Westside HOMETOWN EVENTS

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

— Red Cross Mobile Unit

The Red Cross Mobile Unit will be at Simmons Foods, 205 Main Street, in Decatur, on Monday, March 21, to collect blood donations. The unit will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Tired Iron Show

The 19th Annual Spring show of the Tired Iron of the Ozarks is set for Friday through Sunday, April 15-17, at the club’s show grounds on Taylor Orchard Road southwest of Gentry. The show features antique engines, old tractors and farm equipment, operational saw mills and blacksmith shop, antique household items and much more. The grounds are open each day, beginning at 8 a.m. A parade of power is held at noon each day. For more information, contact John Burger at jburger370@ earthlink.net.

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Gentry Blood Drive

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will hold a blood drive from 5 to 9 p.m., Monday, March 21, at the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, 10770 N. Bloomfield Road, Gentry. Eligibility requirements include weighing at least 110 pounds, being in general good health and presenting required identification.

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Gravette Kiwanis Club

A Walmart representative will be present at a meeting of the Gravette Kiwanis Club at 7 a.m., Friday, March 18. The meeting is held at the Ozarks Community Hospital cafeteria. Anyone interested is invited to attend.

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Quilt, Craft Class Saturday

Area quilters who attend the quilt and craft class at Gravette Church of Christ will meet this Saturday, March 19. The class will begin at 1 p.m. in the church annex, 202 Irving St. SW, in Gravette. Anyone interested is invited. Please bring projects in progress and a snack to share.

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Jolly Good Times Club

The monthly meeting of the Jolly Good Times Club will be held Wed., March 23, at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. Members will gather in the computer room at 10:15 a.m. Jeanne Hubbard will give the program. Visitors and new members are welcome.

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Library Open House

Everyone interested is invited to an open house at the Gravette Public Library, 407 Charlotte St. SE, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16. Events of the day will include door prizes, refreshments, live music and library tours.

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Annual Pancake Supper

The Gentry Lions Club will host its annual pancake supper from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, at the Gentry Middle School/High School cafeteria. Tickets are available for $5 at the door or from any Lions Club member.

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Bella Vista Bypass meeting

The City of Centerton and the Centerton Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a public meeting at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 21, with Arkansas Highway Commissioner Dick Trammel to be held at the Lifepoint Baptist Church, 409 West Centerton Blvd., in the Beckendale Plaza, in Centerton. Trammel will speak about the Bella Vista Bypass and also the Highway 102 completion. The public is welcome to attend.

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Decatur Food Pantry

The Decatur United Methodist Church offers a food pantry program and a commodity food program for residents in Decatur.

Beginning on April 1, the programs will only be open the first and third Thursday of every month, from 5 to 7 p.m. Also beginning April 1, recipients must requalify for the programs. For the government-sponsored commodity program, residents must provide identification, proof and source of income, number and ages in household and employer information. To requalify for the food pantry program, residents must provide proof of residency in Decatur (a utility bill, rent deposit or receipt, or the like).

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Rabies Clinic in Gentry

Rabies Clinic Week in Gentry will be April 2 to 9. Local veterinarians often offer rabies vaccinations at discounted prices and some offer other yearly vaccinations at a reduced price as well. The Gentry Veterinary Clinic will offer the rabies vaccine for $5 off the regular price.

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Rabies Clinic in Decatur

Country View Animal Clinic will be providing a walk-up rabies vaccination clinic at the Decatur Fire Station from 4 to 5:30 p.m., April 6.

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Weather Radios for Centerton Residents

The city of Centerton is giving weather radios to its citizens at Centerton City Hall, 290 North Main Street in Centerton. There is no charge for the radios, but a copy of a utility bill is required. The radios are available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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Tombstone art topic for NAGS meeting

The Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, March 28, at the Bentonville Public Library, 405 South Main in Bentonville. Susan Young, outreach coordinator for the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, will present a program on “Ozark Tombstone Art” which will focus on common and uncommon symbols found on grave markers in the Arkansas Ozarks, as well as look at “homemade” tombstones. She will also touch on folk traditions associated with Ozark cemeteries. The public is welcome to attend.

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Gentry Band Yard Sale

The Gentry High School Band will hold its annual yard sale on May 7th. Donations of items for the sale are now being accepted. Call Shawn Hunter, 238-3195, for more information.

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Men's Fellowship Gathering

First Baptist Church of Gentry has a monthly Men's Fellowship Gathering on the third Saturday of each month at 6 p.m. Each man is asked to bring a main dish or a side for dinner. All men are encouraged to come for the food and fellowship. Guests are welcome. For more information, contact Madden Waits, 736-5009.

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Care and Share Emergency Help

Families in Gravette School District wishing to apply for emergency help with food or utilities may make application from 9 to 11 a.m., Tuesday through Friday, at the Main Street Care and Share store.

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Knitting and Crocheting Group

Busy Hands Knitting and Crochet Group holds meetings in Decatur the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Men and women of all ages are invited - children under 13 need to be accompanied by an adult. The groupis emphasizing making items for charities. Free lessons are available. For more information, call Sheri at 752-8555.

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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 Tuesdays and at 10 a.m. Thursdays. 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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Computers Needed

The Gentry Lions Club is collecting and refurbishing computers and laptops and giving them to students in need of a computer. Computers and laptops - up to about 5 years old - are being accepted. Hard drives are reformatted and a lighter Linuxbased 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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VFW Meetings

Decatur VFW Post 9834 meets on the first Tuesdayof each month - at 7 p.m.

New members and guests are welcome. The facility is three miles east of Decatur on Arkansas Highway 102, right on Tilly’s Hill Road, and the first building on the right.

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Gentry Senior 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.

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Gravette Senior Center

The Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center, at 1870 Limekiln Road, is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Many activities are scheduled and lunch is served every weekday. For information on hot homedelivered meals for Gravette, Decatur and Sulphur Springs, frozen home-delivered meals for Maysville home-bound seniors or other services the center offers, call Mary Kay Kelley, director, at 787-5950.

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Singing Services

Monthly singing servicesat 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.

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Gentry Fire Dues Due

Fire dues are due again for those living within the Gentry Fire District but outside the Gentry city limits. They can be paid at city hall.

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Address Markers

Gentry Fire Department has reflective address markers available to help responders locate a home or apartment quickly in the event of an emergency. The reflective address markers are only $10 and are made to last for years. For more information, call 228-0694. The signs are also available from the Highfill Volunteer Fire Department. Those in the Highfill Fire District may obtain the signs for $10 by calling 736-5711 or stopping at the Highfill City Hall.

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Decatur Assembly of God Van Service

Van service is available to children and adults who need transportation to Sunday morning and evening church services and Wednesday evening services at the Assembly of God Church in Decatur. For more information, contact Stacy Brooks at 790-7171.

Community, Pages 3 on 03/16/2011