HOMETOWN EVENTS: Decatur Library Meeting

— The Iva Jane Peek Library will be holding a public hearing at 5:30 p.m., June 11, in the city council room at city hall, to discuss a new internet filter on library computers. For more information, call 742-7323.

Berean Ministries VBS

Berean Ministries, located one block north of the Boys & Girls Club in Gravette, will be having Vacation Bible School June 11-15, from 9 a.m. to noon, for children entering kindergarten through 7th grade. Dick and Judy Treistram will return with magic tricks, balloon animals and more. There will be crafts, Bible stories, team competitions and lots of prizes. Everyone there the first day will receive a free T-shirt! For more information or a ride, call Hope Duke at 787-5628.

Gravette VBS

The Heritage Baptist Church will be holding a “Mission Possible” Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., June 25-29, at the Heritage Baptist Church. The program will be for children ages kindergarten through fifth grade and will include Bible stories, crafts, snacks and games. For more information, please call 787-7165.

Springtown Barbecue

Springtown will hold its annual barbecue in the city park from 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 9. The event will feature live entertainment and games.

NWA Riding Club

NWA Riding Club playdays 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.

Cemetery Preservation

The next meeting for the Benton County Cemetery Preservation Group will be at 3 p.m., June 9, at the Benton County Historical Society Headquarters, 306 N.W. Second St., Bentonville. All are welcome to attend.

Phosphorous levels meeting

Poultry Partners will host an educational and informational meeting at 6:30 p.m., June 7, at the Jay Community Center, Jay Okla., regarding the March 14 court settlement relating to phosphorous levels in the Eucha/Spavinaw watershed. Jim Reese, of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, and Andrew Sharpley, of the University of Arkansas, will be featured speakers and explain the direction of the new Eucha/Spavinaw watershed settlement and the implications of the court settlement for area farmers.

Decatur Summer Reading

The Iva Jane Peek Library’s summer reading program, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, started June 4. The program includes story reading, a craft project and a snack for children ages 6-11. Parents and community members are welcome to volunteer. The library will also host 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).

Gentry Summer Reading

Gentry Library started its summer reading program June 5. It will continue through July 26, with a big blowout party at the end. The program will be Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. The Tuesday program will be for children ages 4-8, and the Thursday program will be for ages 9-12. Some of the things scheduled so far include a magic show, Lynn Sciumbato from Morning Star Wildlife Rehab Center, Arkansas Center for Space & Planet Sciences, crafts and lots of fun. Stop by the library and register today!

Community Fishing Derby

The Ninth Annual Community Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Decatur Assembly of God Big Fisherman, Little Fisherman Community Fishing Program, will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., June 9, at Crystal Lake in Decatur. Children ages 1 through 14 can participate in the free event, and a picnic lunch will be provided for children and their families. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be stocking Crystal Lake’s overflow pond with catfish. Prizes will be awarded for the largest fish, smallest fish and largest stringer in each age category. Registration will begin at 8:15. Pre-registration forms are available at the church and local businesses or online at dagchurch.com. For more information, call Nickie Smith at 238-6147.

Community Gardens

Gravette Community gardens has plots left for those who wish to grow flowers and vegetables this summer. A volunteer is also needed to trim around the sign and around the edges of thegarden. Anyone with a weed trimmer and a little time to volunteer, is urged to call Miriam at 787-5032.

Decatur Swimming Pool

The Decatur swimming pool opened for the season on May 29. Regular pool hours will be 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call city hall at 752-3912.

Gravette Churches VBS

Vacation Bible School will be held from 6 to 8:15 p.m. July 23-26 at First Christian Church in Gravette for ages 4 years to 5th grade. The theme is “Everything Is Possible With God.” First Christian Church, Church of Christ and the Methodist Church will hold this VBS jointly. More information will be available later. Community Literacy Program

The Decatur and Gravette Community Literacy Program is in need of volunteer tutors. Volunteers work two to three hours a week, and the program provides all training and materials. There is no need for tutors to speak any language other than English. For more information, call 787-8200.

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, June 19.

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 June 19.

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.

Convenience Center

Benton County Planning & Environmental and Benton County Solid Waste District provide a free service to the public for disposal of large bulky household items, appliances, electronics and metal. Hours of operation are every Saturday (except on holidayweekends) 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Convenience Center is located at the Benton County Solid Waste District, 5702 Brookside Rd., Bentonville. Items and electronics accepted are furniture, mattresses, box springs, plastic toys, playground equipment, computers, printers, radios, telephones, televisions, VCRs, DVDs, appliances, microwaves, refrigerators, hot water heaters, air conditioners, grills, bicycles, swing sets, dishwashers, freezers, dehumidifiers and scrap metal. For more information, call 795-0751.

Gentry Farmers’ Market

Gentry’s farmers’ market is open on Mondays and Thursdays, beginning at 8 a.m. each day, at the south end of the Gentry City Park (outside the wooden fence and along the circle drive). The market will be open, free of fees, to all vendors who abide by the market’s rules (to be 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.

GHS Alumni Reunion

The Gentry High School Alumni Reunion will be held at 7 p.m., Sept. 1, in the Gentry High School/MiddleSchool 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, [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.

Barbecue Performers

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

PonyDotz

PonyDotz will be meeting at 11 a.m., June 16, at Dogwood Valley Foxtrotter Ranch on Springtown Road in Gentry. 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.

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.

Community, Pages 2 on 06/06/2012