Thomas Saccente

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Thomas Saccente covers Bentonville and Benton County news for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He has spent most of his life in Arkansas and started his professional journalism career in Fort Smith in 2015. He began working for the Democrat-Gazette in 2019, covering the River Valley before moving to Northwest Arkansas in 2024. His hobbies include reading, listening to music and going on long, winding adventures on his road bike.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will hold a news conference Tuesday morning to make an announcement and recognize recipients of grants through the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism.

Sanders will highlight recipients of the FUN Park Grants, Matching Grants, and the Great Strides Program across 23 counties. The grants were created to provide funding for outdoor development in Arkansas communities.

The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. A live stream will be available in the live player above.

POCAHONTAS, Ark. (KAIT/Edited News Release) – The Randolph County Heritage Museum will host Marty Ryall, Director of the Division of Heritage at the Arkansas Department of Parks, Tourism and Heritage, for a special public program on Monday, April 6, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

The event will take place in the John and Mary Helen Jackson Meeting Room in the Joe R. Martin Center at the museum.

As director of the Division of Heritage within the Arkansas Department of Parks, Tourism and Heritage, Ryall leads statewide efforts to preserve Arkansas’s history, support museums and cultural institutions, and administer grant programs that strengthen local heritage initiatives.

The department plays a central role in promoting Arkansas’s natural and cultural resources while advancing tourism, historic preservation, and public engagement across the state.

The program will offer attendees an opportunity to learn more about the work of the Division of Heritage, its grant programs, and the state’s ongoing efforts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Ryall will also discuss how local communities can engage with and benefit from state heritage initiatives.

“This is an important opportunity for our region,” said Rodney Harris, president of the Randolph County Heritage Museum. “We hope to see a strong turnout from Randolph and Lawrence County, as well as the rest of the region, to show the director how much we value our historical and heritage institutions.”

The Randolph County Heritage Museum, founded in 2006 as a lasting gift to the community, has recently completed a major expansion that more than doubled its exhibit space. The museum continues to serve as a regional hub for education, public history, and community engagement.

The event is free and open to the public. Community members, local leaders, educators, and anyone interested in Arkansas history and heritage are encouraged to attend. Guests are also invited to arrive early for an opportunity to visit informally with Ryall prior to the program.

For more information, visit www.randolphcountyheritage.org or contact the museum directly.

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