Arkansas City, Arkansas: Outdoor Movie Street Party

Swain and other library employees served three large sheet cakes to an estimated 200 people outside in front of the building. Jana Frazier, the manager of Jan's Sport Shack, said about 30 people competed in a basketball shooting contest held outside the store. A $30 gift certificate was given away to the winner of the 13 and older contest, Rochell Lolar, 16. The winner in the 12 and under category, Blake Kendrick, 10, received a free National Night Out t-shirt. We also gave away several basketballs, Frazier said. About 150 of those who were downtown stayed for an outdoor movie that started at 9 p.m. It was shown on a huge screen on Fifth Avenue at Summit Street. The movie goers ate all the free popcorn, bottled water and pizza provided by U.S. Cellular and Pizza Hut. U.S. Cellular donated the movie, Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! The company also provided the screen and sound system. A U.S. Cellular employee who helped set up the equipment Monday afternoon said that the company would like to show more outdoor movies. We could make this a monthly occurrence, Kuhn said this morning. Summit Street is owned by Ark City it used to be a state highway, U.S. 77 but now it belongs to the city. We can shut it down any time we want. There are glitches that would have to be worked out, Kuhn said. This is only the third time U.S. Cellular has done this. The sound system worked fine and the screen worked fairly well but street lights made it a little difficult to see the movie, he said.