LITTLE ROCK — ONGOING Art Exhibit BATESVILLE - A collection of artwork by Mandy Maxwell will be on display through April 1 at the Batesville Area Arts Council Gallery, 246 E. Main St. For more information, visit batesvillearts.org.
GED Testing NEWPORT - The Adult Education Department at Arkansas State University-Newport will offer the two-part GED test five more times during the spring 2012 semester. The following are Monday/Tuesday dates with the test beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Mondays and at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays: April 2-3; April 16-17; April 30-May 1; May 14-15; and May 21-22. Candidates must register and fulfill preliminary testing requirements prior to taking the Official GED exam. Contact the Adult Education Center at (870) 512-7824 to determine eligibility.
Monday Night Bingo WARD - Charitable Bingo is held Mondays at the Ward Chamber of Commerce building, 80 W. Second St. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and quarter games will start at 6. More than $750 in cash prizes will be paid out, with a $1,000-jackpot possibility. Participants can play all bingo games for as little as $30. Food and beverage concessions will be offered by the Ward Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds will benefit the GymStars Parent Club. For more information, call (501) 278-5588.
TODAY Writers Guild Meeting BATESVILLE - The White River Writers Guild will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the Citizens Bank Annex in Batesville. The group will also meet the fourth Thursday in April and May.
Backyard Birds Session NEWPORT - Jacksonport State Park will present a session on backyard birds at 2 p.m. at the Jacksonport Courthouse. Participants will discover what birds like in bird feeders, seed and plant cover; learn how to keep squirrels from feasting on the seed; and take home a pine-cone feeder. For more information or to register, contact the park interpreter at (870) 523-2143 or 205 Avenue St. in Newport, or email Donna. bentley@arkansas.gov.
Spring Softball Registration Deadline JACKSONVILLE - Today is the registration deadline for co-ed and men’s spring softball leagues. The cost is $450 per team. Games will begin April 16 at Dupree Park. Co-ed games will be on Monday nights, and men’s games will be on Wednesday nights. For more information, contact Megan at mhandy@ cityofjacksonville.net or (501) 982-4171.
Republican Committee Meeting SEARCY - The White County Republican Committee will meet at 7 p.m. at the Wilbur Mills Court Building, 301 W. Arch St. in Searcy. The agenda will include planning for the Lincoln Dinner with Congressman Tim Griffin and other business matters. Guest speakers will be districtjudge candidates and a Court of Appeals judge candidate. All are invited. For more information, call Joel Pritchett at (501) 268-9106 or email whitecogop@hotmail.com.
TODAY - SUNDAY The Laramie Project BATESVILLE - The Laramie Project, the spring production of the Lyon College Theatre Department, will open at 8 p.m. today, with additional performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. The play is based on interviews with the people of Laramie, Wyo., about the murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man. The play contains strong language. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. All Lyon students, faculty and staff will be admitted free. For reservations, call (870) 307-7510.
FRIDAY Program on Birds NEWPORT - Jacksonport State Park will present a program on birds at 2 p.m. at the Jacksonport Courthouse. Participants will discover why the White River is such a great habitat to so many different birds, including the Northern cardinal, the blue jay and the Carolina chickadee; hear a variety of bird sounds; and make a bird magnet to take home. For more information or to register, contact the park interpreter at (870) 523 -2143 or 205 Avenue St. in Newport, or email Donna.bentley@arkansas.gov.
AARP Driver Safety Course SEARCY - Arkansas State University-Searcy will host an AARP Driver Safety Course from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the university. The Instructor will be Rollo Kirchgatter. The cost of the course is $14 for nonmembers and $12 for AARP members with an AARP ID card. To register for the class, call (501) 207-6249.
SATURDAY GPS Workshop NEWPORT - Jacksonport State Park will have a GPS workshop for ages 10 to adults from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and again April 28 at the Jacksonport Courthouse. Participants will learn the basicsof using a GPS unit, locating hidden caches and creating caches. The cost is $20 per person. Participants can bring their own GPS units, or the park will provide units for their use. Reservations need to be made three days in advance. For reservations or more information, contact the park at 205 Avenue St. in Newport; call (870) 523-2143; or email donna.bentley@arkansas.gov.
Courageous Free Screening LONOKE - The Men’s Ministry of Gateway Fellowship International, 101 Alice Lane in Lonoke, will present a free screening of the film Courageous at 4 p.m. The doors will open at 3 p.m., and all men are encouraged to attend. Following the film, there will be door-prize drawings,refreshments and fellowship. Child care will be available. For more information, call Chris Mann at (501) 941-9987.
SUNDAY Session on Butterflies NEWPORT - Jacksonport State Park will present a session on but ter flies at 2 p.m. at the Jacksonport Cour thouse. Par ticipants will learn about but ter fly behaviors, such as basking, patrolling and nectaring, and will make a butterfly magnet to take home. For more information or to register, contact the park interpreter at (870) 523-2143 or 205 Avenue St. in Newport, or email Donna. bentley@arkansas.gov.
The Volunteers Concert LESLIE - The U.S. Army band The Volunteers will perform at 3 p.m. at the Ozark Heritage Arts Center, 410 Oak St. in Leslie. The Volunteers, a six-piece touring-show band, perform a blend of popular American music, including rock ’n’ roll, standards, country, jazz and patriotic tunes. The free event is open to the public. For more information or tickets, call (870) 447-2960.
MONDAY Benefit Luncheon BATESVILLE - A Red Hot Luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Independence Hall at the University of ArkansasCommunity College at Batesville. Proceeds will benefit the Christian Health Center of Batesville. A silent auction will begin at 11 a.m. There will be a program and entertainment from noon to 1:30 p.m., and auction checkout will be at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $25, and reserved tables for eight are $ 200. Tickets are available at Citizens Bank’s main and Eagle Mountain locations.
Health Care Forum SEARCY - The Independent Tea Party of White County will host a Health Care Forum at 6:30 p.m. at the Carmichael Center. State Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, and Searcy Police Chief Kyle Osborne, who will oppose Biviano in the upcoming election, will be guest speakers for the forum, moderated by Dan Greenberg. For more information, call (501) 278-9413 oremail teaparty@itpwca.org.
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. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.
Three Rivers, Pages 45 on 03/22/2012