DECATUR COMMUNITY EVENTS

Creators Cafe

Creators Cafe, a creative writing group, meets from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month and from 11 a.m until 12:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month in the Iva Jane Peek Library. Activities include reading and writing poetry, discussions of famous poets and their work, challenges, slam and stand up, and contests and prizes. The next meeting will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m., April 22. For more information, contact Lisa Brown at 212-0311.

Rural Fire Dues

Residents who own property outside the city limits but within the Decatur Fire Department’s response area must pay rural fire dues by May 1. Dues are $40 per year for each home, and $40 per year for land without dwellings on it. If the fire department responds to a property where the dues have not been paid, a $500 fine will be assessed. For more information, contact city hall at 752-3912.

Kindergarten Enrollment

Northside Elementary will hold kindergarten registration from 9 a.m., until 6 p.m. April 21 and 22. Children must be 5-years-old on or before Aug. 15, 2010. If they have been enrolled in a state approved pre-kindergarten program for at least 100 days, the deadline will be extended to Sept. 15. Parents need to bring documentation that their child has attended a state-approved pre-kindergarten program, a current shot record, birth certificate, social security card and health history to the enrollment. Children will be required to have a physical before the first day of school. For more information, call the elementary school office at 752-3981.

Citywide Clean Up

Roll Off Service, Inc. will be picking up bulky waste at the curb with the regular trash pickup on April 22. For more information about what kind of waste will be picked up and what kind of waste is not allowed, call city hall at 752-3912.

Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation Committee meetings will be held at 6 p.m., on the first Thursday of the month in the city council room. However, the next meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 5. All members are urged to attend, along with anyone who is interested in joining the committee. For more information, call 752-3912.

Wyatt Hopkins Memorial Poker Run

The first Wyatt Hopkins Memorial Poker Run will begin at 9 a.m., May 1, at the Decatur Fire Department. The route, which will be approximately 123 miles long, will end at the Decatur Veterans Park with door prizes, food and entertainment. All proceeds go to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. For more information, call 752-3912 or e-mail [email protected].

Traveling through Arkansas

Northside Elementary School will be hosting a “Traveling Through Arkansas” night from 6 to 8 p.m., May 6. The evening will feature a celebration of all things Arkansas, including entertainment, student art displays, and booths about Arkansas history, culture, local businesses and industries, natural resources, nature wildlife and more.

Food Pantry

The Decatur food pantry is open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday. The pantry offers free nonperishable food to Decatur residents. The pantry 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 the Methodist Church at 752-3551.

Newspaper office hours

Regular office hours at the Gentry news office of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC are limited to make it possible for staff to be out covering news and events. Regular hours will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Staff members will be in and out of the office at other times, but calling ahead to 736-2822 or 233-0081 is recommended. Subscription and advertising assistance is also available by calling the Siloam Springs office at 524-5144.

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Submissions Items for inclusion in the Hometown Events section of the newspaper may be submitted by calling 752-3675; by mail to P.O. Box 252, Decatur, AR 72722; or by e-mail to [email protected].

Community, Pages 2 on 04/21/2010