HOMETOWN EVENTS

— Junior Auction

The Gentry High School junior class will be holding its annual "junior auction" Friday, Jan. 28, during the Ozark basketball games. Family and friends are encouraged to attend the games and bid on one of the juniors being auctioned. The juniors will work for up to four hours for the persons who purchase them. Juniors can do various chores around the house or office - rake leaves, clean out a garage or basement, file papers, clean house, wash cars, and the like. The money raised at the auction will help pay for this year's junior-senior prom. For more information, call the high school office at 736-2667.

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Decatur Colors Day

Decatur High School basketball colors day and seniors’ night are planned for the evening of Feb. 4. The games against Mountainburg will begin at 6 p.m. and the coronation ceremony will be held beforehand. The senior night ceremony will be held between the boys’ and girls’ games.

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Baseball/Softball Registration

Gravette’s Summer Baseball and Softball registration will continue through Monday, Jan. 31. Registration forms have been sent home with children from school and are available at the Bank of Gravett and Arvest Bank, as well as online at leaguelineup.com/gravette. Forms may be returned to Arvest, Box 944, or brought in to the bank Sunday or Monday from 6-7 p.m. There is a $10 late fee after Jan. 31.Scholarships are available for children. For information, contact Tony Kildow at 787-0250 or gravettebb@ gmail.com.

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GYO Baseball/Softball Signups

Gentry Youth Organization will be holding sign-ups for baseball, softball and T-ball from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Carl Gym, on Main Street in Gentry. The cost is $40 per child and can be paid by check, cash or money order. Scholarships are available and scholarship questions may be directed to Cathy Beach at 790-8750.

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Spaghetti Dinner

On Sunday, Feb. 6, the Middle School Ambassadors and Students of the Month are hosting a Spaghetti Dinner at the Gravette Arvest Bank from 11:30 to 2 p.m. Everyone is invited! To-go meals will be prepared and ready for those who can’t stay. If the weather prevents the fundraiser on Feb. 6, it will be held on Sunday, Feb. 20. Lunch - for $5 - includes dessert and drink. Gift items will be available for purchase. All proceeds go toward the New York City summer reward trip. For more information, please contact Roger or Janna Sharp at 787-4193.

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Chili/Potato Soup Dinner

The Gentry Senior Activity Center will have a Chili/Potato Soup Dinner from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 28, at the senior center. Tickets are a $5 donation for adults and $3 donation for children under 6. Donations go toward the Senior MealProgram. For more information, call 736-0378.

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Care and Share Closings

Care and Share in Gravette announces that when Gravette Public Schools are closed due to weather conditions, the Care and Share store will also be closed. Regular hours for Care and Share are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday of each week.

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Johnny Teis Benefit

The Gravette Youth Basketball Program will hold a fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 29, at the old gym on the Gravette Middle School campus, with all games dedicated to Johnny Teis, the son of Rob and Amanda Teis who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last May and has spent weeks at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. There will be contests and raffles. A special recognition of Teis and his parents will be held at approximately 1:30 p.m. Donations can be made to the Johnny Teis fund at Arvest Bank. For more information, call 790-5507.

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Science Night at Decatur

Science night at Decatur Northside Elementary School has been rescheduled to Feb. 7. It will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria. It was postponed last week because of the snow.

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Chair Exercise Program

The Gentry Senior Activity Center started a free chair exercise program called PEPPI (Peer Exercise Program Promotes Independence) at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The program consists of stretching, strengthening and balance. It is designed to help prevent falls, to gain strength and flexibility in the limbs and to gain independence. The class is open to anyone, age 60 or above, and his or her spouse (regardless of age). For more information, call 736-0378.

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Audubon Field Trip

Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a field trip at Eagle Watch Nature Trail in Gentry on Saturday, Feb. 5. The EWNT field trip will be led by Terry Stanfill, manager of the EWNT, and guided by Joe Neal, one of Arkansas' leading birders and a retired biologist for the National Forest Service and the author of a recentlypublished book, "Birds of Northwest Arkansas." Neal is also curator of bird records for Arkansas Audubon Society and field trip leader for NWAAS. The field trip will begin in the parking area at 9 a.m. and move to the observation deck. Bald eagles, redheaded woodpeckers and more are likely to be seen. Spotting scopes or binoculars are suggested. NWAAS field trips are free and open to the public. Membership in NWAAS is not a requirement, nor is it necessary to be an experienced birder.

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Gravette Project Prom Tickets

Gravette’s Project Prom Committee is taking orders for Gravette Lions T-shirts. Raffle tickets will be sold for a $100 gift card to be given away on senior night, Feb. 4. Both items will be availableat home basketball games throughout January. Project Prom is an after-prom event sponsored by parents. Questions about Project Prom may be directed to Peggy Galyean at 640-0536 or Kelly Britton at 787-6495.

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Gravette Museum Hours

The Gravette Historical Museum is open each Tuesday from 12 noon until 4 p.m., each Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no admission to the museum located in the historic Kindley House at 503 Charlotte Street S.E. in Gravette.

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Bible Study on Alcohol

The Gentry Church of God (Holiness) has started a new Bible study: “Alcohol in the Bible." The study is to help participants understand what God's Word says about alcohol. Those who participate will receive a free workbook. The studies will be held Wednesdays at 7 p.m. from Jan. 19 through Feb. 23. The church is located just north of the Gentry Police Station, at 104 North Collins. For more information, call Pastor Dan at 787-5787.

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Patriotic Art Contest

Students in grades 9-12 are again being encouraged to participate in the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW Patriotic Art Contest. Contest entries, with a focus on love for veterans and country, must be submitted to the Ladies Auxiliary Post 1674 by March 31. Winners in the local contest will be entered in the district and then the national contest. For more information on thecontest, call Dixie Grimes at 736-8601 or go online to the Ladies Auxiliary Web site.

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Library Book Sale

The Gravette Public Library is holding a book sale during the month of January. All items in the sale room are being sold for only 10 cents until the end of the month. The library is located at 407 Charlotte Street SE.

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Computers Needed

The Gentry Lions Club is collecting and refurbishing older computers and laptops and giving them to students in need of a computer. Older computers and laptops - up to about 10 years old - are being accepted. Hard drives are reformatted and a lighter Linux-based operating system and programs are installed. For more information or to donate a used computer to the Lions Club, contact Randy Moll at 233-0081.

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Collecting Car Batteries

The Gravette FFA Chapter is asking the community to donate old car batteries for recycling. Car batteries can be dropped off at the Agriculture Department behind the Gravette High School. Proceeds earned by the local FFA in recycling the batteries will be used to fund future student scholarships. For more information, call 787-4194.

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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.

Community News, Pages 3 on 01/26/2011