GYO football sign-ups
Gentry Youth Organization will hold football signups for players in grades four through six, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Gentry City Park. Football practice will start on Monday, Aug. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Gentry High School practice field, with more practices planned for Tuesday and Thursday. Sign-up fee is $40. Some scholarships are still available to qualified families — must provide pay check stub for two weeks or a foodstamp letter dated within last 30 days. For more information on the football sign-ups or program, call Pat McFerron at 228-2235. For questions on scholarships only, call Cathy Beach at 790-8750.
End of summer party
Participants in Gentry Public Library’s summer reading program will join with those in the First Baptist Church children’s summer program for a pool party at the McKee Foods swimming pool from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8.
GHS freshman orientation
Freshman orientation is set for 12 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 5, at Gentry High School. All incoming freshman are urged to attend.
Gentry School open house
• Sixth Grade — 5 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11;
• Middle School — 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 12;
• Primary School — 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 16;
• Intermediate School — 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 17;
• High School — 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 18.
Gravette Class of 1950
The Gravette High School Class of 1950 will hold its 60th class reunion, Saturday, August 14. The group will meet after the parade for lunch and visiting in the home of Leonard and Dorthey Allen, at 801 Second Avenue S.W. in Gravette.
Gravette Class of 1960
Gravette High School Class of 1960 will hold its 50-year reunion during Gravette Day weekend August 13-14. Plans include a gathering at the Gravette High School cafeteria from 5 to 9 p.m. and the classes of 1959, 1961 and 1962 are invited to attend. Finger foods will be served. The class will have a float in the Saturday morning parade. For information, contact Shirley Brooks Volkes, 405-691-6303 or 405-808-7312, or Fred Coffee, 479-621-8599 or 479-366-8599.
Gravette Class of 1990
Gravette High School Class of 1990 will hold its 20-year reunion on Gravette Day weekend, August 13 and 14. The class dinner will be held Friday evening at Fred’s Hickory Inn in Bentonville, and class members are being encouraged to meet Saturday at 9 a.m. at the old gym parking lot to prepare a float in the 10 a.m. parade. An adultonly party will be held at Arvest Ballpark Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and members of other classes, faculty, staff and friends are invited. For information and to confirm attendance, contact Heather Barnwell Finley, 479-855-0626.
Gravette Class of 1985
Gravette High School Class of 1985 will hold its 24-year class reunion August 13 and 14 with the following schedule: Friday, August 13, at 6:30 p.m. the group will enjoy a family picnic at the Sulphur Springs park. Persons are asked to bring lawn chairs. Saturday’s events will include participating in the parade at 10 a.m. Following that will be free time including time to visit the new high school field house and middle school music complex. At 6:30 p.m., the group will meet at the Fayetteville Clarion Banquet Room. Mail checks, $37 per person, payable to GHS Class of 1985, which covers the Friday and Saturday evening buffet, to Charlene Mullen Newell, Box 938, Gravette. Include e-mail address for confirmation. For more information go to Gravette Lions Class of 1985 on Facebook.
Gravette Class of 2000
The Gravette High School Class of 2000 will hold a picnic at the Gravette Upper Elementary playground at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13. Classmates are invited to bring their families and their own food. The class will also meet at the middle school parking lot at 9:15 a.m. for the parade on Aug. 14. Dinner on the 14th (for adults only) will be at 6 p.m. at Metfield in Bella Vista at a cost of $30 per person. For more information, contact Jenny Wallis or Lindsey Watford on Facebook at Gravette High School Class of 2000.
Blood drive in Decatur
The Red Cross will be holding a blood drive at Simmons Foods, 250 Main Street in Decatur from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Aug. 27.
Blood drive in Gravette
Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will be holding a blood drive at the Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette on Friday, August 13, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Decatur City Council
Decatur’s city council meeting will be held as originally scheduled at 6 p.m., Aug. 9. The meeting was rescheduled to Aug. 17 but was moved back to Aug. 9 because of a conflict with Decatur Schools. Council meetings are held at 6 p.m., the second Monday of the month, in the city council room. For more information, call 752-3912.
Study at Highfill UMC
Highfill United Methodist Church is people in greater West Benton County Community to join them the next 8 weeks for a study of the Gospel of John. The study begins tonight at 6 p.m. People may come any time during the study for a time of fellowship and learning together. Call Pastor Russ at 366-5429 for more information.
