Octt. 16
Community Music Gathering
BATESVILLE — There will be a Community Music Gathering from 6-8 p.m. at First Community Bank. Singers, instrumentalists and listeners are all invited to attend.
Democratic Party of White County Meeting
SEARCY — The Democratic Party of White County will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Arkansas State University-Searcy, 1800 E. Moore Ave. For more information, email white@arkdems.org or call (501) 368-9390.
Oct. 18
Retired Teachers Meeting
NEWPORT — The Jackson County Retired Teachers Association will meet at 1 p.m. at the Newport Business and Resource Center. Mary Alice Hughes of Insurance Advantage Services will speak on insurance updates for retirees. Members will have an opportunity to pay their annual dues and get a 2017-18 yearbook. All retired school personnel are invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided.
Oct. 19
Frog Watch USA Free Workshops
MELBOURNE — Ozarka College will partner with Frog Watch USA to offer two free workshops in the lecture hall at Ozarka College in Mountain View. The presenter will be Tom Krohn, Frog Watch USA Arkansas regional coordinator. The Sixth Mass Extinction will be presented from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday; and Birds, Bees and Butterflies: Creating a Nature-Friendly Yard will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Reservations are recommended. For more information or to register, call (870) 269-5600 or email lhgalloway@ozarka.edu.
Oct. 20
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Meeting
GREERS FERRY — The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), Chapter 1156, will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Large Mouth Pizza, 8379 Edgemont Road (Arkansas 16). The guest speaker will be Bob Thompson from the Fairfield Bay Conference Center. All active and retired federal employees are invited to attend. For more information, call Kathy Golding at (501) 206-1375.
Fall Festival
BATESVILLE — Eagle Mountain Magnet School, 600 Eagle Mountain Blvd., will hold its annual Fall Festival from 5-8 p.m. at the school. The festival will feature a barbecue dinner, a silent auction, games, a cake walk and Dr. Frankenstein’s Laboratory. Dinner tickets are $7 and include a barbecue pork sandwich, slaw, chips and cookies. There is an optional hot dog dinner. A drive-thru will be available. For more information or tickets, call (501) 258-8370.
Oct. 21
Climb and Dine
BEEBE — Arkansas State University-Beebe’s 90th anniversary will continue its event series with a Climb and Dine on Saturday. The hike will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a free barbecue lunch at 11 a.m. at the Jerry Smith Family Pavilion on the campus. Sugarloaf Mountain provides visitors an opportunity to explore several of the trails that lead to the top of the mountain and a panoramic view. The event is free, but attendees are asked to register at asub.ticketleap.com.
Cabot Library Book Sale
CABOT — The Friends of the Cabot Library will host a book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Community Room of the Cabot Public Library. Gently used fiction, nonfiction, young-adult and children’s books will be available for purchase, along with DVDs and music CDs. Hardback books and DVDs will sell for $1 each, and paperbacks and music CDs will be 25 cents each. Cash only — no checks or plastic. All proceeds will support the Cabot Public Library and its programs. The Cabot Animal Shelter will also be on-site with its mobile adoption unit. For more information, call the library at (855) 572-6657 or email friendsofthecabotlibrary@outlook.com.
Variety Night Fundraiser
CHARLOTTE — John 3:16 Ministries will present its annual Variety Night fundraiser at the ministry’s multipurpose building, 75 Holmes Road. The event will feature a catfish dinner from 5-7 p.m., a silent auction from 3-7 p.m., children’s games and bounce houses, and entertainment at 6:30 p.m. A live auction will include a Spartan mower. Pat Cash, aka Aunt Minnie Miles, from Cash’s White River Hoedown in Mountain View, will be the master of ceremonies. Tickets are $10, which includes the door-prize drawing for a PT Cruiser. Corporate tables for eight are $400. Purchase tickets at First Community Bank and Dairy Queen in Batesville or at the door. For more information, call (870) 799-2525 or visit john316thecure.com.
Ham in the Park 2017
CABOT — The Small Town Amateur Radio Service (STARS), an American Legion Post 71 activity, will host its annual Ham in the Park at the Cabot Community Pond Park. This will be in conjunction with the Cabot Cub Scout Pack 205 Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA. All amateur radio operators and prospective operators are invited to attend. There will be license testing, a tailgate swap meet for radio gear, and food. For more information, contact Gordon Miller at k5eo@arrl.net. For STARS activities, visit Cabot STARS Club (W5STR) on Facebook.
ONGOING
ExScream Thrills Haunted Hayride
AUSTIN — The ExScream Thrills Haunted Hayride will be open from 8 p.m. until the line is gone on Friday and Saturday, and on Oct. 27, 28 and 31, at 1911 W. Main St. Tickets are $10 in advance if purchased from members of the Cabot Dance Academy or $12 at the gate. Group discounts are available. Proceeds from the hayrides will benefit the Cabot Dance Academy. For more information, contact the academy at (501) 605-8900 or www.cabotdanceacademy.com/exscream-thrills.html.
Bluegrass Music Night
HEBER SPRINGS — Heber Springs Christian Church, 1101 N. Broadway St., offers a bluegrass music night from 6:30-8:30 every Tuesday. Musicians are invited to participate. Free coffee will be available.
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.
