Gentry Splash Pad Reopening
The new splash pad in Gentry City Park will reopen for the season at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 27th, Admission is free. Hours for the remainder of the season are from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily. To activate the features of the facility, users will have to push a button on the north side of the facility. And, when the button is pushed, the water will run for four minutes, going through four 1-minute sequences. When the button is pushed again, it will operate four new 1-minute sequences. There are 16 sequences in total, meaning it will take four pushes of the button to experience every sequence and activate every feature of the splash pad.
Movie in the Park
"Spider-Man, No Way Home" will be shown in the Gentry City Park, 613 W. Main Street in Gentry, at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 27. Admission is free.
Hillcrest Memorial Day service
The John E. Tracy American Legion post at Gravette will host the annual Memorial Day service at Hillcrest Cemetery beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30. Gayla Hendren McKenzie will be the speaker for the service. Members of the Old Town String Band will provide patriotic music. Legion members will post flags at the cemetery Friday, May 27. Any volunteers who wish to help would be appreciated.
Ceremony planned at GAR Cemetery
The Sons of Union Veterans will be having a Memorial Day ceremony at the GAR Cemetery in Sulphur Springs for all the veterans who have graves there. The ceremony will start at 2 p.m. The GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Cemetery has veterans buried there from the Civil War, WWl, WWll, Korea, Vietnam and the First Gulf War. The only Medal of Honor recipient buried in Benton County is buried here. Sgt. Hatler received the Medal of Honor for his actions in WWl. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremonies.
Fairmount Cemetery Association to hold annual meeting
The Fairmount Cemetery Association will have its annual meeting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 29. The Butler Creek Boys will have a short program of music (get there early as they are double-booked). There will not be a dinner this year. Along with regular business, the association will be discussing plans for the centennial celebration of the cemetery association. The Fairmount Cemetery Association has a long and rich history of gathering each year to remember those who are laid to rest there. There will be a few "Bits and Pieces" flyers available of old newspaper clippings of association meetings. Fairmount Cemetery is taken care of solely by donations, so remember to bring your donation for that cause. Envelopes are available at the mailbox in the cemetery, and members of the board will be present to receive them. For further information, call 479-238-5389 or 479-736-8125.
Butler Creek Cemetery Association meeting
The Butler Creek Cemetery Association at Sulphur Springs will hold its annual meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 29, at the Butler Creek Church. Meetings are open to the public and anyone interested is encouraged to attend. Donations are appreciated and will help maintain the cemetery. Persons wishing to donate but unable to attend the meeting may send contributions to the Butler Creek Cemetery Association, 20771 Sibley Road, Sulphur Springs, AR 72768.
Chamber disc golf
The Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce will host an informal disc golf event for all ages and skill levels from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at the disc golf course in Old Town Park. Discs will be provided. Prizes will be awarded. No signups are required. Just show up ready to play!
Seamless Summer meal program offered in Decatur
Decatur School District will participate in the seamless summer feeding program again this year. Dates are June 13 through July 1, Monday through Friday. The program will be held at Northside Elementary, 9083 Mt. Olive Road in Decatur. The phone number is 479-752-3981. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 9 a.m., with lunch served from 12 to12:30 p.m. All children 18 and younger will receive free breakfast and lunch. Adults may purchase breakfast for $2.50 and lunch for $3.50.
Pre-K program spots available
Pre-K program tuition-only spots are available at Glenn Duffy Elementary School for the next school year, with a fourth classroom being added. To enroll, students must live within the Gravette School District and be 4 years old on or before Aug. 1. Qualifying children will need to be transported to and from the program by a parent or guardian (no buses or after-school care are available). Tuition for the program is based on family income.
Vacation Bible School set in Highfill
First Baptist Church in Highfill, adjacent to Highfill City Park, will hold Spark Vacation Bible School on Sunday, June 5, through Friday, June 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. each day. The Bible school is for children and youth, pre-K through high school seniors. To register, click on the registration link at the First Baptist Church Highfill Facebook page. Participants will learn that God's creativity didn't stop in Genesis. They will see the beautiful truth that they are God's workmanship and learn to use their talents to bring glory to Him.
Coffee with city officials
The city of Gravette will host "Coffee with Elected Officials" in the city council chambers, at 202 Main Street N.E., monthly in the hour prior to the first city council meeting of the month. Guests are invited to stop by for a cup of coffee and to meet and chat with Gravette elected officials, including the mayor, city council members and the city attorney. Coffee with Elected Officials sessions will be held on June 9, July 14, August 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8 from 5 to 6 p.m.
Gravette Farmers Market
The Gravette Farmers Market is open each Saturday in Old Town Park. Locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, eggs, baked goods, jams and jellies, farm-raised beef and pork products, woodcrafts and other crafts are available. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the summer. Anyone interested in setting up a booth should contact Beth Patton, market manager, at 479-787-3313.
Fishing Derby
The Gentry Chamber of Commerce Fishing Derby is set for 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, June 4, at the Flint Creek Nature Park along Dawn Hill East Road. The derby is free to the public, with the fishing contest open to children ages 2-12.
Senior Center art classes
Henzie's Art Studio holds art classes at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center on the first Thursday of each month. The classes are held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The cost is $15 for each session, with all supplies (canvas, paints, brushes) provided. Anyone interested in attending classes should sign up in advance. Call the Center at 479-787-5950.
Chamber of Commerce meetings
Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce meets the third Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at 109 Main Street S.E. in Gravette. Meetings include lunch and are open to the public. Call the chamber at 479-787-8998 for more information.
Lions Club meetings
Meetings of the Gravette Lions Club are held at 12:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center. Lunch is available. Visitors are always welcome.
Bella Vista Area Radio Club
The Bella Vista Area Radio Club welcomes those interested in any aspect of the amateur radio hobby. General meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, and licensing exams are conducted on the second Saturday of each month. Please refer to the club's website or its Facebook group for the specific time and location, as the club seeks a new venue due to continuing growth. More information is available at www.bellavistaradioclub.org or by calling Glenn Kilpatrick at 479-426-3295.
Kiwanis meetings
Kiwanis Club meetings are held at 7 a.m. on the first and third Fridays of each month at the Gravette Civic Center and are open to the public. Visitors are asked to wear a mask when arriving and until seated when physical distancing is not possible.
Gentry library hours
Gentry Public Library is now open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and holiday eves, and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. The library is closed on holiday weekends.
First Baptist food pantry
First Baptist Church, located at 213 E. Roller Ave. in Decatur, holds a community food pantry on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Contact the church at 479-282-6658.
GFA food pantry drive-through
GFA Pantry Inc., located at the Gentry Assembly, 821 East Main Street in Gentry, is open every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clients are asked to call or text 662-727-5157 for an appointment or email [email protected]. They will receive meat, dairy, fresh produce, canned and boxed goods and occasionally household/cleaning products as available. Clients may park in the parking lot and go into the building to get signed in and receive their goods. Each family can come once a month. There are no restrictions based on where a client lives.