GRAVETTE -- Several folks donned boots, jeans and cowboy hats and traveled out to the Barn at Big Springs on Beaty Road Saturday evening, Aug. 22, to attend the third annual Gravette Library gala and auction. This year's event had a "Hoedown" theme and decorations reflected that theme.
Tables were covered with red checked tablecloths and burlap runners. Containers for flowers on each table were covered with similar material. The menu featured barbecue beef and pork, beans, potato salad and rolls. It was catered by Dink's Barbecue in Bentonville. A special cake, donated by the GoodyShack bakery, was decorated with a cowboy hat, boots and cactus. Other dessert choices were peach cobbler, mixed berry cobbler, oatmeal cookies and brownies.
DJ Donnie McGuire, from "The Coyote" 96.7 and FM station 101.5, played country tunes for the guests and Bill Mullen, Johnny Dale Roberts and their drummer continued the musical entertainment later. A few couples showed their skills on the dance floor.
Outdoor activities, including a shooting gallery and bean bag toss, were popular with the youngsters and some adults. The Sulphur Springs Fire Department set up its dunk tank and Sulphur Springs mayor Greg Barber and library manager Kim Schneider were popular targets. When auctioneer David Barber offered to donate $100 to the library building fund if former Senator Kim Hendren would get on the dunk tank seat, Hendren readily accepted the challenge and took a few plunges into the water.
Steve Oler, library commission chairman, thanked donors, commission members and all who helped make the event a success. Senator Hendren spoke briefly about the importance of the library to the community.
Cowboy poet Ron McDaniel, from Sulphur Springs, entertained the crowd with his performance. McDaniel won first place in the Rising Star category for his humorous poem at the national cowboy poetry rodeo in Abilene, Kan., last month. He recited one of the poems he entered in competition there and another poem about a cowboy romance.
Auctioneer Barber conducted a lively auction of donated items. A silent auction was also held. A wide variety of quality items was up for bids, including several vacation packages, paintings and stained glass, jewelry, restaurant gift certificates, small appliances and gift baskets.
Photographer Steve Huckriede was on hand to take souvenir photos for guests who wanted them.
Approximately $2,000 was raised at the event. Work has begun on remodeling buildings on Main Street for the library's new home and all proceeds will go to help fund that project. Persons still wishing to donate may contribute directly to the building fund at Arvest Bank or leave contributions at the library or at city hall. Checks should be made payable to the Gravette Community Foundation.
General News on 09/02/2015