Free GED Classes
MELBOURNE — Ozarka College will offer free GED classes, which will meet at Ozarka College in Melbourne from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 3-7- p.m. Mondays; at Ozarka College in Mammoth Spring from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 2-7 p.m. Tuesdays; at Ozarka College in Mountain View from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday; at Timbo Elementary School from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays; and at Salem High School from 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays. Registration is ongoing. For more information, call Ozarka College Adult Education at (870) 368-2051.
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.
Cybersecurity Awareness Classes
ASH FLAT — Ozarka College in Ash Flat will host free cybersecurity-awareness classes, taught by Ken Barton, with a different topic each week: Today’s Predictions for Tomorrow’s Internet, 10-11 a.m. Friday; and The Internet Wants You: Consider a Career in Cybersecurity, 2-3 p.m. Oct. 24. Preregistration is required. For more information or to register, call Ozarka College-Ash Flat at (870) 994-7273.
Vietnam War Veterans Meetings
MELBOURNE — The Izard County Veterans Service Office is sponsoring meetings for veterans of the Vietnam War era, all service branches. The group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon the first and third Thursdays of the month in the old Kustom Made Graphics building, 614 Main St., directly across from Mark’s Pharmacy. All are welcome to attend for coffee, talk, pastries and tales. Parking will be in the shopping-center parking lot.
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. In 2016, this mission of the church served more than 8,600 lunches to the hungry and needy of Cabot.
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.
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.
Cabot Lions Club Meetings
CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club has regular get-togethers at noon the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Kingpin Sports Grill. Lions serve local communities and protect the planet. Club members provide children with eyeglasses, offer food for seniors and provide assistance during natural disasters. All are invited to the meetings.
Upcoming
Arkansas Center for Independence Fundraiser
NEWPORT — The Arkansas Center for Independence will host its second annual Building for the Future and Impacting Lives fundraising banquet at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Newport Country Club. Newport native Will DuPree, an Emmy-nominated reporter and anchor for KJRH, the NBC Affiliate in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will headline the event. There will be silent and live auctions, with a social hour at 5 p.m. Tickets, at $30 each or reserved tables for eight for $300, must be purchased by Tuesday at More Old Treasures Thrift Store in Newport, online at arkci.ticketleap.com/fallbanquet or by calling ACI at (870) 523-8488. For more information, email nstatler@arkci.com.
Leadership Coffee
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce’s Military/Government Relations Committee will host a Leadership Coffee at 7 a.m. Oct. 25 at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, 200 Dupree Drive. The event will welcome the wing commanders, command chiefs and group commanders from the Little Rock Air Force Base. Coffee, juice, pastries and breakfast sandwiches will be served. There will be a $5 fee for chamber members to offset food costs. There is no charge for invited military guests. Chamber members are asked to RSVP for the event. Contact Denise Heard at the chamber at (501) 982-1511.
Fall Festival Celebration
HEBER SPRINGS — All are invited to bring children to a Fall Festival celebration from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 27 at Seven Springs Rehabilitation and Health Center, 1040 Wedding Ford Road. This fun event with Seven Springs’ seniors will offer games, prizes, candy and food. There will be a costume contest at 7 p.m. For more information, call (501) 362-8137.
Pumpkin Dash 2017
HARDY — The Pumpkin Dash 2017 will take place Oct. 28 at Loberg Park. The event will have three races for runners, joggers, walkers and or stroller riders: a 6K at 8 a.m., a 5K at 8:50 and a 4K at 9:30. The $20 entry fee includes all three races and a T-shirt if registered by today. Register online at runsignup.com. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets for a drawing for a Yeti Hopper cooler at $1 each or six for $5 can be purchased at Centennial Bank in Highland or FNBC in Ash Flat, Highland and Hardy. Proceeds from the event will benefit Rock This House.
Trick-or-Treat on the Square
SEARCY — Trick-or-Treat on the Square will take place from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31 in downtown Searcy to provide a safe trick-or-treating environment for children. Local businesses, organizations and city departments will provide trick-or-treat activities, games, a haunted house and a costume contest. For more information, call the Main Street Searcy office at (501) 279-9007.
Ozark Woodland Owners Association Fall Meeting
BATESVILLE — The fall meeting of the Ozark Woodland Owners Association will take place Nov. 2 in the Conference Room of the Independence County COOP Extension Office, 1770 Meyers St.A free dinner will be served at 6 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 6:30. Association members, forest landowners and forestry professionals are invited to attend. Topics will include deer-herd chronic wasting disease; landowner strategies for coping with the spread of the emerald ash borer population; and a timber market update.
Fall Fest
SEARCY — Pioneer Village, 1200 Higginson St., will host its annual Fall Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 4 and from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 5. The event will feature costumed characters throughout the Village, square dancing, live music, clogging, pioneer craftsman demonstrations, vendors, food, live animals and pioneer games for children. There will be Native American life activities and a Civil War camp with re-enactors. Donations will be accepted. For more information, call (501) 580-6633.
Fine Arts and Craft Sale
SEARCY — The Creative Arts Society will sponsor a Fine Arts and Craft Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11 at the White County Fairgrounds, 802 Davis Drive. The family-friendly event will feature arts and crafts of all sizes and mediums; live music; and food. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet artists and view their original pieces up close.
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.