HOMETOWN EVENTS: Benefit Indian Taco Dinner

— An Indian taco dinner, including live and silent auctions and a raffle, will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, June 2, in the Gentry High School cafeteria to support the Rebels Baseball Team - a competitive 17-and-under baseball team with team members from Gentry and Kansas, Okla. - and send them to the World Series in Omaha, Neb. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Penny Roberts at 841-6720.

Gentry Class Reunion

The Gentry Class of 1992 will hold a twentieth reunion at 3 p.m., Saturday, June 2, in the Gentry Park. A second gathering will be held at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Sam Doss at 736-3272.

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

The 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.

Phosphorous Levels Information 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.

Dale Johnston Concert

Dale Johnston will be performing in a free concert under the tent at Second Baptist Church, 1950 Hwy. 412 West, Siloam Springs, at 6 p.m., Saturday, June 2. The opening performance will be by the Bilbys, with sing-a-long music and devotion by Pastor Harold Thornton. Those attending are askedto bring their own lawn chairs.

Decatur Summer Reading Program

The Iva Jane Peek Library will hold a summer reading program from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, starting June 4. The program will include 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 Program

Gentry Library is starting up 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!

Hastings Retirement Reception

Jo Ellen Hastings, who is retiring as principal at Gravette High School, will be honored Wednesday, May 30, at 12:30 p.m. at the high school. She served GHS for 27 years and has been principal since 1994.

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 moreinformation, call Nickie Smith at 238-6147.

Gravette 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 the garden. If anyone has a weed trimmer and a little time to volunteer, please 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.

Maysville Community Yard Sale

The Maysville E.H. Club will be sponsoring a community yard sale Saturday, June 2 (changed from June 9 due to a conflict). Booths will be available at the community building for those who wish to sell items. Anyone wishing to participate should call Gwen Singleton at 291-4520.

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 eachmonth 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 holiday weekends) 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 will be open May 31 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/ 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 thedinner 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, bjnorris_2000@ yahoo.com; Martha Johnson Walker, 524-6344, [email protected]; Wanda Shankles Meyer, 736-8738, [email protected]; or at www.gentrypioneers.com and on Facebook under Gentry Alumni.

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 Main Street Care and Share store 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.

Old Settlers' Day in Colcord

Old Settlers Day is June 2, in the city park. A parade will be held at 11 a.m., with lineup at 10 a.m. There will be live music by Stanely Bates; a hog fry, prepared by Mike Shotpouch, starting at noon, with plates for $5; turtle and frog races at 1:30 p.m.; a horse shoecontest, with entry fees set at $10 for a single and $15 for a double (bring your own horse shoes); a drawing for a handmade StarQuilt, with tickets $1 each or $5 for six (tickets can be purchased at the Colcord Grocery); and the Colcord Rodeo on June 1 and 2.

Talbot Library and Museum

Talbot Library and Museum, 500 S. Colcord Ave., Colcord, Okla., will again be taking part in observance of Old Settlers Day on Saturday, June 2. This annual event, held in Colcord for many years, was originally known as the annual Colcord Picnic. Talbot Library and Museum will be hosting its annual book and bake sale, offering homemade baked goods and used books, as well as hamburger lunches on that day. New books will also be available for sale in the bookstore. All proceeds will go toward the Talbot Library and Museum operating funds.The Library and Museum will also be hosting the Colcord Rodeo Queen contestants for the speech portion of their competition. The special event of the day at the Library and Museum will be the 2 p.m. book presentation and signing of “Sam Sixkiller, Cherokee Frontier Lawman” by author Chris Enss in the historic Springtown Schoolhouse at Talbot’s. Old Settlers' Day events include a parade, annual rodeo, car show, and food and music offered throughout the town. For more information, contact Talbot Library and Museum, 918-326-4532, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, or e-mail talbotlibrary@ earthlink.net.

Community, Pages 2 on 05/30/2012