Lions bring back chicken dinners

The Gravette Lions Club is bringing back a popular feature, the chicken dinner, to Gravette Day this year.

Barbecued chicken dinners were once a mainstay on the menu at the annual celebration. The grilling pits once used to cook the chicken have been torn out at Kindley Park, but Lions Club president Byron Warren has his own portable kitchen which he will use to prepare the meals.

Smoked chicken dinners, including chicken, baked beans, potato chips and bread, will be sold for $5. Bottled water will be available for $1 a bottle. Serving will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the vacant lot on Main Street, west of Austin Drug beside the Mule Beer sign. About 235 dinners will be available, and serving will continue until they are gone. Chicken was donated by Tyson Foods.

Members of the Lions Club will also be offering free eye screenings at the Main Street location from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The eye screenings take only three minutes or less and will be available for all ages, children through adults. Persons being screened will be asked to sign a release form when they come in. Ed Jenner of the Bentonville Lions Club will be on hand to do the testing.

Members of the Bella Vista Dance Troupe are expected to come by to put on a little show for those buying dinners and taking advantage of the eye screenings. Word is that they will ride and perform in the noon parade and then come back to the Main Street location for another performance.

Brochures and information about the Gravette Lions Club will be available, as well as membership applications for anyone who might be interested in joining.