The 8th annual Duck Derby Festival will be held Saturday, April 22, at the Cliff Harris Stadium parking lot from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

There will be games, color wars and a duck drop/race on Mill Creek. An addition to this year’s event will be live chicks for photos and petting. There will be a performance from Dance Praize, and Goofy Greg will be giving free snow cones to the first 100 kids to arrive. DJ Last Minute will be on hand for entertainment as well.

Prices for the duck drop are $5 for one duck or $20 for five ducks. The marked rubber ducks will be dropped into the creek and float downstream to the finish line. Derby ducks can be purchased at pdmcsc.org/waddle

Confirmed prizes for this year include:

• A Hot Springs Family Getaway at a Condo on Lake Hamilton & 2 Day Passes to Garvan Woodland Gardens

• Petit Jean Cottage Family Retreat at The Beaumont Cottages

• 1 Year Gym Pass to A-Town Fitness

• Family Photo Shoot from Precious Moments Photography

• Handmade Wreath

• 2 Massages from Arkadelphia Massage Therapy

• Goody Bag from The Farmhouse

• $20 Gift Card to Ludwig’s Bakery

The Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center has several activities lined up for April, which is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Here are the planned activities:

Helpers of Healing

An annual private appreciation dinner for partners, donors, and volunteers will be held Tuesday, April 4, at Ouachita Baptist University’s Walker Conference Center. PDMCSC will recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond for its mission and will share stories of Hope and Healing with all in attendance.

Clark County Proclamation

Clark County will be declaring April as Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention month at the April 10 quorum court meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Circuit Courtroom of the Court Complex. All are welcome to attend. 

Child Advocacy Wear Blue Day

We are encouraging all businesses, schools, classrooms, families, church staff, and any other group in Clark, Dallas, Pike, Nevada, and Hot Spring counties to wear blue on Tuesday, April 11, to show their support for child abuse prevention and awareness and PDMCSC. Send a photo to development@pdmcsc.org by noon that day and PDMCSC will post all of these photos on its Facebook page.

Clark County Prayer Walk & Rally

Blue Sunday is a National Day of Prayer for abused children across America. Local organizations – CASA, PDMCSC, and The CALL will be hosting a Prayer Walk & Rally on Saturday, April 30, from 6-7 p.m. in downtown Arkadelphia. The walk will begin at Town Hall and make its way to the Courthouse lawn and gazebo. Along the way, marchers will pick up the pinwheels planted downtown representing each child locally served by these organizations.

Everyone will be asked to pray over the pinwheel that they pick up in order to intercede for a specific child we have served. Upon arrival at the Courthouse, marchers will begin a time of prayer and worship led by various local leaders in the Clark County faith community. It is a 0.4-mile walk, which will take approximately 9 minutes to complete. Those who are unable to walk are encouraged to convene at the courthouse gazebo shortly after the start time. A limited number of chairs will be set out for handicapped individuals, and those who cannot stand for the entire duration are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. 

PDMCSC is asking the faith community of Clark County to join hand-in-hand to pray for the children experiencing abuse. All congregations, ministries, families and believers are invited to join this special gathering to intercede on behalf of the children experiencing abuse and neglect in our very own neighborhoods.