This week’s EVENTS

TODAY

‘Clue on Stage: High School Edition’

NEWPORT — The Newport High School Theatre Department will present “Clue on Stage: High School Edition” at 2 p.m. in the Newport High School Auditorium. The play is based on the board game Clue and the movie that is based on the game. Six eccentric characters join a butler, maid and cook in a murder mystery that asks the classic question: whodunnit? Tickets are $6 each and can be purchased on the Newport School District’s Web page. For more information, email david.norris@newportschools.org.

TUESDAY

Sons of American Legion Meeting

CABOT — The Sons of American Legion (SAL) will meet at 6 p.m. at Criswell-Robinson American Legion Post 71, 600 N. Grant St. Anyone who is a son, adopted son, stepson or grandson of an eligible American Legion member is eligible to join the group. For more information, come by Post 71 or call (501) 203-5715.

SATURDAY

Feed the Veterans Pantry

CABOT — The Feed the Veterans Pantry will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1212 S. Second St. for veterans and their family members younger than 18 to shop for nonperishable food and personalhygiene items. Shoppers need to have a DD 214 and a photo ID or a military ID card or a Veterans Affairs card. The pantry is open the third Saturday of each month. To make a donation, visit the pantry’s Facebook page @feedtheveterans.

ONGOING

Scholarship applications

SEARCY — The White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund Inc. is accepting applications for spring 2022 scholarships. WCSPSF Inc. awards scholarships to White County single parents who have minor children and are pursuing postsecondary education in order to achieve skilled employment. Applicants may view and print the application at www.aspsf.org. Mail the completed application to Box 8325, Searcy, AR 72145 by Jan. 7. For more information or a mailed application, contact Executive Director Dan Newsom at wcspsf.inc@gmail.com or call (501) 230-2414.

Ozark Folk School Spring Classes

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Ozark Folk Center State Park will offer a variety of classes in crafts such as knife making, broom making, blacksmithing, weaving, cheese making, letterpress printing, soap making, pottery and more during the Spring Ozark Folk School in March. These classes are for students ages 16 and older. Registration is open. For a complete list of classes, registration deadlines and class fees, visit www.ozarkfolkcenter.com, or call (870)269-3854 for more information.

A Very Melba Christmas

BATESVILLE — The Melba Theater, 115 W. Main St., will present its Christmas movie series, A Very Melba Christmas, through Dec. 23. The theater will show the following free films, with doors opening one hour prior to showtime: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at 2 p.m. today; “The Star” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; “A Christmas Story” at 2 p.m. Dec. 19 and at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21; and “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 23. For more information, visit melbatheater.com or call (870) 569-8002.

Pink Angel Tree Program

NEWPORT — The Sydney Claire Sutherland Foundation will have its first Sydney Claire Sutherland Pink Angel Tree program. Pink Angel Trees are located at Subway (in Newport’s Walmart Supercenter), the Jackson County Courthouse, Dr. Kelly McKinney’s office and George Kell Motors. Purchase gifts and return them unwrapped to George Kell Motors, 3808 Van Dyke Road, by Wednesday.

Silver Angel Tree

NEWPORT — The White River Area

Agency on Aging is sponsoring the Silver Angel Tree for local seniors and disabled adults to provide them with Christmas gifts. Silver Angel requests are available at Merchants & Planters Bank on Arkansas 367, iCare Pharmacy, and Norman and Baker Pharmacy. Gifts need to be returned to the Area Agency on Aging, 1200 Arkansas 367, by 3 p.m. Friday. Items will be delivered to the recipients before Christmas.

Holiday Festival of Trees

NEWPORT — The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first Holiday Festival of Trees through Dec. 23. Trees will be judged in three categories, with awards given for the Most Comical, Most Traditional and Most Unique trees, plus an overall Best Tree award. Trees will be voted on by the public to determine the winners. Each $1 donation equals one vote. All donations will support the chamber’s scholarship and Arkansas Scholars programs. Voting is taking place during business hours at the chamber office, and final judging will be at noon Dec. 23.

Smoked-Meat Fundraiser

NEWPORT — The Joe & Helen Harris Foundation and IMAD are offering Smokin’ for the Holidays, a fundraiser with opportunities to purchase prepared menu items for Christmas and New Year’s Eve/ Day. For Christmas, order whole smoked turkeys ($45), smoked Boston butts ($35), smoked hams ($35), smoked turkey breasts ($25) and 9-by-13-inch pans of cornbread dressing ($25). Pickup will be Dec. 23. For New Year’s Eve/Day, order smoked hams ($35) and smoked turkey legs ($15). Pickup will be Dec. 30. Pre-orders are required for each holiday. Funds raised will be matched by the Arkansas Community Foundation. To order or for more information, contact Michelle Johnson at (870) 503-3319.

