Photo Submitted                          2009 St. Paddy's Day Parade

The 17th Annual Eureka Springs St Paddy’s Day Parade will wind its way through historic downtown March 13 at 2 p.m., led by a chief of police and a high school beauty. Eureka Springs Chief of Police Earl Hyatt is this year’s Grand Marshal, and ESHS student Elizabeth Crawley Wood will serve as the 2010 Colleen.

The parade is headed by the “Krewe of Blarney Halfast Walkin’ Klub,” a group of professionals, business people and political officials, who will be sporting tuxedos and Flower Canes in the St. Paddy’s Parade. A colorful mix of floats, decorated automobiles, bands and walking groups is expected. In addition, says organizer Dan Ellis, “anyone wearing green is welcome to join in!”

Born in Southern California in 1960, Hyatt lived in Australia from 1969 to 1976, when his family returned to NW Arkansas.  He served honorably with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1980 to 1984. Hyatt has since been in law enforcement, having just completed 24 years in the field.  He has been Chief of Police in Eureka Springs since 1996.

Hyatt’s favorite charity is Special Olympics and he can always be counted on to help local people in need.  He is married to Rachal Hyatt, 4th grade teacher at Eureka Springs Elementary.

This year’s St. Paddy’s Day Colleen, Elizabeth Crawley Wood, has received Academic Achievement Awards at ESHA.  She is an advocate for wildlife and the environment.  

After college, Wood plans a career in either law enforcement or possibly with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In addition to her studies, she holds down two part-time jobs.

She traces her Irish heritage backs to her red-haired grandfather, who married a Cherokee squaw from Tennessee.  Says Liz, “Somehow I was blessed as a blonde!”

For more details on the parade contact Dan Ellis at 479-981-9551 or go online at www.stpaddy.ureeka.org/.