CALENDAR EVENTS IN THE THREE RIVERS AREA

April 23

Main Street Fundraiser

SEARCY — Main Street Searcy will hold a fundraiser for the organization’s downtown projects from 7-9 p.m. at Robbins Sanford Grand Hall on Spring Street. The celebration will feature silent and live auctions, food and live entertainment. Tickets are $25. Proceeds will benefit Main Street Searcy, a 501(c)3 that works to preserve, promote and enhance downtown Searcy. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the Main Street office at (501) 279-9007.

April 24

Poultry Blood-Testing School

BATESVILLE — The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission will conduct a Poultry Blood-Testing School on April 24 at the University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Research Station, 10 miles north of Batesville off Arkansas 69 at 70 Experiment Station Drive. Completion of the testing school will earn the participant a Private Blood Tester’s license to test for Pullorum-typhoid in poultry. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m., with classes beginning at 9:40 a.m. and ending by midafternoon. For more information, contact the Fulton County Fair Association at (870) 895-5565 or fultoncountyfair@centurytel.net, or the Fulton County Extension Office at (870) 895-3301.

Heroes for Health

CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club will hold its fourth annual Heroes for Health Hero Dash from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Cabot High School track. The 1K fun run supports the health and wellness programs in the Cabot Public Schools. The noncompetitive, nontimed run/walk is for children ages 4-12, who are encouraged to dress as their favorite superheros. The entry fee is $10 per child. Registration forms are available by contacting Becky Boyett at (501) 680-1143 or becky.a.boyett@gmail.com. Late registration will be held from 5:30-6:15 p.m. the day of the run.

April 24 and 25

Springfest 2015

HEBER SPRINGS — The Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 28th annual Springfest Festival from noon to 8:30 p.m. April 24 and 25 at the Spring Park Amphitheater. Kacey Smith will perform from 7-8:30 p.m. April 24, and Shelby Lee Lowe will perform at the same time April 25. Opening bands will perform at 6 p.m. both days, with Chasity Bailey opening April 24, and Peyton Loeschner opening April 25. The festival will also include a quilt show, an art tour, a Volkswagen car show, pony rides, a petting zoo, a butterfly pavilion and a variety of vendors. For more information, visit www.heber-springs.com/springfest.

The Heritage Quilt Show

HEBER SPRINGS — The Daisy Patch Quilters will present the Heritage Quilt Show from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 24 and 25 in the Education and Commercial buildings at the Cleburne County Fairgrounds on Bittle Road. Quilts are being accepted, with a limit of three per person. There will be prizes for Best of Show and Viewers’ Choice. Quilts must be delivered to the fairgrounds from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the show is $5, but there is no charge for displaying quilts or entering the contest. A heritage quilt will be raffled, and many door prizes will awarded. For more information, call Gerry Shipley at (501) 589-2300.

Spring Fling

CHEROKEE VILLAGE — The Cherokee Village Community Chorus will present a musical extravaganza, Spring Fling, to welcome spring at 7 p.m. April 24 and at 2 p.m. April 25 at the Omaha Center. A $5 ticket includes refreshments and a fashion show.

April 25

Main Street Block Party

BATESVILLE — A Main Street Block Party will be held from 1-8 p.m. The event will kick off with Music on Main Street from 1-3 p.m. A dedication of the first block of the new streetscape and a ribbon-cutting will take place at 3:15 p.m. in front of the old Gray’s Hospital. There will be an open-mic session on the Pocket Park stage from 4-5:30 p.m. A Street Dance with music by Danny Dozier and the Lockhouse Orchestra Band will begin at 7 p.m. to close out the block party.

Primitive Fish Trap Workshop

NEWPORT — Jacksonport State Park will present a workshop on How to Build a Primitive Fish Trap from 10 a.m. to noon at the park. The $12 workshop fee covers the cost of supplies needed to build the various traps. Reservations must be made two days in advance and will not be accepted after 3 p.m. April 24. The minimum number of participants is six, and the maximum is 10. For more information, call (870) 523-2143.