Searcy Holiday of Lights

SEARCY — The Searcy Holiday of Lights is in force in downtown Searcy and in Berryhill, Spring and Yancey parks. The Holiday of Lights includes ice-skating, contest prizes for Christmas light contests and new events. For a full schedule of activities, visit searcy.com.

Book Sale

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, is having its annual book sale, which will continue indefinitely. Books, puzzles, tapes and more are available for purchase. All are invited to stop by the museum and shop for gifts or for a new addition to one’s bookshelf. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call the museum at (501) 241-1943, or visit jaxmilitarymuseum.org.

Reading at the Ridge

NEWARK — The Cedar Ridge School District is conducting a “child find” to locate children who have turned 5 but are not yet in school so the district can give free books to children in the district from their 5th birthday until their first day of kindergarten. The aim of the program is to help build each child’s at-home library and love for books. For more information, call Cedar Ridge Elementary School at (870) 201-2577.

Stuffed-Toy Drive

BATESVILLE — Block Insurance is accepting new and gently used stuffed toys through Wednesday for its Fill the Chimney for Santa stuffed-toy drive. All are invited to drop off stuffed toys at the insurance office, 2121 Harrison St., and Santa will deliver them to local nursing homes and hospitals during the Christmas season.

White River Wonderland

BATESVILLE — White River Wonderland will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight daily through Jan. 2 at Riverside Park. The event includes a display that features millions of lights, a Ferris wheel, selfies with Santa, ice skating, White River Express train rides and carriage rides. Admission is free. The light show can be viewed from a car or by walking on illuminated trails throughout the park. For more information and a complete schedule of activities, visit whiteriverwonderland.com.

Arkansas Master Naturalists Applications

The Foothills chapter of the Arkansas Master Naturalists is accepting applications. FAMN is an independent, all-volunteer organization that promotes the preservation, restoration and appreciation of the natural environment. The Foothills chapter draws volunteers from White and Cleburne counties. Classes will begin in January. To learn more, visit arkansasmasternaturalists.org.

Colors & Coffee

BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 267 E. Main St., will offer Colors & Coffee, an adult meet-up, from 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays. All adults are invited for a relaxing hour of coloring and coffee. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814.

Mindfulness Mondays

BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library, 267 E. Main St., will offer Mindfulness Mondays for teens ages 13 to 19 from 4-5 p.m. each Monday. The event will include a guided meditation and mindful snacks. Beginners are encouraged to attend. Yoga mats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, or participants can bring their own. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814.

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines

Sherwood Urgent Care centers in Batesville, Lonoke and Searcy offer Moderna COVID-19 vaccines each Wednesday. The free vaccine is for people ages 18 and older. For more information or to sign up for the vaccine, visit sherwoodurgentcare.com.

Walk With a Doc

BATESVILLE — Everyone is invited to take a step toward better health by participating in a free 60-minute Walk With a Doc at 10 a.m. the third Saturday of every month. Meet in the Batesville Rec Center parking lot, across from the lake. For more information, visit www.walkwithadoc.org/why-walk.

UPCOMING

Christmas Open House

NEWPORT — All are invited to join the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Economic Development Commission for their Christmas open house from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 20. This event will provide an additional opportunity for participants to vote for their favorite tree in the Holiday Festival of Trees. For more information, contact Courtney Baker at (870) 523-3618.

‘Steel Magnolias’ Auditions

NEWPORT — The Jackson County Community Theater will conduct auditions from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 5 and 6 for its production of “Steel Magnolias.” Auditionees are asked to arrive at First United Methodist Church, 217 Laurel St., with their own audition material and be prepared to read from the play’s script. This is not a musical; participants do not need to know how to sing. Performances for “Steel Magnolias” will be March 11-13 at the new Jane Parnell Performing Arts Hall on Front Street in downtown Newport. For more information, contact David Norris at (870) 351-4392.

The Basics of Spanish

BATESVILLE — The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Community Education will offer The Basics of Spanish from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays from Jan. 31 to March 14. Participants will gain proper and practical knowledge for listening to and speaking the Spanish language. The class fee is $99. Register at uaccb.coursestorm.com by Jan. 17.

To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Three Rivers Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; send faxes to (501) 378-3500; or email trnews@arkansasonline.com. The deadline for calendar-item submissions is noon Tuesday.