COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE THREE RIVERS AREA

Today

Mercy River Boys Concert

JACKSONVILLE — The Mercy River Boys will perform Southern gospel music at 6 p.m. at First Assembly of God Church, 221 N. Elm St. Admission is free, but an offering will be taken. For more information, call (501) 590-9357.

Today, Friday and Saturday

Academia Nuts

FAIRFIELD BAY — Our Towne Productions will present the Greff Kreutz comedy Academia Nuts, directed by Seana Garrow, at 2 p.m. today and at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Fairfield Bay Conference Center, 110 Lost Creek Parkway. Tickets are $18 at the Conference Center and at the Fairfield Bay Library. For more information, call (501) 844-4202.

Monday

Democratic Party of White County Convention

SEARCY — The Democratic Party of White County will have its open house and county convention from 6-8 p.m. at the Democratic Party of White County Headquarters, 509 E. Race Ave., Suite 3. All are invited for political talk and refreshments. For more information, visit white@arkdems.org or call (501) 368-9390.

Wednesday

Intermediate Computer Class

ASH FLAT — Ozarka College in Ash Flat will host an intermediate computer-skills course through the Continuing Education program from 9-11 a.m. The course will be taught by Ozarka College’s Information Science Technology Program coordinator/faculty, Ken Barton. The cost of the class is $10, and preregistration is required. For more information or to register, call Fay Mitchell at (870) 368-2005. For information on earning a degree in IST, contact Barton at (870) 994-7273 or ken.barton@ozarka.edu.

Thursday

American Legion Post 71 Meeting

CABOT — Criswell-Robinson American Legion Post 71, 114 N. First St., is seeking members. The post will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, with a pre-meeting meal at 6 p.m. All military members and spouses are welcome to attend. The group meets the fourth Thursday of each month. All spouses of military personnel may join the Auxiliary, daughters may join the Junior Auxiliary and sons may join the Sons of American Legion Chapter. The post also has a Legion Riders chapter for veterans who ride motorcycles and a ham radio (STARS) chapter. For more information, call the post at (501) 203-5715 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Thursday – July 1

The Lion King Jr.

SEARCY— The Land O’Frost Kidstage Production of The Lion King Jr., music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, will take place Thursday through July 1 at Center on the Square, 219 W. Arch Ave. For tickets, at $11 each, visit www.centeronthesquare.org. For more information, call the theater at (501) 368-0111.

ONGOING

Farmers Market

SEARCY — The Searcy Farmers Market is open from 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays on the Searcy Courthouse Square. Shoppers will find fresh produce, meat, homemade/baked goods and more.

Ozarka College Registration

MELBOURNE — Registration is open at Ozarka College for summer II (July 5 to Aug. 2) and fall semester classes (start Aug. 13). Summer II and fall courses are available at Ozarka’s four campuses: Melbourne, Ash Flat, Mammoth Spring and Mountain View, as well as online. For assistance with admission or registration, call (870) 368-2024 or visit any Ozarka College campus. For help with securing financial aid, call (870) 368-2009 or email finaid@ozarka.edu.

Art Exhibit

ASH FLAT — Award-winning artist Bobbie Hanson is displaying several of her original paintings at the Ash Flat Library through July. Hanson moved to Arkansas in 2002 and began painting in watercolor. She has branched out into other media but said watercolor is still her favorite. She belongs to the Spring River Art Guild in Hardy, the Ozark Regional Arts Council and the Fulton County Arts Council.

T Tauri Movie Camp New Workshops

BATESVILLE — The T Tauri Movie Camp, for ages 8 to 18, will offer two new workshops this year. Acting on Camera, July 16-17, a workshop by director/actor Warren McCullough, will help transition young theater actors and introduce novice actors to the unique challenges of acting in front of a camera. Tuition is $60. In Smartphone Storytelling, July 18-20, students will learn how to shoot and edit video on the smartphone and produce a short-form video. Tuition is $80. Two recurring workshops will be Brickfilms (stop-motion animation utilizing LEGO characters and sets), July 23-24, and Script to Screen Narrative Filmmaking, July 25-28. Some scholarships are available. For more information, visit www.ttauri.org, call (870) 251-1189 or email ttauri@wildblue.net.

Summer Cereal Drive

HEBER SPRINGS — The Seven Springs 2018 June Cereal Drive will take place through Friday. Anyone who wants to donate can bring boxes of cereal to the Seven Springs Health and Rehabilitation Social Office, 1040 Wedding Ford Road. For more details, call Connie Herrin at (501) 281-5115.

Calico Rock Museum System Expanded Hours

CALICO ROCK — The Calico Rock Museum System’s Heritage and Visitor Center is now open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The center has two meeting rooms available for community events, meetings, family reunions, special functions or corporate events: the Murphy Gallery and the Easton Education Center. The Tomlinson Art and Science Center is open from 10 a.m. to

4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and has two meeting rooms for special events and meetings: the Windgate Studio and the Matthews Library. The art gallery is also available for special events and functions. For more information, visit www.calicorockmuseum.com or call (870) 297-6100.

Volunteer Opportunity

BATESVILLE — White River Health System seeks volunteers for its auxiliary to assist patients, visitors, physicians and employees to improve the patient experience. The volunteers welcome patients, guide visitors and deliver things such as flowers, cards and newspapers. They also volunteer in cafeterias and gift shops. Volunteer opportunities are available at White River Medical Center, Stone County Medical Center and the WRMC Medical Complex Cherokee Village. For more information or to become a volunteer, contact Toi McMullin at (870) 262-6555.