Master Gardeners Plant Sale

BATESVILLE — The Independence County Master Gardeners’ annual plant sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arkansas National Guard Armory. Master Gardeners will offer advice for selecting from the variety of plants, as well as gardening demonstrations. Locally made birdhouses will also be for sale. Proceeds will benefit the Independence County Master Gardeners, who design, plant and maintain public gardens in Batesville.

Trap Shooting Event

JACKSONVILLE — The second annual Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Trap Shooting Event will be held April 25 at the Arkansas Game and Fish Sports Shooting Complex, 2800 Graham Road. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., and shooting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Shooters must provide two boxes of certified ammo, and ear and eye protection. This event is for all skill levels. The $25 registration fee includes two rounds and lunch. Lunch-only tickets are available for $15 each. Proceeds from the event will help fund the chamber’s year-round programs. For more information, contact the chamber at (501) 982-1511 or chamber@jacksonville-arkansas.com.

Women’s Class

BATESVILLE — The Quail Valley Church of Christ invites women of all ages to a class taught by Anne Stevens at 10:30 a.m. The topic is The Wife God Would Have Me to Be. For more information, visit www.qvcoc.com or call (870) 793-6700.

April 26

Historical Society Meeting

ASH FLAT — The Sharp County Historical Society will hold its spring quarterly meeting at 2 p.m. in the Community Room of First National Banking Co. Parking and the entrance are at the rear of the building. Guest speaker Patricia Allmon French will present the program, titled Ozarks Wild Edibles.

April 27

Cabot Chapter AARP Meeting

CABOT — The Cabot Chapter of AARP will meet at 6 p.m. at the Cabot Senior Center. Lisa Strain, volunteer coordinator for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, will be the featured speaker. A potluck and business meeting will follow. For more information, call Carole Cleveland at (501) 492-1456.

April 27 – May 1

Spring Gospel Meetings

BATESVILLE — The Quail Valley Church of Christ invites the community to the church’s spring gospel meetings, April 27 through May 1. Each evening’s event will feature worship at 7, followed by Jimmy Stevens of Seminole, Texas, who will speak on a variety of topics. For more information, visit www.qvcoc.com or call (870) 793-6700.

April 29

Gospel Concert

JACKSONVILLE — Gospel-music evangelists Earl and Rita Reynolds will perform at 7 p.m. at First Assembly of God Church, 221 N Elm St. For more information, call (501) 982-5018.

Adult Game Day

JACKSONVILLE — The Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., will offer an Adult Game Day at noon. Adults 18 and older are invited to play dominoes, poker, chess, other board games or video games. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

ONGOING

Art Exhibit

BATESVILLE — Fleeting Gardens, an exhibition of work by Melissa Cowper-Smith, will be on display through Saturday at the Gallery on Main.

National Juried Exhibition, Reception

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council will hold its third annual National Juried Exhibition, beginning Tuesday and running through June 13. The exhibition is made up of 26 pieces from 20 artists across the United States. A public reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. May 2 during the Main Street Batesville Art Walk. The juror for the exhibition is Delita Martin.

Library Fine-Free Days

BATESVILLE — As part of the Independence County Library’s celebration of National Library Week, which occurred recently, the library will continue offering Fine-Free Days through April 30.

Jacksonville Sertoma Club Scholarships

JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Sertoma club will award two $1,000 scholarships in 2015 to graduating seniors from these eligible schools: Jacksonville High School, North Pulaski High School, Jacksonville Christian Academy and Arkansas School for the Deaf. Graduating seniors who are children of current Jacksonville Sertoma Club members are also eligible, regardless of the school attended. Applications are available at the listed schools. For more information, call Ron McDaniel at (501) 590-0183 or Mary Twitty at (501) 912-9422.

Academic All-Star Scholarships

MELBOURNE — As part of the Arkansas Community Colleges Academic All-Star scholarship program, Ozarka College is accepting scholarship applications from students with service and academic accomplishments. Applicants must be Arkansas residents, enrolled at Ozarka College with the intent to stay through fall 2015 and graduate by summer 2016, have completed at least 24 credit hours in pursuit of an associate degree by June 1 and have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average in credit coursework completed at Ozarka. For more information, contact Ron Helm, vice president of Student Services, at (870)368-2027 or rhelm@ozarka.edu.

