Decatur Storm Cleanup

Residents can drop off debris from the Aug. 1 storm at the Edmiston ball field parking lot on Austin Street for one month. Only limbs and brush may be dropped off. Other materials will not be accepted.

Gentry Schools 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.

Cotton Asher Benefit

A benefit hog fry and pie auction will be held for the family of Cotton Asher from noon until 5 p.m., Aug. 14, at the Cherokee City Church. Asher lost his battle with cancer on July 31 and the benefit will help pay for funeral and medical expenses. The event will include an auction, dunk tank, door prizes and a chance to win a refurbished Brinkmann smoker/grill and a 22 rifle with a scope. For more information, call 427-0886 or 918-314-6464.

Cripps to preach at First Baptist in Gentry

Gary Cripps, who grew up in the Gentry area and has been preaching in the rodeo circuits, will be the featured preacher at the 10:45 a.m. Sunday service at First Baptist Church in Gentry on Aug. 15.

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, 621-8599 or 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 for 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, 855-0626.

Gravette Class of 1985

Gravette High School Class of 1985 will hold its 25-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.

Decatur City Council

Decatur’s city 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.

Decatur 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. Orientation for pre-kindergarten students will be held from 6 to 6:30 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.

Decatur Town Hall Meetings

The Decatur School District will hold its next town hall meeting at 6 p.m., Aug. 16. The meeting will consist of a tour of the high school and the elementary with the superintendent and both principals. Town hall meetings are usually held at 7 p.m., the third Monday of the month, in the high school cafeteria. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend.

Decatur Blood Drive

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.

Ozark Knights

Ozark Knights, an organization of people who hold food drives for local food pantries, will operate a booth in Kindley Park on Gravette Day to collect food for the Feed My Sheep Food Pantry in Gravette. The organization also sends care packages to troops who are deployed overseas in its “Operation Moral Support” project. Names of soldiers currently deployed will be taken. Monetary donations to help with postage will also be accepted. For information, contact Rick or Tina Vandiver, 685-1105 or 685-3503, or Judy Howard, treasurer, 268-4787.

Gentry Class of 1970 reunion

The Gentry High School Class of 1970 will have its 40th reunion on Sept. 4 and 5. There will be a gettogether from 11 a.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.

Gentry High School 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 Aug. 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.

Gentry Classes of 1960 and 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.

Gravette School Supplies

Ozarks Community Hospital of Gravette will hold a Back-to-School Supply Drive to help provide school supplies to the Gravette Upper and Lower Elementary School students. Jayna Cardetti, Communications Coordinator at OCH, said a donation bin will be located in the hospital front entrance lobby from now until Aug. 20. Persons wishing to participate may provide the following items needed to make the project a success: Crayons, notebooks, backpacks, No. 2 pencils, glue, scissors, rulers, erasers and folders. For more information, call Cardetti at 344-6464.

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.

VFW Meetings

The Gentry/Decatur VFW Post meets on the first Tuesday of each month — at 7:30 p.m. 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.

Gentry Senior Activity Center

Gentry Senior Activity Center, at 121 East Main Street (just east of the Gentry Public Library) is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals and rides to the center and activities are available Monday through Friday by calling Jackie Bader, the center’s manager, at 736-0378. Van routes are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday — Gentry, Highfill and Springtown; and Tuesday and Friday — Gentry and Decatur.

Gentry Pickin’ in the Park

Pickin’ in the Park is held at 6:30 p.m., the last Saturday of each month in the Gentry City Park. Musicians and music lovers are invited to come and join in or just sit back and enjoy the music.

Gravette Soccer Registration

Registration for Gravette Soccer Association’s fall season will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, and from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the community room at Arvest Bank. There are three divisions, under 6, under 9 and under 12. Registration fee is $25. All games, beginning in mid-September, will be played at Pop Allum Park in Gravette. For information, contact Terry Roberts at 787-6421 or John Fielek at 733-2505.

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 Gentry and Decatur locations. Head Start offers a free comprehensive childdevelopment 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.

HIPPY enrollment now

under way

Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, a free 30-week parent-involvement, schoolreadiness program helping parents prepare their children, ages 3-5, for success in school, is taking enrollment applications. Spanish speaking teachers are also available. Books, supplies and lessons are delivered right to students’ homes by the home educator. For information, call Eumia Fullerton at 546-9046 or Tawny Darnell at 544-1114.

Decatur Public 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.

Gravette Farmers’ Market

Allyson Ransom, director of the Gravette Farmers’ Market, announced the market will be open this Saturday in Old Town Park with a great selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods and more. A new vendor, Ozark Pasture Beef, will have a selection of cuts of frozen beef, USDA inspected, which is grass-fed meat raised in Northwest Arkansas.