Free GED Classes

MELBOURNE — Free GED classes will be offered through Ozarka College’s Adult Education program in Melbourne this summer. Classes are available from 7 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday, through July 26. Instruction is available in math, writing skills, reading comprehension and refresher skills for college prep, the military or employability. An instructor is available for one-on-one assistance, and registration is ongoing. For more information, call Ozarka College Adult Education at (870) 368-2051.

Horseshoe Bend Farmers Market

HORSESHOE BEND — The Horseshoe Bend Farmers Market will be open at Faith Presbyterian Church each Wednesday from 8 a.m. until vendors are sold out. Items available for purchase will include produce, plants, herbs and fresh baked goods.

Shepherd Center’s Summer Activities

BEEBE — Seniors are invited to participate in activities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday throughout the summer at the Shepherd Center, 302 N. Main St., at the rear of First United Methodist Church. Activities offered include scrapbooking, bridge, chess, jewelry making, card making, quilting, cooking and flower arranging, as well as fishing excursions. Every Friday Game Day will be sponsored from 1-3 p.m., featuring bingo, dominoes or Scrabble.

VFW Tuesday Night Bingo

QUITMAN — Tuesday Night Bingo takes place each week at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1295 Bee Branch Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available. For more information, call (501) 362-9979.

American Legion Friday Night Bingo

HEBER SPRINGS — Friday Night Bingo takes place each week at the American Legion Hall, 49 Park Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available. For more information, call (501) 362-9979.

Cabot Lions Club Meetings

CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club meets at noon the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at Colton’s Steak House & Grill, 195 Northport Drive. All are invited to the meetings.

Free Brown-Bag Lunch

CABOT — The Mount Tabor United Methodist Church Women of Cabot serve a free brown-bag lunch at 11 a.m. each Thursday at the church, 4100 Arkansas 89 S. All are welcome. To volunteer or make a donation, call (501) 843-3797.

Beebe Kiwanis Club Meetings

BEEBE — The Beebe Kiwanis Club meets at noon the first and third Thursdays of each month in the Stephens Room of the Student Center at Arkansas State University-Beebe. Kiwanis is a volunteer organization with the mission of helping youth in the community. For more information, call Flo Fitch at (501) 230-2890 or Debra Crisco at (501) 454-3505.

Civitan Meetings

CABOT — Civitan meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month at First Security Bank in downtown Cabot. Civitan is an organization that provides training and support for people with developmental disabilities.

Opportunity for Bridge Players

BEEBE — Bridge players are needed at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Shepherd’s Center at Beebe United Methodist Church, 302A N. Main St. Beginners are welcome. For more information, call (501) 843-2930.

Beebe Caregivers Support Group

BEEBE — The Beebe Caregivers Support Group meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Shepherd’s Center at Beebe United Methodist Church, 302A N. Main St. For more information, call Sandra Garrett at (501) 940-4021.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

CABOT — The Alzheimer’s Support Group meets at 10 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Cabot United Methodist Church, 2003 S. Pine St. For more information, call (501) 265-0027.

Republicans Meetings

NEWPORT — The Jackson County Republicans meet at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Merchants and Planters Bank, 915 Arkansas 367 N. For more information, call Jeff McDonald at (870) 731-7646.

Upcoming

Community Music Gathering

BATESVILLE — A community music gathering featuring patriotic songs will take place from 6-8p.m. July 2 at First Community Bank. Instrumentalists, singers and listeners are invited to attend. Children and spouses are welcome.

Spring River Gem and Mineral Club Meeting

CHEROKEE VILLAGE — The Spring River Gem and Mineral Club will meet at 10 a.m. July 5 at the Omaha Center. Brooks Blevins, the Noel Boyd Professor of Ozarks Studies at Missouri State University in Springfield, will present the program, Minerals and Mining in the Old Ozarks. The program is free, and visitors are welcome. For more information, call club president Sheila Donley at (260) 445-3581 or visit the club’s Facebook page.

First-Responder Summer Course

BATESVILLE – The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville’s Community and Technical Education Department will offer a first-responder summer course, with instructor Thomas Lemon, from 4-8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, July 16 through Aug. 14, in Room 914 of the Nursing Allied Health Building at UACCB. The class is a prerequisite to EMT Basic Training. The course fee is $125, plus the cost of the textbook, which is approximately $133 plus tax. For more information or to register, call (870) 612-2082 or email communityed@uaccb.edu.

White County Business Expo

SEARCY — The Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the White County Business Expo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 24 in the Ganus Activities Complex on the Harding University campus. Event sponsor and prize-donation opportunities are available. For more information, call the chamber office at (501) 268-2458 or visit www.searcychamber.com.

Old Soldiers Reunion Parade

HEBER SPRINGS — American Legion Post 64 will host the annual Old Soldiers Reunion Parade at 6 p.m. Aug. 2. The parade will start at Harps Grocery and end at Spring Park. Lineup will be at 5:30. The following prizes will awarded for floats: first place, $500; second place, $350; and third place, $250. The theme is “United We Stand,” and there is no entry fee. The parade will be followed by a carnival in Spring Park and other activities Aug. 3 and 4, including a beauty pageant. For more information, call the Post 64 at (501) 362-9979 or Gabe Cothron at (501) 206-9571.

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.

Upcoming Events