'Wheel' auditions could come to Conway

Wheel of Fortune auditions could be held in Conway, the Advertising and Promotion Commission learned Tuesday.

Kathy Wyrick, vice president of marketing for the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, said she has spoken to KATV, which is working with Wheel of Fortune. Auditions for the show will definitely be held in Arkansas on Nov. 14-15; the decision is a matter of whether it will be in Conway or somewhere else, she said.

"People love Wheel of Fortune like they love American Idol," Wyrick said, commenting that Arkansans would travel from all over the state to audition for the show. She said the only cost would be man hours to prepare the Conway Sports Center for the auditions.

The commission had ideas to help visitors find their way around town.

Ray Kordsmeier said, "Do we have a way to put things in their hands to make sure they know where our restaurants are? I would think people not from here would only look in a half-mile radius."

Leslie Marshall suggested providing coupons and goodie bags for the visitors.

Wyrick said she will know by Friday whether Conway is chosen for the auditions.

Also on Tuesday, the commission discussed the fact that the deadline is nearing to apply for funds for 2009 events, and they have received only two applications.

Mike Kraft commented, "I think since I've been on the commission we've turned down a total of maybe five (groups)," and that was only because the groups did not meet the criteria, he noted.

Funding request forms are available on the commission's Web site at www.conwayark.com. Completed forms and 10 copies of the request should be mailed or delivered to: A&P Funding Request, ATTN: Barbara Money, 815 Fifth Street, Conway, AR 72032.

Included with the funding request form is a copy of the commission's policy for event funding. All events for which funds are requested must be held in the 2009 calendar year.

Recipients will be notified by Jan. 15 if their funding request was approved. For more information, contact Barbara Money at 329-3776.

In other business, the commission approved a $10,000 request from the Quality of Life Council for the final year of its three-year agreement to purchase lights for the Holiday Festival of Light.

(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)