COMING UP IN THE AREA...

• THE MOUNT VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH AT BLACK ROCK WILL PRESENT THEIR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, "THE IMPOSSIBLE MADE POSSIBLE, THE  BIRTH OF JESUS"  SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT 3.  THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME.

• THE FIFTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE IS SATURDAY FROM 10 UNTIL 1 AT THE MAMMOTH SPRING NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY AQUATIC CONVENTION CENTER.

• COMMODITIES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN LAWRENCE COUNTY AT THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY IN WALNUT RIDGE WEDNESDAY MORNING FROM 9 UNTIL THE FOOD RUNS OUT.

• A CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD SATURDAY NIGHT AT 6 AT LOBERG PARK IN HARDY.  SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS WILL ATTEND.  THERE'LL BE REFRESHMENTS FOR EVERYONE.

• BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AND HIS ELF IS SATURDAY MORNING 7 UNTIL 11 AT THE SALEM SENIOR CENTER ON CHURCH STREET. PANCAKES, SAUSAGE, EGGS AND A DRINK FOR $10. YOU CAN DINE IN OR PICK UP BY CALLING 870-750-1019 IN ADVANCE.   BRING YOUR PHONE AND TAKE A PICTURE OF THE KIDS WITH SANTA AND HIS ELF.  PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE SALEM GREYHOUND CLASS OF 2024 SENIOR LOCK IN.

• A CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY CRAFT SHOW IS FRIDAY FROM 2 UNTIL 7 AND SATURDAY 9 TO 5 AT THE TURKEY MOUNTIAN COMMUNITY CENTER IN HORSESHOE BEND.  SHOPPING, FOOD AND PICTURES WITH SANTA.  FREE ADMISSION.

• THE OZARKA COLLEGE FOUNDATION WILL HOST TREES AND TIDINGS FRIDAY  4:30 UNTIL 6:30 IN THE JOHN E. MILLER EDUCATION COMPLEX ON THE OZARKA CAMPUS IN MELBOURNE... THERE'LL BE PHOTOS WITH SANTA, ORNAMENT DESIGNING, COLORING ACTIVITIES, GAMES, TREATS AND GOODIES...

• THE JUNIOR AUXILLARY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY WILL SPONSOR THE ''POLAR EXPRESS IN THE PARK'' SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2ND FROM 5 TIL 9 EACH NIGHT AT STEWART PARK IN WALNUT RIDGE.. TICKETS ARE FREE AND WILL FILL QUICKLY. YOU MUST CALL TO RESERVE TICKETS BY CALLING 573-316-7909.  CHILDREN UNDER 11 ARE ELIGIBLE.  SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS WILL ATTEND...

• PORTIA'S OLD FASHION CHRISTMAS  IS  SATURDAY... THERE WILL BE A PARADE AT 4.. THERE WILL BE NO FLOATS, ANYTHING WITH WHEELS IS WELCOMED FOR THE PARADE LINEUP THAT BEGINS AT 3:30... FOLLOWING THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, THERE WILL BE CHRISTMAS MUSIC, SANTA AT THE SCHOOL HOUSE AND COMPLIMENTARY HOT COCOA AND TREATS.. THERE WILL BE WARMING STATIONS, MISTLETOE AT THE ARCH, CHRISTMAS STORIES AND COMMUNITY CAROLING...

• CHEROKEE VILLAGE RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENTER THE ANNUAL LIGHTING CONTEST... PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO RESIDENTS IN EACH OF THE CITY'S FOUR WARDS AND TO PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES IN CHEROKEE VILLAGE... FIRST PLACE PRIZE IS $100, SECOND PLACE $75 AND THIRD PLACE IS $50.. THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS DECEMBER 14TH.. JUDGING WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE NIGHTS OF DECEMBER 16TH AND 17TH... WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED DECEMBER 18TH.... THE LIGHTING CONTEST IS SPONSORED BY VILLAGE PRIDE.

• THE CITY OF OXFORD IS HOSTING A DRIVE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.. DONATIONS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, WARM CLOTHING SUCH AS COATS, SWEATERS, JACKETS AND GLOVES WILL BE APPRECIATED AND CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT OXFORD CITY HALL THRU DECEMBER 15TH.. THE DONATIONS WILL BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE METHODIST-PRESBYRTERIAN CHURCH AND THE BAPTIST CHURCHES IN OXFORD FOR DISTRIBUTION.

• THE NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS GUN SHOW IS SATURDAY FROM 9 TO 5 AND SUNDAY FROM 9 TO 4 AT THE IZARD COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN MELBOURNE... THIS IS A BUY, SELL AND TRADE SHOW TO BENEFIT THE IZARD COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION.. ADMISSION IS $6 A PERSON... ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO EXHIBIT GUNS, AMMO AND KNIVES CAN RENT A SIX FOOT TABLE FOR $30, AN EIGHT FOOT TABLE FOR $40.. TABLES WILL BE PROVIDED.. TO SECURE A TABLE, PHONE 870-291-3776 OR 870-368-4466....

