GYO Baseball/Softball signups
Gentry Youth Organization 2013 baseball and softball signups are ongoing. Forms are available at all Gentry school campuses or by contacting Kevin Hodges at 233-9001. The form submission cutoff date is Feb. 8, and the final day for signups will be at the Main Street concession stand on Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost for softball signups, ages 5-16, or boys’ T-ball and baseball, ages 5 through 12, is $45.
Retooled and refueled
A “Retooled and Refueled” essential Christian life skills seminar is being planned at the Gravette Church of Christ, with a date and times yet to be announced. The seminar will focus on living debt free and worry free. Interested persons are urged to call 787-6459 by Jan. 23.
Souper Bowl of Caring
Sunday, Feb. 3, is not only Super Bowl Sunday, it is “The Souper Bowl of Caring” at First Christian Church in Gravette. The church is collecting cans of soup and canned goods for the “Feed My Sheep” Food Pantry to try to help “tackle hunger” and is also collecting monetary donations to go to the food pantry. Donations of soup and canned goods are now being accepted. The public is invited to assist members of First Christian Church as they join other churches around the country in making a difference.
Annual Awards Banquet
Gentry Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet is Thursday, Feb. 28, with dinner at 6 p.m. and the program at 7:15 p.m. Please contact Chamber director Bev Saunders to reserve tickets at $20 per seat, 736-2358 or [email protected]. Nominations for awards may be sent to the Gentry Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 642, Gentry, AR 72734, or by email to [email protected], no later than Feb. 3. Nominations are being accepted for 2012 Citizen(s) of the Year, Business Person(s) of the Year, Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, Outstanding Organization, Silver Award (More than 25 year of community service). Other awards will be considered if nominees don't fit one of these categories. Simply write down the person’s name and contact information and a brief summary of why they are being nominated.
DHS Colors Day
Decatur High School will celebrate basketball colors day on Jan. 25. A pep rally will be held at 1 p.m., Jan. 25. Coronation will be held at 5:30 p.m., in the Lloyd Peterson Gymnasium, followed by the senior boys’ and girls’ games and the homecoming dance.
Drug Prevention Materials
Gravette Middle School Parent Center has a parental awareness kit from the American Foundation for Drug Prevention, Inc. It includes seven VHS tapes, entitled: “Is There Really a Problem?” “Is Your Child Drug Free?” “How to Talk to Your Kids,” “Setting the Boundaries” “Understanding My Role,” “Drugs and Their Effects,” and “Drug Free It’s Up to Me.” These videos may be checked out by parents of students at Gravette Middle School. Those interested may contact Mike Walker, parent involvement facilitator and media specialist at Gravette Middle School, at 787-4160 or mike.walker@ gravetteschools.net.
Decatur Library Storytime
The Iva Jane Peek Library will hold storytime from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the first Wednesday of the month, starting in February. All ages are welcome. The storytime will focus on preschool-age children. For more information, call 752- READ (7323).
Decatur FFA Fundraiser
The Decatur FFA is selling Blue & Gold Sausage as a fundraiser for the FFA and the trap shooting team. To purchase sausage, contact a Decatur FFA student or call the high school office at 752-3983.
Gravette Baseball/Softball signups
January is the month to sign up for spring baseball and softball in Gravette. Registration for the programs is open through the end of January for ball players, ages 4 to 18, at www.leaguelineup.com/ gravette. In-person registration sites will be open at the Gravette Middle School gym from 9 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, and at the Arvest Bank Conference Room from 6 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31. Fees are: Boys 4-12, $35; Boys 13-15, $75; Boys 16-18, $100; Girls 4-12, $35; and Girls 13-16, $50. Family discounts and scholarships are available. Players not signed up by Jan. 31 will pay a $10 late fee and cannot be guaranteed a spot on a team. Any players interested in trying out for Gravette League Travel Teams should contact the following board members by Jan. 15: 7-year-old Baseball, Tim Betz, 270-9942; 8-year-old Baseball, Tony Kildow, 787-0250; 11-12-year-old Baseball, Kevin Cole, 871-1365; 6U-8U Softball, Bill Romine, 640-4588; 10U Softball, Jerel Ellis, 531-3416; and 12U Softball, Tony Kildow, 787-0250. Those playing on the travel teams will also play on their league teams. Tryouts will be held in January, so contacting coaches as soon as possible is advised. Veteran coaches and new volunteers are needed. The only requirements are to love working with kids and knowledge of baseball or softball. Application forms are online at www. leaguelineup.com/gravette or may be obtained by calling Tony Kildow for more information, 787-0250. The League will be accepting applications for umpire positions until Jan. 31. Experienced umpires and people wanting to get started are encouraged to apply. Applicants may sign up at www.leaguelineup. com/gravette.
Jolly Good Times Club
The monthly meeting of the Jolly Good Times Club will be held Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. Members will gather at 10:15 in the sitting room. Potluck lunch will feature a meat dish by Betty, veggies or salad by Mary, rolls from Susan and dessert from Emily. Susan Holland will give the program. Visitors and new members are always welcome.
Community Food Bank
Decatur Methodist Church offers a community food bank from 5 to 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month, located at 230 Third Street. The food pantry requires identification and proof that mail is received at an address in the 72722 zip code, such as a utility bill, rent deposit or bank statement. The USDA Commodity Program is also available. It is income based, therefore proof of income is required. Those receiving food stamps are automatically qualified with an acceptance letter.
Decatur Food Pantry
United Christian Charities has opened a food pantry in downtown Decatur for anyone needing food in the northwest Arkansas area. The hours of operation are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The point of contact is Tina Holt, 435-5699.
Feed My Sheep Hours
The Feed My Sheep food pantry in Gravette is open each Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Maysville Food Pantry
Maysville Missionary Baptist Church opens its food pantry, Our Healing Hearts, every fourth Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for those in need.
Praise and Worship
Maysville Missionary Baptist Church holds a praise and worship service at 6 p.m. every third Sunday night, with refreshments following.
Care and Share Vouchers
Care and Share vouchers are only issued on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Care and Share Specialty Shop, 103 Huntington Street S.E., off Hwy. 59 South in Gravette. In an emergency, appointments may be made. Call 344-6114.
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, Feb. 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 veterans are encouraged to attend. The next meeting is Feb. 19.
Gentry Lions Club
Gentry Lions Club meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of each month in the McKee Community Room at the Gentry Public Library. Guests are welcome.
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.
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.
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 welcome to come for food and fellowship. Guests are welcome. For more information, contact Madden Waits at 736-5009.
VFW Meetings
Decatur VFW Post 9834 meets at 7 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.
Genealogical Society
Meeting
The Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, in the Bentonville Public Library, 405 South Main. Dorothy Miller from the Benton County Cemetery Preservation Group will tell how they oversee the morethan-300 cemeteries in the county. They organize clean-up projects and try to keep up with property sales that cemeteries are on in order to keep them from being destroyed.