this week’s EVENTS

MONDAY

Sterling Scholar Speaker

FAIRFIELD BAY — In conjunction with the observation of Arkansas Archeology Month, Melissa Rathgaber, an archaeologist with the Parkin Archeological Park, will be the Sterling Scholar speaker from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Little Red Restaurant at Indian Hills. Rathgaber will discuss the Indian village of Casqui that was believed to have been visited by De Soto and the Spaniards in 1541. The event is free and open to the public. There is the option of purchasing lunch. For more information, call the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center at (501) 884-4440.

Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

FAIRFIELD BAY — The first-quarter meeting of the Fairfield Bay Historic Preservation Commission will take place at 1 p.m. in the City Conference Room. This hearing is open to the public. For more information, call the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center at (501) 884-4440.

TUESDAY

ATLYS String Quartet Concert

BEEBE — Arkansas State University-Beebe will welcome ATLYS, a women’s string quartet, to the stage for a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Owen Center Auditorium, 1102 W. College St., as part of the ASU-Beebe 2019-2020 Lecture-Concert Series. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for military personnel, seniors and students younger than 18. Buy tickets at asub.ticketleap.com, the Institutional Advancement office in the Ruth Couch Building or at the door. For more information, call (501) 882-8855.

WEDNESDAY

AARP Drive Smart Course

CABOT — Cabot United Methodist Church, 2003 S. Pine St., will host an AARP Drive Smart Course from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The instructors are Deborah Landers and Jerry Yates. The course costs $15 for AARP members with an AARP ID card or $20 for nonmembers. Bring a sweater or jacket, as the room is usually cool. To register for the class, call Jean Davenport at (501) 605-4889.

Independence County Retired Teachers Meeting

BATESVILLE — The Independence County Retired Teachers Association will meet at 11:30 a.m. at the Old Independence Regional Museum, 380 S. Ninth St. Terri Crawford, humanities educator for the museum, will present the program. All retired teachers are invited to attend.

FRIDAY

Gaming Unplugged

BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 267 E. Main St., will host a free teen board-game night for ages 13 to 19 from 5-8. Participants will be served free snacks and play classic board games. Registration is required. For more information, call Kristy Horton at (870) 793-8814.

SATURDAY

Spring Fest

BATESVILLE — The Lyon College Student Activities Council will host Spring Fest from noon to 4 p.m. in Lyon’s Couch Garden. Indie-folk band Dawson Hollow will perform, and a VIP lounge will be available for $20. There will be hot-air balloon rides from 2-4 p.m., with Lyon students having priority. Spring Fest will also feature carnival games, custom leather bracelets and a cash cube. The event is free and open to the community.

A Night at the Victory Canteen

JACKSONVILLE — A Night at the Victory Canteen, to benefit the Jacksonville Museum of Military History, will take place at the Jacksonville Community Center. Doors will open at 5 p.m., with a silent auction beginning at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30. The event will also feature a live auction and entertainment. Tickets are $45 per person or $325 for a table for eight. For more information, call (501) 241-1943 or email jaxmilmuseum@gmail.com.

Color Fun Run 5K

CAVE CITY — A Color Fun Run 5K to benefit Cave City SkillsUSA will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, with a rain date of March 21. The race will start and finish in the Cave City Middle School parking lot, 711 N. Main St. Preregistration by Wednesday is $20 and includes a T-shirt. Day-of-race registration is $25, and remaining T-shirts will be available on a first-come, firstserved basis. Register at the Cave City High School front office or at runsignup.com/Race/AR/CaveCity/CaveCitySkillsUSAColorFunRun5k. For more information, call Brandon Haling or Ben Johnson at (870) 283-3309.

ONGOING Heber Springs TOPS Meeting

HEBER SPRINGS — TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets each Monday at the Church of the Nazarene, Eighth and Quitman streets. Weigh-in begins at 7:30 a.m., and a support meeting emphasizing weight loss and healthy living takes place from 9:30-11 a.m. Prospective members are welcome to attend. Enter through the back entrance of the church. For more information, call Dawn Antista at (501) 250-4256 or Janiece Brierly at (501) 827-1243.

Paint With Jim Tindall

FAIRFIELD BAY — Paint With Jim Tindall will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at the Fairfield Bay Education Center. Students will paint an original acrylic painting with Tindall’s in-class demonstration. No RSVP is required; beginners and walk-ins are welcome. The class fee is $45, and all materials are provided. For more information, call the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center at (501) 884-4440.

Special Art Exhibit

FAIRFIELD BAY — A special art exhibit featuring paintings created by Jim Tindall’s students is on display in the Fairfield Bay Library through April. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Fairfield Bay Community Education Center at (501) 884-4440.

Youth Tour Applications

JACKSONVILLE — High school juniors whose parents or guardians are First Electric members may apply for the Youth Tour, an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., set for June 19-25. Applications are due Friday at any First Electric office, or mail to Marketing and Development Department, First Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 5018, Jacksonville, AR 72078. For more information, call (800) 4897405 or visit www.firstelectric.coop or www.facebook.com/firstelectric.

Get Up & Give Collection Drive

HEBER SPRINGS/BATESVILLE — The 11th annual Get Up & Give collection project asks Arkansans to contribute necessities to the children and families in the organization’s care during Lent — through April 9. Participants can donate personal-hygiene items, clothes, shoes, school supplies, bedding, funds and other items to the Methodist Counseling Clinic in their community. All items need to be new, and money is also accepted. Deliver donations to 515 N. Main St., Heber Springs, AR 72543; or to 500 E. Main St., Suite 310, Batesville, AR 72501. For more information, visit www.methodistfamily.org/get-up-and-give.html or call (501) 906-4201.

