canned goods.

"Lots of Arkansas products," Harris noted.

Over the past 35 years, Taste of the South has raised more than $6 million for charity.

This year, part of the proceeds will benefit Economics Arkansas, a nonprofit that trains teachers on "how to integrate principles of economics and personal finance into the classroom curriculum," its website states.

Student now bears cherry blossom title

Selby Bailey of Russellville is now cherry blossom royalty.

The Harding University freshman was selected to serve as the Arkansas State Society's cherry blossom princess during the 2018 National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The nearly monthlong event is "the nation's greatest springtime celebration," organizers say, and it highlights the bonds between Japan and the United States.

In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo donated more than 3,000 ornamental cherry trees to Washington, D.C. Visitors have enjoyed the annual pink profusions ever since.

Over the years, disease has killed some of the trees. Anti-Japanese sentiment claimed a handful of others. (In December 1941, days after Pearl Harbor, four trees were chopped down by an ax-wielder.)

The first cherry blossom festival was held in either 1934 or 1935, depending on whom you ask. Today, it is one of the city's biggest tourist attractions.

In her application essay, Bailey said she isn't a Natural State native. A military brat, she lived in South Dakota, Georgia and Maryland before moving to her father's hometown in Arkansas.

"Russellville is a relatively small southern town that has been a wonderful place to grow up," she wrote.

She suggested that she would be a good ambassador for her adopted state if selected, adding, "I am outgoing and have no fear of meeting and talking to new people, and always see my glass as half full."

Planning to visit the nation's capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Please contact Frank Lockwood at (202) 662-7690 or [email protected]. Want the latest from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Washington bureau? It's available on Twitter, @LockwoodFrank.

SundayMonday on 04/22/2018

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