Calling all Arkansas crossword fans

Here's a press release about the third annual Arkansas Puzzle Day.

Clinton School to host 3rd Annual Arkansas Puzzle Day Aug. 29
Event to feature solving tips from crossword constructors Fleming and Gentry, editors of “Casual Crosswords”

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will welcome crossword and Sudoku puzzle enthusiasts for the third annual Arkansas Puzzle Day on August 29 at Sturgis Hall.

Officiated by Vic Fleming of Little Rock and Bonnie Gentry of Scottsdale, Ariz., co-editors of “Random House Casual Crosswords,” the event will feature crossword and Sudoku contests on Saturday, Aug. 29, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The contests will be “casual and less-competitive,” Fleming said.

The Peabody Hotel will offer a special weekend rate for the event, which will include an autograph party and reception Friday afternoon, Aug. 28, at 5:30 p.m. at the hotel and a Saturday morning tour of the Clinton Presidential Library.

As part of the Saturday afternoon festivities, Fleming and Gentry will host a “multi-puzzle fun-and-games hour” before the preliminary crossword and Sudoku competition. The prelims will be followed by an educational session on puzzle history, strategy and tips for solving challenging crosswords. The afternoon will be capped off by a final round of puzzle competition for those with the highest levels of accuracy in the preliminary round.

The Friday reception will serve as an “early release” of the 2009 edition of the Random House book, which is scheduled to go on sale nationwide the following week.

Fleming and Gentry became Random House’s co-editors of “Casual Crosswords,” an annual publication, with the retirement last year of Mel Rosen, who had served as editor for six years.

*All puzzle day events are FREE and open to all puzzle enthusiasts. To RSVP, email publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or call 501-683-5239.

Contact the Peabody to make reservations for the weekend at 501-905-4000.

Contact Vic Fleming (judgevic@comcast.net) and/or Bonnie L. Gentry (bongentry@cox.net) for further details on the Puzzle Day afternoon activities.