ASUN Summer and Fall Registration

NEWPORT — Registration is open for the summer and fall 2015 terms at Arkansas State University-Newport. Classes for the first summer term begin June 1, with classes for the second summer session beginning July 6. Classes for the fall 2015 semester will begin Aug. 24. Summer and fall-semester course offerings may be found at www.asun.edu/schedules. To enroll at ASU-Newport, prospective students need to submit an application for admission, ACT/Compass scores, an official high school transcript or GED score, and immunization records. For more information or to begin the registration process, call (800) 976-1676 or log on to www.asun.edu.

Ozarka College Evening GED Classes

MELBOURNE — Ozarka College’s Adult Education program has added evening GED classes in three locations: Ozarka College in Mammoth Spring, 3-6 p.m. Thursdays, call James or Cindy at (870) 625-0411; Cave City Middle School, 5-8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, call Trish Turnbough at (870) 283-5392, ext. 1277; and Timbo High School, 6-9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, call Junior Barham at (870) 213-7388 or (870) 368-2051. Registration is ongoing. For more information, call the Ozarka College Adult Education Department at (800) 821-4335, ext. 2051, or (870) 368-2051.

Shoe Drive

BATESVILLE — The Humane Society of Independence County is holding a shoe-collection drive through May 4 to raise funds for dog-and-cat spay-and-neuter assistance. Donations of gently worn or new shoes, sandals or boots can be made at the Bargain Hound Boutique, 228 Ramsey St., Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, call (870) 834-4490.

Baxter County Evening GED Classes

MOUNTAIN HOME — The Baxter County Adult Education program now offers free evening GED classes, in addition to the program’s daytime GED classes. Classes are available from 3-7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and registration is ongoing. For more information, call Jenna Robbins, Baxter County Adult Education instructor, at (870) 425-7974.

Yoga in the Gallery

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council offers Yoga in the Gallery classes at 8:45 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the BAAC Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St. The hour-long sessions are taught by RYT200-certified yoga instructor Marnie Davis. Beginners are welcome, and no preregistration is required. The cost is $10 per session or 10 sessions for $70. For more information, call (870) 793-3382.

Summer Reading Camp

BATESVILLE — Registration is open for Reading Is a Superpower! This 2015 Summer Reading Camp for 6- to 12-year-olds, a fundraiser for the Ozark Foothills Literacy Project, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon June 15-18 at First United Methodist Church, 615 E. Main St. Activities will include story time, a superhero obstacle course, a readers theater, creative writing, recipe reading to make super snacks, word games and more. Registration is $99 through May 15, plus $75 for each additional sibling. After May 15, the cost is $125, plus $100 to add a sibling. To register, visit oflp.org/read2015 or call (870) 793-5912. For more information on the Literacy Project, visit www.oflp.org.

Batesville Farmers Market Season Opening

BATESVILLE — Batesville’s Main Street Farmers Market will open May 2 for the 2015 season and will be in operation from 8 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturdays of the month through November. The market will set up in the Pocket Park on Main Street. To register for the market, call Cheryl Anderson of Garden Girl Farm at (870) 613-4588. For more information or a vendor application, contact market manager Jean Larson at (208) 869-1445 or jeallo16@gmail.com.

Cabot Farmers Market Season Opening

CABOT — The Cabot Farmers Market’s 2015 season will begin May 2. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through Oct. 3 at 1122 Second St., which is Re:New Community Church’s parking lot (formerly the Bancroft Building). Anyone who wants to participate may contact the market at (501) 920-2122 or cabotbeautiful@yahoo.com.

Tea Party Meeting

CABOT — The Jacksonville/Cabot Tea Party meets at 7 p.m. each second Thursday of the month at Grandpa’s Bar-B-Que, 1801 S. Pine St. For more information, call (501) 813-6980.

WISE Coalition Meeting

SEARCY — The WISE (White County Invested in Substance Abuse Eradication) Coalition meets from noon to 1 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month in the Community Room of the First Community Bank University Branch, 800 E. Beebe Capps Expressway. All are invited to attend and get involved in activities to help prevent and reduce substance abuse in White County youth. For more information, visit wisecoalition@gmail.com or call (501) 388-6555.

