NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Decatur senior high school football practice will begin at 9 a.m., July 30. Students in grades 10 through 12 who would like to participate in football this year are asked to attend. For more information, call 318-518-5337.

Gentry Library 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.

Gentry Summer Reading

The summer reading program at the Gentry Public Library is winding up this week with a last set of special presentations. An artist is coming to turn some of the children into monsters with the help of a little face painting and makeup. Donna Holloway is a graphics artist who does face painting on the side. Her work is more like a theatrical makeup artist than a face painter. More information of Holloway is available at www.make-n-faces.com. The program is on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. The Tuesday program is for children ages 4-8, and the Thursday program is for ages 9-12.

Decatur Baptist VBS

First Baptist Church in Decatur will hold their Vacation Bible School program through July 26 each evening from 6 p.m. to 8:15. The VBS is for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. For information, call 752-3514.

Vacation Bible School

First Christian Church in Gentry, located at 105 W. Second Street, will hold Vacation Bible School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. through July 27, with dinner served at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The theme is “Adventures on Promise Island.” For more information, call Heather at 925-8036 or Brooke at 549-8198.

Youth Football Camp

The Gravette Youth Football program is hosting its annual football camp on Saturday, July 28, at McAbee Field, starting at 9 a.m. This camp is available to boys entering the second grade through seventh grade at no charge. Participants in the football camp will be provided instruction and offered multiple activities by the Gravette High School football coaches and players. The camp will end around noon with the presentation of T-shirts to participants in the camp. For more information about the camp or the Gravette Youth Football League, contact David Smith, 787-3899, or Joey Partain, 918-314-4395.

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.

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 Summer Meals

Free summer meals will be available for children18 and under at the Decatur Community Building to help fill the gap while school is out. Summer meals are available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 2 through July 27. No registration or identification are required. For more information, call 1-888-4KID4AR or visit dhs.arkansas.gov/dccece/snp.

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.

Kiwanis Bow Raffle

As a part of their fundraising activities to benefit programs serving children in our 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 October 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 is hosting a reading contest for children ages 6-7, 8-9 and 10-11. The child in each age group who reads the most books between June 1 and July 31 will win a Barnes & Noble gift card, and all children who participate 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.

Benefit for Pam Adams

A yard/bake sale and car wash to benefit Pam Adams will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at Delta Trust Bank in Bella Vista. Pam, who is suffering from lung cancer, is the sister of Brenda Lockhart of Gravette. An account has also been set up to benefit her. Donations and baked goods must be received by noon Friday at the bank, 1790 Forest Hills Blvd., in Bella Vista.

Tired Iron of the Ozarks

Regular meetings of the Tired Iron of the Ozarks areheld 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. A fund has been established at Arvest Bank, P.O. Box 189, Gentry 72724. The cost per person attending 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, [email protected]; Martha Johnson Walker, 524-6344, mlwalker08@a0l. com; or Wanda Shankles Meyer, 736-8738, wmeyer@ arvest.com.

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 United Methodist 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.

News, Pages 2 on 07/25/2012