• THE LYNN CHRISTMAS PARADE IS SATURDAY, AT 1.... FOLLOWING THE PARADE, THERE WILL BE A MEET AND GREET FOR THE KIDS AT THE PARK, BEHIND THE LYNN COMMUNITY CENTER.. THERE WILL BE A PRIZE FOR THE BEST CHRISTMAS THEMED FLOAT.

• THE SALEM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHRISTMAS PARADE IS SATURDAY AT 5, HIGHLIGHTING THE HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION THAT BEGINS WITH AN UGLY SWEATER FUN RUN AND WALK AT 9...

• THE NORTH ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER WRITING CLUB WILL HOST A WORKSHOP, CHRISTMAS MEMORIES SATURDAY MORNING 10 TIL NOON AT THE ARTS CENTER ON THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE TOWN CENTER IN CHEROKEE VILLAGE... CALL OR TEXT CHERI QUATTROCHI AT 870-710-1392 FOR INFORMATION...

• CHRISTMAS IN WHOVILLE IS THE THEME FOR THE HORSESHOE BEND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHRISTMAS PARADE SATURDAY..LINEUP FOR THE PARADE BEGINS AT 9:15 AT THE AIRPORT.. THE PARADE WILL ROLL AT 10.. FOLLOWING THE PARADE, SANTA WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PHOTOS, HOT CHOCOLATE AND HOT DOGS WILL BE SERVED BY THE HORSESHOE BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

• THE MELBOURNE CHRISTMAS PARADE IS SATURDAY.. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES IS THE THEME... THERE WILL BE A PRIZE FOR THE BEST FLOAT. THE PARADE WILL ROLL AT 6, STARTING AT BEARKATZ ACADEMY AND ENDING UP ON THE CAMPUS OF OZARKA COLLEGE... THE PARADE IS SPONSORED BY THE MELBOURNE FIRE DEPARTMENT AUXILIARY..

• COWBOY CHRISTMAS IS THE THEME FOR THE ASH FLAT CHRISTMAS PARADE.. ITS SATURDAY AT 5.. PARADE LINEUP WILL BEGIN AT 4 ON THE ASH FLAT LIVESTOCK AUCTION PARKING LOT.. THE PARADE WILL BEGIN AT 5, COMING DOWN HIGHWAY 167 AND TURNING ON HIGHWAY 354 TO ARNHART STREET, ENDING WITH THE ANNUAL LIGHTING CEREMONY AND KIDS PICTURES WITH SANTA

• THE NEA CHORALE AND ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS CONCERT IS SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 AT MANLEY CHAPEL ON THE WILLIAMS BAPTIST COLLEGE CAMPUS IN WALNUT RIDGE.. TICKETS ARE $10 OR $20 FOR A FAMILY AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.

• THE UNITED FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH IN WALNUT RIDGE WILL PRESENT BETHLEHEM MORNING ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3RD AT 10:45... THE CHURCH IS LOCATED AT 624 POCAHONTAS ROAD IN WALNUT RIDGE.

• SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN THURSTON WILL BE THE GUEST SPEAKER FOR TUESDAY'S MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.. ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINING ROTARY IS INVITED TO ATTEND.. THE MEETING BEGINS AT NOON AT KATRINAZ RESTURANT AT 118 SOUTHWEST SECOND STREET IN WALNUT RIDGE...

• THE NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES CHAPTER 695 OF WEST PLAINS WILL MEET TUESDAY AT NOON AT LOS AMIGOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN WEST PLAINS.. ALL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND THEIR SPOUSES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING.

• FULTON COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN ADOPT AN ANGEL TREE FROM THE FULTON COUNTY ANGEL TREE.. TO ADOPT AN ANGEL, CONTACT THE COUNTY COORDINATOR LEE AN GRAMBLING AT 870-371-1638 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.. GIFTS MUST BE RETURNED BY DECEMBER 16TH.. THE PHONE NUMBER IS 870-371-1638..

• ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ENTER THE CALICO ROCK CHRISTMAS PARADE IS ASKED TO CALL THE CALICO ROCK MUSEUM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY 870-297-6100.

• THE CITY OF BATESVILLE AND THE BATESVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOINTLY ANNOUCED THE WHITE RIVER WONDERLAND IS OPEN.. THE LIGHTS DISPLAY, THE LARGEST IN ARKANSAS WILL BE ON DISPLAY DAILY FROM 5PM TO MIDNIGHT THRU TUESDAY, JANUARY 2ND… OVER 82,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE WHITE RIVER WONDERLAND LAST YEAR, DRAWING TRAVELERS FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 41 COUNTRIES.. THE WHITE RIVER WONDERLAND FEATURES MILLIONS OF DANCING LIGHTS SYNCHRONIZED TO HOLIDAY TUNES.

