Mountain Home Mayor Hillrey Adams had the opportunity to meet with some out-of-state visitors in the area for the eclipse. Adams talks about Saturday’s event in the historic Baker District with KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot’s Heather Loftis.
Listen:
LOFTIS: We were down in the Baker District for the solar shootout and the mayor was working the crowd. You introduced me to some fine folks from North Carolina and Georgia last night.
ADAMS: Yes, Heather, I got down here yesterday about 2 or 2:30 and, you know, I’ve got this problem. I’ve got to ask all these people where they’re from and what they’re doing here. And one of the first groups I met and the folks I introduced you to were from Columbus, Georgia, and North Carolina. They had witnessed the eclipse in 2017 in South Carolina. And while they’ve been here, they’ve gone and bought fly fishing equipment and stuff, but they didn’t want to haul anything with them. They’ll be out fishing today, but they’ve been waiting for this event for seven years, he told me. And of all that time they’ve been waiting, they’ve been trying to figure out where to go, and they chose our little town of Mountain Home, Arkansas, to come witness this. But it was not only that group. You know, I talked to folks down here just now that were from San Diego, California, Chicago, Wichita, Kansas, and a lot of points in between. The traffic is gaining. It’s picking up, at least, what you’re seeing milling around various locations in town, down here on the square. A lot of places are going to be open today. You know, y’all are racing inside the downtown today. And I had an occasion just a few minutes ago, Heather, to talk to two gentlemen. One was from Niagara Falls, and the other was from Ireland.
LOFTIS: Why did the folks from Ireland choose Mountain Home, Arkansas?
ADAMS: Well, I didn’t get that from him, but the one from Niagara Falls, they’re in the path of this eclipse as well. But he said between the normal Niagara traffic and the tourists that are coming in there to witness it, He said that’s the last place I want to be. There’s going to be way too many people. You know, everybody’s got a different reason to get here, I guess. And all we need to do right now is just hope Mother Nature blesses us tomorrow with a beautiful day for these folks to witness it.
LOFTIS: Mayor, of course, you’re live on the square right now, ready to welcome all these fine folks. You’ve got businesses and shops that are open, not normally open on a Sunday afternoon, but open this weekend. And hey, for all the locals, there’s not a lot of traffic yet. So if you’ve been hunkered down at home, now’s the time to get out before everything starts getting busy.
ADAMS: Very true. You know, you get out today and enjoy it because who knows what it’ll be like in the morning. And again, you know, everybody’s open. A lot of folks are down here today. You know, come on down, enjoy the afternoon. We’re already seeing some traffic down here, and let’s just make it a good day at Mountain Home, Arkansas, of today.
LOFTIS: I would come back down there, but last night you kept introducing me to people as the mouth of the area, and I’m not sure that was a compliment.
ADAMS: Well, I should’ve said the Voice of the Twin Lakes Area. I thought about that afterwards. That’s one of those things.
LOFTIS: That name’s reserved for someone more special, I can assure you.
ADAMS: I can promise you that. So, you know, you gotta step down a little bit. But, you know, that was a great event down here last night. And today, I’m standing down here on the corner right now, Heather, just seeing people milling around all downtown that are here enjoying our community. Every now and then you’ll see somebody from Mountain Home, but for the most part, it’s those folks who are here visiting us this weekend.
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