COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK AREA

May 17

Church Bazaar

NEW DIXIE — The St. Boniface Catholic Church Bazaar will begin at 11 a.m. after Mass, which is at 10 a.m., at the church on Arkansas 60 in Perry County, 5 miles west of the Toad Suck community. The event includes games for children, carriage rides, a raffle, bingo, a silent auction, arts and crafts, and an all-you-can-eat meal of beef brisket or chicken with sides and dessert. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger may eat free. Takeout meals are available by calling the Knights of Columbus Hall at (501) 759-2896.

May 19

Blood Drive

PERRYVILLE — First Electric Cooperative will host a blood drive Tuesday at First Electric’s Perryville office, 801 S. Fourche. The American Red Cross will collect donations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org, and enter sponsor code “FirstElectric.” For more information, call (800) RED CROSS.

May 22

Culinary Camp for Girls Registration Deadline

RUSSELLVILLE — Friday is the deadline for girls in grades nine through 12 to register for a summer culinary institute — hosted by the Arkansas Tech University Department of Parks, Recreation and Hospitality Administration —to be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 8-12 in the Chambers Cafeteria at Arkansas Tech. Students, under the direction of volunteer female chefs from around the state, will learn more about the culinary profession and prepare several dishes. There is no cost to participate. At the camp’s conclusion, students will showcase their skills at a celebration event for friends and family. For more information, email swest7@atu.edu or call (479) 356-6205.

Ongoing

M.J. Hickey Pool Opening

RUSSELLVILLE — The M.J. Hickey Pool will be open on the weekends, starting this Saturday, and on Memorial Day, May 25. The pool will begin opening daily on June 4 when the school year is completed. Daily admission is $4 for adults 18 and older; $3 for children 7 to 17; and $2 for children 6 and younger. Individual season passes are available for $75 at the Hughes Center, 1000 E. Parkway. Pool hours are 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day.

Knights of Columbus Meat Sale

HEBER SPRINGS — Knights of Columbus Council 12778 is taking orders for pork butts at $39 each, to be picked up at St. Albert Catholic Church on June 12 and 13. Proceeds from the sale will benefit local charities. For more information, call Larry Levine at (501) 362-5613.

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.

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.

Cherokee Bingo

CONWAY — Cherokee Bingo begins at 6:15 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at Helton’s Wrecker Service/U-Haul, 710 S. Harkrider St. All proceeds go to the Helton-Osburn-Spencer Scholarship Fund at the University of Central Arkansas.

Morning Movers Class

MAUMELLE — The Morning Movers class is offered from 8:15-9 a.m. Monday through Thursday at the Maumelle Senior Wellness Center, 550 Edgewood Drive, Suite 400. For more information, call (501) 851-4344.

TeamKID

MAUMELLE — Southern Hills Baptist Fellowship and JumpZone have teamed up to offer a free children’s program, TeamKID, for first- through sixth-graders. The program is held at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday at the JumpZone building. For more information, call (501) 851-7729 or visit www.southernhillsbaptist.tv.

Midday Manna

CONWAY — A Bible lecture and luncheon led by Wanda Landers takes place from 11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Woodland Heights Baptist Church, 4215 Prince St. Lunch, including a drink and dessert, is served for $5. For child care by reservation, call (501) 329-0001.

Tea Party Meeting

HEBER SPRINGS — Arkansas’ We the People Tea Party of Cleburne County meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of every month at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, 1101C W. Main St. Various issues are discussed. For more information, call Marlin Schwartz at (847) 977-5261.

Upcoming

Little Red River Audubon Society Meeting

CLINTON — The Little Red River Audubon Society will meet May 26 at Western Sizzlin’. Jeff Quinn, stream and river fisheries biologist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, will talk about the biodiversity of stream fishes in Arkansas and the Little Red River. There will be a Dutch-treat dinner at 5 p.m., followed by the program at 6. Door prizes will be awarded after the meeting. For more information, email lrras2011@gmail.com or visit www.littleredriveraudubonsociety.com.

Children’s Fishing Derby at Pleasant View Park

RUSSELLVILLE— The Russellville Recreation and Parks Department will present its annual Children’s Fishing Derby on June 13 at Pleasant View Park. The derby will begin at 8 a.m., followed by a weigh-in at 10 a.m. This free event is for children ages 4 to 12. Prizes will be given in three age divisions for the heaviest catfish and the heaviest stringer of catfish. A special prize will be awarded for the biggest fish caught during the derby. Participants may preregister at the Hughes Center. For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at (479) 968-1272.

Summer Spirit Camp

RUSSELLVILLE — Children ages 5-12 with an interest in cheerleading and dance are invited to participate in a summer spirit camp hosted by Arkansas Tech University from 8:30 a.m. to noon June 15-19. Drop-offs may begin at 7:30 a.m., and pickups will last until 1 p.m. each day at the Hull Physical Education Building, 1306 N. El Paso Ave. on the Tech campus. Participants will learn cheer and dance from members of the Arkansas Tech Cheerleaders and the Arkansas Tech Golden Girls dance team. The camp will conclude with a performance for friends and family. The cost is $75. Register by June 9 to receive a camp T-shirt. For more details or to register, visit www.atu.edu/spirit. For more information, email spiritsquads@atu.edu.

QuickBooks for Beginners

RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present QuickBooks for Beginners from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.May 28 at Arkansas Tech University. This hands-on workshop introduces QuickBooks to small-business owners and their employees. Topics include setting up a new company, reconciling accounts, and working with lists, customers, vendors, assets and liabilities. Computers will be provided for use during the seminar. The cost is $65. Registration is required by May 27 by calling (479) 356-2067 or visiting asbtdc.org/training/russellville-events.

Concealed Carry Course

MAUMELLE — Safe Shooting Sports of Arkansas, LLC will conduct an Arkansas Concealed Handgun Carry License course June 27 at the Hampton Inn. Every Concealed Carry Course also includes a free National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Shooting Course and lunch. Group and couples discounts are available. To register, visit www.safeshootarkansas.com or contact Arkansas State Police instructor Jeff Allison, ASP No. 14-996, at (501) 813-2908.

Fireworks Extravaganza

HEBER SPRINGS — The Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce will present the 2015 Fireworks Extravaganza, one of the largest fireworks displays in Arkansas, on July 4 over Greers Ferry Lake. View the show from the shores of Sandy Beach or by boat. The family event will feature food and music, including Imagine That Band at 7 p.m., and choreographed music on KFFB 106.1 FM. during the fireworks show, which will start at 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.heber-springs.com or follow the chamber on Facebook.

To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, River Valley & Ozark Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to rvonews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.

Upcoming Events