Cabot Civitan Meetings

CABOT — Cabot Civitan Meetings are held at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of each month at First Security Bank in downtown Cabot. For more information, call Tom Nolting at (501) 606-3731.

Love Cap Group

HEBER SPRINGS — The Love Cap group meets to sew caps on the fourth Wednesday of each month at First Baptist Church. For more information, call Polly at (501) 206-0808.

Pancake Breakfast

McRAE — A pancake breakfast is held from 7-9 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at McRae Masonic Lodge F. & A.M. No. 687. Donations are accepted.

Chronic Pain Meeting

CABOT — The Cabot Chapter of the American Chronic Pain Association meets from 6-8 p.m. the first Friday of the month at 15361 Arkansas 5. The association is a nonprofit, self-help group designed to teach people with chronic pain to reduce the effects pain has on their work and personal lives. All prospective members are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Michelle Lippert at (501) 259-6069.

Friends of the Library Book Shop

HEBER SPRINGS — The Friends of the Library Book Shop, 2255 Arkansas 25B N., is open from 3:30-7 p.m. Mondays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The shop offers a large selection of books at bargain prices. All proceeds from the shop benefit the libraries in Cleburne County.

Second Time Around Bookstore

SEARCY — The Literacy Council of White County operates the Second Time Around Bookstore at 109 E. Center. Proceeds from the sale of donated books support the mission of helping adults in the community improve their literacy and English-language skills. The store and literacy office are open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For more information, call (501) 278-5500.

UPCOMING

Spring Gala

MELBOURNE — The Ozarka College Foundation will hold its 2015 Spring Gala at 6 p.m. April 30 in the Student Services Center at Ozarka College. The gala was postponed from the original date because of severe-weather forecasts. The gala features dinner and an auction. The celebration centers around the 40th anniversary of Ozarka College’s founding. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Ozarka College Advancement Office at (870) 368-2059.

Leo Rainey Tourism Appreciation Banquet

MOUNTAIN VIEW — The annual Leo Rainey Tourism Appreciation Banquet will be held at 6 p.m. April 30 at the Ozark Folk Center’s Iron Skillet Restaurant. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, a Batesville native, will serve as the keynote speaker. The banquet will include door prizes and information about tourism over the past year. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. A form to be completed and returned by Saturday can be found at www.ozarkgateway.com/blog/ozark-gateway-region-banquet-set.

El Paso Community Fish Fry

EL PASO — The El Paso community will hold its annual fish fry at 6 p.m. May 1 in the El Paso Community Center. Everyone is welcome, and donations will be accepted at the door. Proceeds will benefit the El Paso Parks and Playground Association. For more information, contact Roy Dale Breckenridge at (501) 796-3538.

Pioneer Day Gospel Program

MELBOURNE — The annual Pioneer Day Homecoming Gospel Program will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 1 in the John E. Miller Auditorium at Ozarka College. A major portion of the program will be dedicated to songs performed by the community choir. For more information, contact Gayle Cooper at (870) 368-7156 or (870) 368-4679.

Main Street Batesville Art Walk

BATESVILLE — A Main Street Batesville Art Walk will be held from 5-7 p.m. May 2 on Main Street. The event offers an evening of art, music and refreshments, and an opportunity to meet local area artists and hear them discuss their work.

May the 4th Be With You

JACKSONVILLE — Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a 2008 animated film, will be shown at 4 p.m. May 4 at the Nixon Library. The event is titled May the 4th Be With You. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

Printing Press Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor Opening

CALICO ROCK — The Printing Press Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor, 120 Main St., will open May 5. The Calico Rock Museum Foundation owns the Printing Press, and all proceeds will benefit the museum. The cafe will serve sandwiches, soup, salads, ice cream and other sweets. The operating hours will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The cafe is named The Printing Press because the building it occupies was originally the location of The Calico Rocket, which later became The Calico Rock Progress newspaper.

