Fourth of July celebration successful despite hot weather

GRAVETTE -- The weather was hot in Gravette on the Fourth of July and the action was even hotter as youngsters and oldsters throughout town shot off enough fireworks to keep everyone's dogs and cats cowering under the porch. There were plenty of activities to keep them busy when not sending their stock of fireworks up in smoke.

The farmers' market opened at 8 a.m. and offered plenty of fresh produce, fresh baked goods, jams and jellies. New potatoes, green beans, onions and squash were popular items and some vendors even brought their first tomatoes. Fruits too were in abundance, with peaches, plums, blueberries and blackberries being offered. Embroidered tea towels, fancy hair bows and hand-crafted pens were all nice choices if you were looking for a special gift for someone dear.

Granny's Special Blessings on West Main Street also kicked off the morning early with an arts and crafts fair in its spacious yard. Painted saw blades, wall hangings and other wooden crafts, hand-knit headbands, purses, cookie cutters and other kitchen items were only a few of the many items on display. Granny's is planning a similar fair on Gravette Day Aug. 8.

At 10 a.m. the Gravette Lions Club held a dedication ceremony for their mural project, installed June 20 on the front wall at the Mid-Continent Concrete plant. Ron Theis, Lions Club president, welcomed those present and thanked the Lions Club members and other sponsors who helped make the mural possible. Corporate sponsors included Arvest Bank, Teasley Drug, Ken Foxx and Associates, Beacon Baptist Church, the Kiwanis Club and GCC (parent company of Mid-Continent Concrete). Many thanks went to art teacher Mollie Hendrick, who was chosen to cut the ribbon at the conclusion of the ceremony, and to her Art II students at Gravette High School who painted the mural. Mayor Kurt Maddox, Chamber of Commerce president Jodi Moore and Chamber secretary Amanda Gittlein were present for the ribbon cutting, as well as Kyle Gober, Arkansas general manager for GCC.

Shortly following the ribbon cutting at the Mid-Continent plant, Mayor Maddox, Moore and Gittlein gathered for another ribbon cutting, this one at the Fire Station 29 Pub and Grill on Main Street. Owners Byron and Tracy Warren and Tracy's sister Katie Reynolds welcomed a few of Byron's fellow Lions Club members and friends for the occasion. Byron cut the ribbon for the ceremony, and both of the Warrens expressed their thanks for the welcome the new business has received. They had a busy first week, including a popular karaoke event Tuesday evening that lined Main Street with cars.

Several vendors set up on Main Street in the afternoon, offering quilts, table runners and other handcrafted needlework, clothing, photographs, wall hangings and pens. The Chamber of Commerce was selling hot dogs and cold drinks, the ice cream truck was doing a lively business, and a bounce house and BB gun range were attracting the youngsters. The Methodist Church had a booth introducing its new pastor, and the Kiwanis Club displayed photos of several of its projects. The duo of Sara Brown and Sean Kemp provided musical entertainment during the evening.

As evening fell, Gravette's citizens moved from Main Street to Pop Allum Park for the much-anticipated annual fireworks show. This is the 19th year Mike von Ree has coordinated the fireworks display and he did his usual bang-up job, ordering an impressive selection of explosives that lit up the sky for several blocks. The fireworks were set off by the Gravette Fire Department and, after the official show, folks throughout town continued setting off individual displays late into the night.