Humane Society Meeting

HEBER SPRINGS — The Heber Springs Humane Society meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at the Cleburne County Library, 1009 W. Main St. The Humane Society’s mission is to care for homeless animals, find them loving homes and educate the public on the benefits of spaying and neutering dogs and cats. The society’s shelter, at 49 Shelter Lane, is open from noon to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

STARS Meeting

CABOT — STARS (Small Town Amateur Radio Service), a ham radio group, meets at 1:30 p.m. the second Sunday of each month at Criswell-Robinson American Legion Post 71,

114 N. First St. The group has testing available. For more information, contact Scott Berrier at berriersm@gmail.com.

First Electric Scholarship

JACKSONVILLE — First Electric Cooperative is accepting applications for its scholarship program from high school seniors whose parents or guardians are First Electric members. Applications for the scholarship program are due May 1 at any First Electric office, or mail to Marketing and Development Department, First Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 5018, Jacksonville, AR 72078. For more information, call (800) 4897405 or visit www.firstelectric.coop or www.facebook.com/firstelectric.

Fairfield Bay TOPS Meetings

FAIRFIELD BAY — The TOPS Arkansas 0612 chapter (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets each Thursday in the Conference Room of the Hart Center, 134 Hillview Drive, behind the Senor Center of Fairfield Bay. Weigh-ins begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by support meetings from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The first meeting is free. The cost to join is $32 yearly for national dues and $3 monthly for chapter dues. For more information, call Patty at (501) 253-3790 or Jeannie at (501) 253-3824.

Ash Flat Senior Center Activities

ASH FLAT — The Ash Flat Senior Life Center invites residents of Ash Flat and surrounding areas to the following weekly events: bingo from 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays; card games, board games and painting from 9-10:30 a.m. Thursdays; and exercise classes from 10-10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Coffee, cookies and more are available throughout the week. Visit the senior center, and sign up for $3 meals served at 11:30 a.m. For more information, including travel arrangements, call Veronica Fortich at (870) 994-2174.

Searcy Lions Club

SEARCY — The Searcy Lions Club meets at noon every Tuesday on the second floor of the Heritage Building at Harding University. New members are welcome. For more information, visit the Searcy Lions Club on Facebook.

VFW Tuesday Night Bingo

QUITMAN — Tuesday Night Bingo takes place each week at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1295 Bee Branch Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available. For more information, call (501) 362-9979.

American Legion Friday Night Bingo

HEBER SPRINGS — Friday Night Bingo takes place each week at the American Legion Hall, 49 Park Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available. For more information, call (501) 362-9979.

Cabot Lions Club Meetings

CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club meets at noon the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at Colton’s Steak House & Grill, 195 Northport Drive. All are invited to the meetings.

Free Brown-Bag Lunch

CABOT — The Mount Tabor United Methodist Church Women of Cabot serve a free brown-bag lunch at 11 a.m. each Thursday at the church, 4100 Arkansas 89 S. All are welcome. To volunteer or make a donation, call (501) 843-3797.

Bluegrass Music Night

HEBER SPRINGS — Heber Springs Christian Church, 1101 N. Broadway St., offers a bluegrass music night from 6:30-8:30 every Tuesday. Musicians are invited to participate. Free coffee is available. For more information, call the church at (501) 362-2389.

Beebe Kiwanis Club Meetings

BEEBE — The Beebe Kiwanis Club meets at noon the first and third Thursdays of each month in the Stephens Room of the Student Center at Arkansas State University-Beebe. Kiwanis is a volunteer organization with the mission of helping youth in the community. For more information, call Flo Fitch at (501) 230-2890 or Debra Crisco at (501) 454-3505.

Civitan Meetings

CABOT — Civitan meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at First Security Bank in downtown Cabot. Civitan is an organization that provides training and support for people with developmental disabilities.

Opportunity for Bridge Players

BEEBE — Bridge players are needed at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Shepherd’s Center at Beebe United Methodist Church, 302A N. Main St. Beginners are welcome. For more information, call (501) 843-2930.

Beebe Caregivers Support Group

BEEBE — The Beebe Caregivers Support Group meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Shepherd’s Center at Beebe United Methodist Church, 302A N. Main St. For more information, call Sandra Garrett at

(501) 940-4021.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

CABOT — The Alzheimer’s Support Group meets at 10 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Cabot United Methodist Church, 2003 S. Pine St. For more information, call (501) 265-0027.

Republicans Meetings

NEWPORT — The Jackson County Republicans meet at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Merchants and Planters Bank, 915 Arkansas 367 N. For more information, call Jeff McDonald at (870) 731-7646.

UPCOMING Gospel Choir Spring Concert

BATESVILLE — The Lyon College Gospel Choir will give its spring concert at 4 p.m. March 15 in the Brown Chapel Fine Arts Building. Special guests will include The Anointed Ones and other college choirs from across the state.

AARP Drive Smart Course

SEARCY — Unity Health will host an AARP Drive Smart Course from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 20 in the Hubach Conference Center, 3214 E. Race Ave. The instructors are Jerry Yates and Deborah Landers. The course costs $15 for AARP members with an AARP ID card or $20 for nonmembers. Park behind the hospital off Moore Street, use the elevator to go to the first floor, and bring a jacket because the room is cool. To register for the class, call Unity Health’s marketing department at (501) 278-3230.