HOMETOWN EVENTS: Gentry Library Blow-out party

— The summer reading program at Gentry Public Library will have a blowout party from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 4, at the McKee swimming pool.

Hot dogs, chips, dessert and a drink will be served at the event.

Gravette Blood Drive

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will hold a drive at R&R Solutions in Gravette, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1. R & R is located at 601 First Ave. N.W., in Gravette. The center has issued a Code Yellow alert for A and O Negative blood types. Eligibility for donating blood includes weighing at least 110 pounds, being in general good health and presenting a required identification.

For information, call 800-280-5337.

Second Blood Drive

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will conduct a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11, at Teasley Drug in Gravette. CBC provides blood to 38 hospitals and it takes about 275 donations per day to meet their needs. Persons must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health and present required ID to donate blood.

Gentry Middle School

Gentry sixth grade will have introduction from 6 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 9. Open house at GMS will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 13.

School will start Aug. 20.

GHS 25 Year Reunion

The Gravette High School Class of 1987 will hold its 25-year reunion at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at Beef O’Brady’s in Centerton. For more information or to RSVP, contact Mike Troxel at 685-7622.

GHS 55 Year Reunion

The Gravette High School Class of 1956 willhold its 55-year reunion Saturday, Aug. 11, immediately following the parade. Class members will meet at the Berean Ministry building, 303 Birmingham SE, for a light lunch and visiting. Anyone having questions or wanting further information may call Colleen Dickinson, 787-6285, or Horace Jackson, 890-5513.

Gravette Day Avenue of Flags

The Avenue of Flags will be flown in Gravette’s Hillcrest Cemetery in observance of Gravette Day weekend. The flags will be raised at 8 a.m., Friday, Aug. 10, and will be lowered at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12. The public is invited to assist.

Gentry Farmers’ Market

Gentry’s farmers’ market is open on Mondays and Thursdays, beginning at 8 a.m., at the south side of the Gentry City Park (outside the wooden fence and along the circle drive). The market is open, free of fees, to all vendors who abide by the market’s rules (available at the Gentry City Hall or Gentry Chamber of Commerce office). Items which may be sold at the market include fresh produce, plants and flowers, baked goods, jellies, jams, preserves, eggs, other non-commercial food items and handmade crafts.

Decatur Barbecue Performers

The Decatur Chamber of Commerce is inviting local entertainers to perform during the daytime hours of the Decatur Barbecue on Aug. 4. Those who would like to perform - sing, dance or play an instrument - during the event are asked to contact Decatur Chamber of Commerce president David Flynt at 466-9797.

Pancake Breakfast

An all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast will beheld at Turning Point Fellowship, 108 S. Collins in Gentry (behind the Gentry Library), from 8 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 11. Cost is $5 per person, with children 3 and under free. For more information, call 549-8104.

Kiwanis-Sponsored Bow Raffle

As a part of its fund-raising activities to benefit programs serving children in the local communities, the Gravette Kiwanis Club will be awarding a Diamond Dead Eye Compound Bow by Bowtech. The bow, donated by Hook, Line & Sinker at Bentonville, is valued at $699 and will be given away Oct. 19 during a Lions football game. Tickets are $5, or three for $10, and are available at many local businesses.

PonyDotz

PonyDotz is an organization for children and young people to learn about horses and have fun together. Programs will include youth trail rides, confidence-building games, learning the basics of horsemanship, water play, and lunch. Participation and meals are free, and youth are not required to have their own horse to be involved. For more information, visit www.ponydotz.org or call 752-3582.

NWA Riding Club

NWA Riding Club play days are held every other week at the Luca Don Equestrian Center, 4.5 miles west of Gentry. Events include western pleasure, pole bending, flag races, barrel racing and speed races for all ages of riders, with an emphasis on kid-friendly family fun. The club also hosts trail rides, camp outs and an annual awards banquet. New members are welcome. For more information, call 712-266-6006 or visit www.nwaridingclub.org.

Decatur Summer Reading

The Iva Jane Peek Library hosted a reading contest for children ages 6-7, 8-9 and 10-11. The child in each age group who read the most books between June 1 and July 31 will win a Barnes & Noble gift card, and all children who participated will be rewarded with a party on Aug. 7. For more information, call the library at 752-READ (7323).

Decatur Swimming Pool

The Decatur swimming pool is open for the season. Regular pool hours are 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call city hall at 752-3912.

Tired Iron of the Ozarks

Regular meetings of the Tired Iron of the Ozarks are held at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Tired Iron clubhouse located at the club’s show grounds on Taylor Orchard Road southwest of Gentry. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, August 21.

Gravette American Legion

Gravette American Legion Post 20 meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. All vets are encouraged to attend. The next meeting is August 21.

Gravette Kiwanis

The Gravette Kiwanis Club holds breakfast meetings at 7 a.m. each Friday at the cafeteria in Ozarks Community Hospital. Guests are welcome.

GHS Alumni Reunion

The Gentry High School Alumni Reunion will be held at 7 p.m., Sept. 1, in the Gentry High School/ Middle School Cafeteria. The Alumni Association was founded by Lemuel Cripps to honor all past GHS attendees and graduates by raising and granting scholarship funds to future Gentry Alumni. Afund has been established at Arvest Bank, P.O. Box 189, Gentry 72724. The cost, per person, to attend the banquet will be $20. Part will go to cover the dinner and the remainder to the perpetual scholarship fund. Reservations need to be made by Aug. 1. For more information, contact: Berta Carl Norris 736-2269, bjnorris_2000@ yahoo.com; Martha Johnson Walker, 524-6344, [email protected]; or Wanda Shankles Meyer, 736-8738, [email protected].

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 Care and Share Specialty Shop, 103 Huntington Street S.E., on Hwy. 59 south in Gravette.

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.

Decatur Food Pantry

The Decatur UnitedMethodist Church offers a food pantry program and a commodity food program for residents in Decatur from 5 to 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month.

Men's Fellowship

First Baptist Church of Gentry has a monthly Men's Fellowship Gathering at 8 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month. All men are encouraged to come for the food and fellowship. Guests are welcome. For more information, contact Madden Waits at 736-5009.

VFW Meetings

Decatur VFW Post 9834 meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. 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.

Emerson Electric Reunion

An employee reunion for those who worked at Emerson Electric Motor Company in Rogers will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Lake Avalon Park Pavilion in Bella Vista. The plant which was in business for more than 35 years closed in 2001.

News, Pages 2 on 08/01/2012