DECATUR — City Office Holiday Schedule

City Offices will be closed on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and on Nov. 26 and 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Veterans Day

Flags were placed on the graves of veterans in the Decatur Cemetary in honor of Veterans Day. If family members notice that a veteran’s grave was not marked with a flag, they are asked to call city hall at 752-3912 to have the cemetary records updated.

Meet the Bulldogs

A Meet the Bulldogs night to introduce the 2009-2010 Decatur basketball teams will be held at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 13. The seventh grade, junior and senior high teams will be presented. Teams will conduct drills to show off their skills, followed by a 15 minuete scrimmage game. There will be a pie auction to raise money for equipment and a basketball camp. Admission will be a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Decatur Food Bank.

Book Fair

The Northside Elementary School Library will be hosting a book fair with the theme “Read Around the World” on Nov. 9-13. Parents are invited to attend family night from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Nov. 12. Parents will be able to purchase books and there will be door prizes, food and drink, and activities for children.

Decatur Schools

Decatur schools will be closed the week of Nov. 23-27 for two days of teacher inservice and three days of Thanksgiving break.

Creators Cafe

Creators Cafe, a creative writing group, will meet from 5 to 6:30 p.m., on the first Thursday of the month in the Iva Jane Peek Library. Activities will include reading and writing poetry, discussions of famous poets and their work, challenges, slam and stand up, and contests and prizes. For more information, contact Lisa Brown at 212-0311.

Open Gym Night

The Decatur High School gym will be open for pick-up basketball games from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday nights. Players must be in the eighth grade or above and are asked to wear non-marring shoes. The concession stand will be open, and an oncourt facilitator will supervise the games. Town Hall Meetings

The Decatur School District holds regular town hall meetings in place of school board meetings at 7 p.m., the third Monday of the month, in the high school cafeteria.

Cowboy Church

The Decatur Salebarn Cowboy Churchis holding Sunday services at the Decatur Livestock Auction Sale Barn. Breakfast is from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Bible classes begin at 9 a.m., and Sunday worship will be at 10:30 a.m. Tim Wallace is the pastor. For more information, call Terry Horton at 644-5900 or Kelly Austin at 366-7940.

Head Start

Decatur Head Start is now accepting applications for the 2009-2010 school year. Head Start is a free comprehensive program for 3 to 5 year olds who meet eligibility requirements. Priority is given to those from lower income families and to children with disabilities. For an application, stop by the Decatur Head Start, call 752-3704 or look online at www.nwaheadstart. org.

VFW Meetings

The Gentry/Decatur VFW Post meets on the first Tuesday of each month - at 7 p.m. during the winter months. New members and guests are welcome. The facility is 3 miles east of Decatur on Arkansas Highway 102, right on Tilly’s Hill Road, and the first building on the right.

Council Meetings

City council meetings are held at 6 p.m., the second Monday of each month in the council room at city hall, and are open to the public. For more information, call 752-3912.

Decatur Library

Decatur library hours are 3:30 to 7 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m., on Wednesdays.

Food Pantry

The Decatur food pantry is open from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. The pantry offers free nonperishable food to Decatur residents and is located at the United Methodist Church in Decatur. Participants need to bring identification showing they have a 72722 zip code. For more information, contact David Cook at 752-3838 or the Methodist Church at 752-3551.

Singing Services

Monthly singing services at Falling Springs Church are held at 7 p.m., the first Friday of each month. Refreshments are served and everyone is welcome. The church is located west of Decatur on Falling Springs Road.

Gentry Senior Activity Center

The Gentry Senior Activity Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, in the renovated building on Main Street, just east of the public library. Meals and rides to the center and activities are available Monday through Friday by calling Jackie Bader, the center’s manager, at 736-0378. The SAC van now picks up in Decatur, too, on Tuesdays and Fridays at about 9:30 a.m.

News, Pages 2 on 11/11/2009