HOMETOWN EVENTS

Fun ‘In the Wild’ VBS

First Baptist Church of Highfill invites area youth to its “In The Wild” Vacation Bible School from 6 to 9 p.m. on July 7 through 12. The VBS is for children, ages preschool through 12th grade. See the church Facebook page or website for the registration link.

NAGS to meet

The Northwest Arkansas Genealogical Society will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 24, at the Bentonville Public Library, 405 South Main Street in Bentonville. The Arkansas Gravestone Project is a free database dedicated to the digital archive of headstones for all of Arkansas. Theresa Lundberg, a coordinator with Arkansas and Missouri Gravestones Projects, will demonstrate the Gravestones Project website and answer questions. For further information, call 479-271-6820. Everyone is welcome.

Firemen’s benefit pancake breakfast

Members of the Gravette Fire Department will hold their annual pancake breakfast Saturday, June 22, from 8 to 11 a.m. or until the food is gone. The meal will be held at the Fire Station, 308 First Avenue N.W. The menu will include pancakes, biscuits and gravy, sausage, eggs and drinks. The cost will be $5 for adults and $3 for children. Children under 2 may eat free. All proceeds will be used to purchase equipment.

Food Preservation Workshop

A food preservation workshop on water bath canning — jams, jelly, pickles, salsa and tomatoes — will be held Monday, June 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gravette Civic Center. Registration should be completed by Monday, June 17, at the Gravette Public Library, 119 Main Street S.E., or at the County Extension Office, 1204 S.W. 14th Street, Suite 2, in Bentonville. A $10 fee is required at the time of registration, payable by cash or check.

American Legion flagpole fundraising

The John E. Tracy American Legion Post at Gravette is conducting a fundraising drive to raise money to replace the flagpoles at Hillcrest Cemetery. The poles now in use are rusting and in need of replacement. Plans are to purchase larger aluminum poles at an approximate cost of $7,800. A Hillcrest Cemetery flagpole fund has been opened at the Bank of Gravett and people may make donations there. Anyone having questions may call post commander Bill Mattler, 479-640-1199.

Gentry Summer Reading Program

The GPL summer reading program, “A Universe of Stories,” began June 4 and will be held every Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to noon, through July 23. Activities include crafts, book readings, journaling, puzzles and short films. On July 23, Marshall Mitchell will entertain with his production of Cowboy Music for Kids. Summer reading program attendees will receive giveaways and snacks to take home each week. Children who keep reading logs will be eligible for prize drawings. Reservations are required, and capacity is limited to 25 children. Please register in person at the library, 105 East Main Street. For more information, call 479-736-2054.

Gravette Library Summer Reading

The summer reading program, “A Universe of Stories,” at Gravette Public Library began June 1 for teen and adult readers. Teens going into grades 7-12 and adults may come by the library, choose a reading goal and pick up their reading log. Teen activities will be held on Tuesdays, July 16 through Aug. 6, at 4 p.m., and adult activities on Tuesdays, July 23 through Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. Children’s summer reading program for children going into grades K-6th grade began June 11. Astronaut Boot Camp presentations and Story Time from Space will be held each Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The program for June 25 will be Mars Exploration.

Art in the Library

Gentry Public Library is seeking local artists, photographers, writers, performers and musicians interested in showcasing their works in public exhibitions at the library. The works will be displayed or performed in a designated area for a specific time period. Works will be juried by a library committee and must be appropriate for the general public. Please contact the library at 479-736-2054 for more information.

Gravette Day car, truck show

The annual Gravette Day car and truck show, benefiting Imagine Before and After School Care, will be held Saturday, Aug. 10, with registration beginning at 9 a.m., judging at 2 p.m. and awards presented at 3 p.m. First-, secondand third-place awards will be given in several classes, along with a Kid’s Choice Award and a Best in Show Award. This show is during the annual town celebration, and there will be a parade at noon. Car show entrants are encouraged to participate if they wish. There will be plenty of activities going on all day, rain or shine.

Stuff the Sleigh 5K

A new event has been announced for Gravette Day 2019, Saturday, Aug. 10, the Stuff the Sleigh 5K race. Proceeds will benefit the Gravette Shop with a Cop program. The race starts at 8 a.m. Runners may register at www.GravetteAR.com under the Gravette Day tab. Not a runner but want to support Shop with a Cop? There’s also a “Sideline Supporter” option.

Gravette Day Pageants

Sign-ups are now being accepted for entries in the various pageants that will be held on Gravette Day, according to Gravette Day chairwoman Heather Finley. Those interested may sign up online at www. GravetteAR.com or sign up in person at City Hall. The annual Gravette Day event is planned for Saturday, Aug. 10. The theme for Gravette Day 2019 is “Making Memories.” A total of 12 pageants will be held this year, nine for girls and four for boys. Competition for girls will be held in age groups birth to 11 months, 12-23 months, 2-3 years old, 4-5 years old, 6-7 years old, 8-10 years old, and 11-13 years old. Entrants in the Miss Teen Gravette contest must be 14-16 years old, and those competing for Miss Gravette must be 17-21 years old. Competition for boys will be held in the age groups birth-23 months, 2-4 years old and 5-7 years old.

Falling Springs Singing

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.

First Baptist Pantry

First Baptist Church, located at 213 E. Roller Avenue in Decatur, holds a community food pantry on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the church at 479-2826658.

TOPS in Gentry

Gentry TOPS AR113, a nonprofit group which promotes healthy weight loss, meets every Monday at the First Christian Church Fellowship Room, Second and Giles, with a weigh in at 2:15 p.m. and the meeting at 3 p.m. There is a small fee to join but the first meeting is free.