Crater of Diamonds announces Prospectors’ Gemboree winners

By Waymon Cox

 Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! On June 16 the park hosted its 2^nd Annual Prospectors’ Gemboree, a celebration of diamond miners in Arkansas! Dozens of families from Arkansas and all across the U.S. visited the park and enjoyed our classic lineup of family games held during the day. Following is a list of prize winners for games at this year’s event:

Diamond Digging Contest

Ages 6 & under

1^st: Katie Duncan, Harrison, AR

2^nd: Luis Salazar, Idabel, OK

3^rd: Dalton Fuller, Hot Springs, AR

1^st: Kim Hughes, Alma, AR

2^nd: Nate Restelle, Atlanta, TX

3^rd: Alex Emineth, Ozark, MO

1^st: Rachael Restelle, Atlanta, TX

2^nd: Chloe Haley, Killeen, TX

3^rd: Sarah Henry, Holdenville, OK

Ages 6 & under

1^st: Luis Salazar, Idabel, OK

2^nd: Eli Stewart, Ozark, AR

3^rd: Katie Duncan, Harrison, AR

1^st: Alex Emineth, Ozark, MO

2^nd: Alexi Demnuro, New Boston, TX

3^rd: Nate Restelle, Atlanta, TX

1^st: Leia Terrell, Murfreesboro, AR

2^nd: Sarah Henry, Holdenville, OK

3^rd: Chloe Haley, Killeen, TX

1^st: Larry & Nate Restelle, Atlanta, TX

2^nd: Hal & Meri Harris, New Boston, TX

3^rd: Jackson & Jonathan Dyess, Bossier City, LA

1^st: Ethan & Garrett Sproull, Flagler, FL

2^nd: Tabitha & Tristan Palette, Warren, OH

3^rd: Chloe Haley, Killeen, TX & Sarah Henry, Holdenville, OK

1^st: Tristan Palette, Warren, OH (11’ 11”)

2^nd: Griffin Harper, Mayflower, AR (9’ 5”)

3^rd: Alyssa Greene, Ogden, AR (9’)

1^st: Sam Malicoat, Burleson, TX (15’ 4”)

2^nd: Sarah Henry, Holdenville, OK (15’ 3.5”)

3^rd: Tabitha Palette, Warren, OH (14’ 4.5”)

1^st: Tim Palette, Warren, OH (27’ 11”)

2^nd: Hal Harris, New Boston, TX (26’ 4.5”)

3^rd: Justin Harper, Mayflower, AR (23’ 9.5”)

 We also held our traditional Treasure Hunt this year. Six orange-painted bottles containing certificates for valuable prizes were hidden throughout the diamond search area. Five bottles were found on the day of the Gemboree, and Bottle #6 was discovered last Friday. This year’s Treasure Hunt winners include the following:

Bottle #1: Rob Barth, of Bowling Green, KY, won a genuine Crater diamond, one-night stay at Queen of Diamonds Inn, $25 gift card to Campbell’s Family Restaurant, necklace & earring set, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, and a free ice cream cone from Sonic of Murfreesboro.

Bottle #2: I. Salladu, from Arizona, won a genuine Crater diamond, air mattress, $20 gift certificate to Western Sizzlin’ of Nashville, Razorback cap, Igloo Playmate mini cooler, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, and a free ice cream cone from Sonic of Murfreesboro.

Bottle #3: Rich Dollis, from Pocahontas, AR, won a Husqvarna gas powered trimmer, detail sander, family pack from Trish’s Smokin’ Bar B Q, scented candle, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, and a free ice cream cone from Sonic of Murfreesboro.

Bottle #4: W. Harman, of Puxico, MO, won a silver heart necklace, purse, potpourri, $15 gift certificate to Papa Pablanos of Nashville, can of Joe’s Hand Cleaner, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, fudge certificate from Pic-a-Lily, and a free dessert from McDonald’s of Nashville.

Bottle #5: Bob Peterson, of Springfield, MO, won a roadside emergency kit, $20 Walmart gift card, potpourri, $15 gift certificate to Papa Pablanos of Nashville, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, soapstone carved frog, and a free dessert from McDonald’s of Nashville.

Bottle #6: William & Alex Thomas, of Ft. Hood, TX, won a wind chime, stuffed frog, bass mug, mini first aid kit, free round of mini golf at Diamond-in-the-Hole, two piece fish combo at Rattler Den Restaurant, and a free dessert from McDonald’s of Nashville.

 During Prospectors’ Gemboree, visitors were also invited to capture their diamond mining adventures on a digital camera for the Facets of Fun Photo Scavenger Hunt. Everyone who completed the scavenger hunt was entered in a prize drawing at the end of the day for gift cards and certificates. This year’s grand prize, a party barge rental from Swaha Lodge & Marina with two life vests, was awarded to Hal & Meri Harris, of New Boston, TX.

  Crater of Diamonds congratulates all winners at this year’s Prospectors’ Gemboree. Though this event only comes once a year, we have many other workshops, events, and activities planned for 2012. Visit the calendar of events on our web site at www.CraterofDiamondsStatePark.com to see what’s coming up, and make plans to join us for your favorites!

Search area last plowed: June 8, 2012

Most recent significant precipitation: June 15, 2012

Diamond finds for June 17 - 23, 2012 (100 points = one carat):

June 17 - Adam Hardin, Barberton, OH, 12 pt. white; Kenny & Melissa Oliver, Rosston, AR, 8 pt. white, 26 pt. white; Timothy Gray, Royal, AR, 9 pt. white

June 18 - Alan Loris, Leesville, LA, 6 pt. white; Larry & Gretchen McCollum, Hindsville, AR, 3 pt. white, 10 pt. white, 11 pt. white; Clifford Schaefer, Venus, TX, 8 pt. yellow; Sarah Laros, Murfreesboro, AR, 4 pt. white, 10 pt. white, 15 pt. brown

June 19 - Justin Fronce, Manhattan, KS, 4 pt. white

June 20 - Raymond Howell, Picayune, MS, 26 pt. white

June 21 - Timothy Gray, Royal, AR, 10 pt. yellow

No diamonds found June 22 - 23.