LITTLE ROCK — Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation Committee will be holding a meeting at 7 p.m., July 14, in the city council room. All members, along with anyone interested in joining the committee, are urged to attend. For more information, call 752-3912.

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 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.

Decatur Barbecue

The 57th Annual Decatur Barbecue Festival will be held on Aug. 6 and 7 in Veterans Park. Events scheduled for Friday will include children’s games, a parade, barbecued chicken dinners, beauty pageants and entertainment by Buddy Jewell. The Fun Run will be held on Saturday, as well as a car show and benefit poker run. There will be hot air balloons and train rides on both days.

First Day of School

The Decatur School District will resume school classes on Aug. 19.

Town Hall Meetings

The Decatur School District will hold Town hall meetings at 7 p.m., the third Thursday of the month, in the high school cafateria. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend.

Barbecue Pageants

Applications for the 57th Annual Decatur Barbecue Festival tiny-tot and queen contest are being accepted. The contests will be held in Veteran’s Park on the evening of August 6. The queen contest is open to girls between the ages of 15 and 19. The tiny-tot contest is open to girls and boys ages 4 to 6. Entry deadlines are July 30. Contestants will need to submit their application by July 28 to have their picture in the newspaper. Applications can be picked up at the Decatur State Bank, and they are also available online at, www.decaturstatebank.net.

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 Tuesdays; and children, ages 7 to 9, will meet from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, call the city hall at 752-3912 or the library at 752-7323.

Arvest Ballpark Decatur Night

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals and the Decatur Chamber of Commerce are presenting “Decatur Night” at Arvest Ballpark. The game will begin at 6 p.m. on July 18. Discounted tickets are available for Decatur residents only, and $1 from each ticket sold will go back to the Decatur community. Tickets can be purchased for $6 from the Decatur State Bank, City of Decatur, Decatur General Store, the Gallery Cafe and TNT Express. For more information, call 752-3281.

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.

News, Pages 2 on 07/14/2010