School Orientation
The Decatur School District will hold an open house for students and parents on Aug. 17. Classes will begin Aug. 19. The Northside Elementary School will be open from 4 to 6 p.m. The High School will be open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Parents and students will meet teachers and find their classrooms. High school students will be given their schedules and assigned lockers.
Town hall meetings
The Decatur School District will hold town hall meetings at 7 p.m., the third Monday of the month, in the high school cafateria. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend.
Summer reading program
The Iva Jane Peek library will hold a summer reading program for children, ages 4 to 9, with the theme “Make a Splash — Read.” The program will continue through July. Children, ages 4 to 6, will meet from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., on Aug. 10; and children, ages 7 to 9, will meet from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 11. For more information, call the city hall at 752-3912 or the library at 752-7323.
Food Pantry
The Decatur food pantry is open from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday. The pantry offers free non-perishable 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.
Decatur Library
Decatur library hours are 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Free school supplies
Victory Baptist Church in Gentry is offering school supplies to Gentry area children. Children are invited to bring their parents to the church’s family life center, located at 1120 E. Main Street, from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Aug. 7, for free school supplies while they last. For more information, call Shirley Shook at 736-8620.
Gentry Class of 1970
The Gentry High School Class of 1970 will have its 40th reunion on Sept. 4 and 5. There will be a gettogether from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, at the McKee Community Room in the Gentry Public Library. The class will also have a gathering at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5, at the home of Berta Carl Norris. For more information, call Berta Carl Norris at 736-2269.
Genty Alumni Reunion
Gentry Alumni Association will be having its Alumni Banquet at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Gentry High School / Middle School cafeteria. Cost per person is $20.00 and final reservations need to be made by August 1. Alumni forms can be picked up at Gentry Library or by contacting Lemuel Cripps at 736-8574 or Berta Norris at 736-2269 or by e-mail at bjnorris_2000@yahoo. com.
Classes of 1960, 1961
The Gentry High School Classes of 1960 and 1961 will hold a combined reunion, with all who have been class members, whether graduates or not, invited to attend. The group will meet from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3, at the Masonic Hall in Gentry. A second get-together will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Gentry City Park. For more information, call Maryelle McDowell at 736-2058.
NWA Riding Club
The NWA Riding Club continues to meet at 6 p.m. every other Saturday night until Nov. 1, at the enclosed arena at the Luca-Don Equestrian Center, 23236 Arkansas Highway 12, west of Gentry. Ribbons are awarded nightly, with an awards banquet at the end of the season. The NWA Riding Club is a nonprofit, non-alcoholic and drug-free environment for families. For more information, call 752-3466 or 899-3259.
Gentry City Council
The Gentry City Council holds regular meetings in the city court room at 6:30 p.m., the first Monday of each month. The Gentry Planning and Zoning Commission meets in city hall at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.
Gentry School Board
The Gentry School Board holds regular meetings at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month in the school district board room.
Springtown Council
The Springtown Council meets at 6 p.m., on the second Tuesday of each month, in the new community building.
Town of Highfill
Highfill’s next council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 16, at the Highfill Community Building. The planning commission meeting is at 6:30 p.m., Aug. 24.
Gentry Lions Club
The Gentry Lions Club meets from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. The club is now meeting in the Gentry Public Library’s community room. Visitors are always welcome.
Baseball, softball sign-ups
Sign-up for Gravette kids baseball and softball will be held this Saturday, August 7, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pop Allum baseball/softball park. A six-week teaching clinic will be offered for all ball players from T-ball and up after Labor Day. More information will be available online at http:// leaguelineup.com/gravette. Registration online will also be available.
Pee Wee Football Camp
Football camp for children in grades two through six will be held Saturday, Aug. 7, at the McAbee Field, with Coach Bill Harrelson. For information, contact him at 787-0303, or Preston Newbill at 640-8702. Seventh grade players are also invited to attend the camp.
Singing Services
Monthly singing services at Falling Springs Church are held at 7 p.m., the first Friday of each month. The church is located northwest of Gentry and west of Decatur on Falling Springs Road.
Head Start Enrollment
Northwest Arkansas Head Start program and its curriculum-based child development centers are currently accepting applications for fall 2010 enrollment at all their locations — including Gentry and Decatur. Head Start offers a free comprehensive child-development program for children who meet eligibility requirements and were born on or after Aug. 15, 2007. Priority is given to those from lower-income families and to children with disabilities. For more information, call 636-7317 or 736-2406.