Dinner and a Movie

JACKSONVILLE — The Dinner and a Movie event for May 5 will feature a showing of Annie at 5 p.m. at the Nixon Library. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

Spring River Gem and Mineral Club Meeting

CHEROKEE VILLAGE — The Spring River Gem and Mineral Club will meet at 10 a.m. May 7. Randel Cox from the University of Memphis will give a presentation titled Past and Future Earthquakes in Arkansas. Visitors are welcome. Following the meeting, there will be a Dutch-treat lunch with Cox at an area restaurant.

Square Dance Classes

JUDSONIA — The Blue Belles and Beaus Square Dance Club will start classes on May 7. The classes will meet from 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at the Judsonia Community Center. The first class is free and open to families. For more information, email jeanneecarter@hotmail.com or call (501) 724-3930.

Learn to Knit

JACKSONVILLE — Learn to Knit, for ages 13 and up, will be offered at 1:30 p.m. May 9 at the Nixon Library. Participants are asked to bring size 9 needles, but yarn will be provided. For more information, call (501) 457-5038.

All Rise Century Bicycle Ride

BATESVILLE — The White River Medical Center Cycling Club in Batesville will sponsor the sixth annual All Rise Century Bicycle Ride at 8 a.m. May 9, beginning at Jubilee Family Church, 45 Thunderbird Drive, approximately 2 miles east of the Walmart Supercenter on Arkansas 69. This is an out-and-back ride of any distance, 1 to 100 miles, and riders of all skill levels are welcome. The $20 registration fee includes an event T-shirt, drinks and snacks. This is a supported ride with SAG vehicles and at least four rest stops. See All Rise Century Bike Ride on Facebook for more details. View the route online at www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/17479502. For more information, contact Donald Vaulner at (870) 793-8897 or dlvauln@yahoo.com.

Accounting Training

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce will offer accounting training from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14 in the Walker Room on the lower level of Edwards Commons at Lyon College. The first course is Quickbooks 101 and will be taught by Rachel Pennywitt, CPA, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The second course is Preparing Your Business for an Audit and will be taught by John Ed Welch, CPA, from 1-3 p.m.

Tommy Bolt Memorial Golf Tournament, Luncheon

CHEROKEE VILLAGE — On May 14, which is Tommy Bolt Memorial Day in Cherokee Village, a celebration luncheon will be held at Fountain Place, an independent living center, to name the center’s newest building in memory of Bolt. Activities will include tours of the Bolt Memorabilia Room. The 12th annual Tommy Bolt Memorial Golf Tournament will be held June 27. These events are part of the ongoing 60th-anniversary celebration of Cherokee Village. For more information, visit www.fountainplace.org.

Fulton County Homecoming Festival

SALEM — The 66th annual Fulton County Homecoming Festival will be held May 22 and 23. Festival organizers are accepting vendor applications for the Festival Street Market. Rental fees are $75 for both days or $40 for May 23 only. There is a $10 additional charge for electricity. No commission is charged on sales, and rental fees will not be refunded in case of rain. Booths are 10 feet wide and the depth of a parking space. All food vendors must meet Arkansas Department of Health guidelines. Vendors must meet Arkansas sales-tax regulations. For applications, visit www.SalemAR.com or call Tonya at (870) 371-0887.

cut: Students at the Kids’ Paint Night will create a painting under the guidance of instructor Morgan Gurke.

Kids’ Paint Night

BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council will host a Kids’ Paint Night from 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 28 at the Citizens Bank Annex Building. Students in first through sixth grades can sign up to create a chosen painting with help from instructor Morgan Gurke. Preregistration is required, and the cost is $25 per student. For more information, call (870) 793-3382.

Dr. Red Bell Memorial Golf Tournament

BATESVILLE — Merchants and Planters Bank and the Course at Eagle Mountain will host the annual Dr. Red Bell Memorial Annual 4 Ball Golf Tournament on June 6 and 7 at the Course at Eagle Mountain. The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at noon June 6 and will be followed by dinner. The round on June will start at 11 a.m., and an awards presentation will follow the completion of play. Participants will have an opportunity to compete in an alternate-shot-format horse-race event at 5:30 p.m. June 5.

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.

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