27-67-227. Arkansas Delta highway designations — Legislative findings.

27-67-227. Arkansas Delta highway designations — Legislative findings. (a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) Eastern Arkansas, commonly referred to as the “Arkansas Delta”, is known for its rich musical heritage; (2) Some of the most influential musicians in the development of blues, soul, country, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, gospel, and prison music were from, or achieved musical milestones in, the Arkansas Delta, including: (A) Johnny Cash; (B) Levon Helm: (C) Louis Jordan; and (D) Sister Rosetta Tharpe; (3) The Arkansas Delta includes a portion of the Americana Music Triangle, which was a particularly fertile region during the development of American popular music in the middle decades of the twentieth century; and (4) The designation of certain highways in the Arkansas Delta is essential to preserve the region's history, promote music heritage tourism in the area, and provide a highway travel route for the music enthusiast. (b) The route along Highway 17 from Dyess, Arkansas, to Wilson, Arkansas, where the boyhood home of Johnny Cash is located, is designated the “Johnny Cash Memorial Highway”. (c) The route along U.S. Highway 49 from Marvell, Arkansas, to Helena, Arkansas, where the boyhood home of Levon Helm is located, is designated the “Levon Helm Memorial Highway”. (d) The route along U.S. Highway 49 from Brinkley, Arkansas, the birthplace of Louis Jordan, to Marvell, Arkansas, is designated the “Louis Jordan Memorial Highway”. (e) The route along Highway 17 from Cotton Plant, Arkansas, the birthplace of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, to Brinkley, Arkansas, is designated the “Sister Rosetta Tharpe Memorial Highway”. (f) The route along U.S. Highway 61 from West Memphis, Arkansas, to Blytheville, Arkansas, a region recognized for its role in the development of Americana music, is designated the “Americana Music Highway”. (g) The Arkansas Department of Transportation shall erect appropriate signs along: (1) Highway 17 from Dyess, Arkansas, to Wilson, Arkansas, designating the route as the “Johnny Cash Memorial Highway”; (2) U.S. Highway 49 from Marvell, Arkansas, to Helena, Arkansas, designating the route as the “Levon Helm Memorial Highway”; (3) U.S. Highway 49 from Brinkley, Arkansas, to Marvell, Arkansas, designating the route as the “Louis Jordan Memorial Highway”; (4) Highway 17 from Cotton Plant, Arkansas, to Brinkley, Arkansas, designating the route as the “Sister Rosetta Tharpe Memorial Highway”; and (5) U.S. Highway 61 from West Memphis, Arkansas, to Blytheville, Arkansas, designating the route as the “Americana Music Highway”.