• ANGELS FROM THE IZARD COUNTY ANGEL TREE CAN BE SELECTED NOW AT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF IZARD COUNTY LOCATIONS IN CALICO ROCK, MELBOURNE, MT. PLEASANT AND HORSESHOE BEND, THE RED MULE IN MELBOURNE AND JOHNSONS COUNTRY KITCHEN IN MELBOURNE…THOSE WHO LIKE TO PURCHASE A GIFT FOR AN ANGEL ON THE IZARD COUNTY ANGEL TREE CAN GO BY ANY OF THESE LOCATIONS, SELECT AN ANGEL AND RETURN WITH GIFT.. PHONE 870-368-4318 IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION.
   
• GIFTS ARE NEEDED FOR THE HILLCREST SCHOOL ANGEL TREE.. ANGELS CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE HIGH SCHOOL OFFICE.. ANGELS SHOULD BE PICKED UP BY DECEMBER FIRST...THE SCHOOL ASKS YOU NOT WRAP THE GIFT, IT WILL PUT IN A GIFT BAG WITH OTHER TREATS FOR THE KIDS...GIFTS SHOULD BE RETURNED BY DECEMBER 8TH.

• THE UNITED WAY OF NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS ANGEL TREE PROJECT IS UNDERWAY...THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN ON THE ANGEL TREE ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BANK OF CAVE CITY AND FIRST COMMUNITY BANK IN BATESVILLE... ANGELS CAN BE SELECTED UNTIL DECEMBER 11TH....MONETARY DONATIONS ARE WELCOMED AND MAY BE MAILED TO UNITED WAY OF NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS, POST OFFICE BOX 2639, BATESVILLE, ARKANSAS 72503. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PHONE UNITED WAY OF NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT 870-793-5991.

• THE PACESETTING TIMES 28TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE IS UNDERWAY THRU DECEMBER 8TH.. ALL NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS WILL BE DONATED TO THE FOOD PANTRY IN HORSESHOE BEND... DONATIONS MAY BE BROUGHT BY THE PACESETTING TIMES OFFICE AT 703 SOUTH BEND DRIVE IN HORSESHOE BEND.

• A BOOK DRAWING IS UNDERWAY THRU DECEMBER 12TH AT THE BOBBIE JEAN MEMORIAL LIBRARY AT IMBODEN... COME BY THE LIBRARY TO ENTER.

• THE SLOAN HENDRIX FBLA WILL HOST A "SHOPPIN ROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE" EVENT ON SATURDAYFROM 10 UNTIL 3  AT THE OLD SLOAN HENDRIX GYM.. ORGANIZERS ARE SEEKING VENDORS.. MESSAGE VALERIE MATHENY OR THE SLOAN HENDRIX FBLA ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION....

• THE SPRING RIVER COMMUNITY CHORUS WILL PRESENT THEIR FALL CONCERT, " FALLING INTO SONGS", THE MUSIC OF FALL TO CHRISTMAS IS  SUNDAY DECEMBER 3RD AT 2 AT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN HORSESHOE BEND.  TICKETS ARE $5, AVAILABLE FROM MEMBERS OF THE CHORUS OR AT THE DOOR.

• THE HORSESHOE BEND RECYCLING CENTER IS OPEN MONDAYS 9 TIL NOON, WEDNESDAYS 1 UNTIL 4 AND SATURDAYS 9 TIL 1 .

• THE 2024 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.  THE INTERNSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL INCOMING JUNIOR AND SENIORS IN COLLEGE WHO WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT AND ARE SEEKING A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE OR FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE RELATED FILEDS.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR HOME COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE OR PHONE THE UA HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE AT 501-671-2219.

• APPLICATIONS FOR THE SHOP WITH A COP PROGRAM IN OREGON COUNTY MAY BE PICKED UP AT THE THAYER POLICE DEPARTMENT OR OREGON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER 30TH.

• ANGEL TREE SIGN UP IS UNDERWAY IN LAWRENCE COUNTY AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH NOVEMBER 30...FAMILIES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE IN PROVIDING CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN ARE URGED TO SIGN UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN THE LAWRENCE COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN WALNUT RIDGE.. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL COUNTY CLERK BRANDY PARKER AT 870-886-1111..

• THE COMMUNITY OF LOVE FOOD PANTRY IS SET UP IN FRONT OF THE SPRING RIVER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LOCATED JUST WEST OF THE SPRING RIVER BRIDGE ON THE FOUR LANE IN HARDY.   THE DROP OFF BOX IS AVAILABLE 24/7.  ANY AND ALL NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS WILL BE APPRECIATED AND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED IN THE SPRING RIVER COUNTRY AREA.

• COOKBOOKS ARE BEING SOLD TO HELP HAYZLEE GRAVE IN HER BATTLE WITH LEUKEMIA. COOKBOOKS SELL FOR $15.. TO PLACE AN ORDER, CALL LAUREEN SAC AT 870-373-1412 OR URIAH MEAD AT 870-373-0916...

​​​​​​​