DECATUR — Decatur Public Schools

Parent teacher conferences will be held district-wide from 4 to 7 p.m., Oct. 20 and 22. Schools will be closed on Oct. 23 for teacher inservice.

Fall Clean-up

Roll-off, Inc., will be picking up bulky waste along with the curbside trash pickup on Oct. 8. Bulky waste includes household appliances with the CFC’s removed, furniture, mattresses, large toys and Christmas trees. Items such as paint, tires, batteries, automotive fluids, pesticides, televisions, computer monitors, fluorescent light bulbs and other hazardous waste will not be accepted.

Northside Elementary

The Northside Elementary school is holding a math night for parents of students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade from 6 to 7 p.m., Oct. 12. Parents will learn about expectations for their child’s grade level and how the teachers and curriculum are helping meet those expectations.

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 on-court facilitator will supervise the games.

Town Hall Meetings

The Decatur School District will hold 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. School officials will make the annual report to the public at the next town hall meeting, scheduled for Oct. 19.

Cowboy Church

The Decatur Salebarn Cowboy Church is 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 7:30 p.m. during the summer and at 7 p.m. during the winter. 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. Special events scheduled at SAC include a barbecue chicken dinner on Oct. 9, flu shots on Oct. 14, a trip to the Wild Wilderness Safari and dining out on Oct. 15 and Halloween on Oct. 31.

Siren Tests

Tornado sirens are tested at 10 a.m., the first Saturday of each month.

News, Pages 2 on 10/07/2009