This the kind of kid action you'll find at the Slugfest Machine Pitch Tournament this weekend at Pop Allum Park in Gravette. Photo by Steve Huckriede

From Staff Reports

GRAVETTE — Fourteen teams will descend on Gravette this weekend to play in the first annual May Day Slugfest at Pop Allum Park. Gravette will enter two teams in this USSSA sanctioned AA-machine pitch baseball tournament for 7-9-year-olds.
Pool play will begin Friday night and continue through Saturday for seeding positions.
The tournament will be Sunday, May 6, with two brackets, 7-8-year-olds and 8-9-year-olds. Gate fees are $3 for adults, and kids are free.
Families traveling from all over northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and as far away as Greenwood and southeast Kansas will come to play.
More information can be found at http://www.leaguelineup.com/gravette or by calling Tony Kildow at 787-0250.

What: Earth Day tree planting and nature programs – with expected attendance of 40 to 50 area children and adults

When: Saturday, April 21, 9:30 a.m.-12 noon

Where: Flint Creek Power Plant’s Eagle Watch Nature Trail, Hwy. 12, 1 mile west of Gentry (parking area on south side of highway just east of Little Flint Creek bridge)

Program:9:30 to 10 a.m. – Tree planting; 10 a.m. to Noon – Nature programs, including University of Arkansas – Pollinators (bees, butterflies, birds); Lynn Sciumbato – Raptors featuring live birds that she rehabilitates at her Morning Star Wildlife Rehab Center; Arkansas Game & Fish Commission – Wildlife

About Flint Creek and Eagle Watch:

The 528-megawatt, coal-fueled power plant in Gentry, Ark., is owned by AEP’s SWEPCO subsidiary and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC). It is operated by SWEPCO and has been producing electricity for Northwest Arkansas for more than 30 years. Approximately 700 acres of the plant’s 1,600 acres are designated as wildlife habitat.

Flint Creek’s Eagle Watch Nature Area has been recognized by many organizations. In early 2007, Audubon Arkansas designated the Flint Creek property as an “Important Bird Area.” Flint Creek also maintains a Wildlife Habitat Council-certified Corporate Lands for LearningSM program that features outdoor classroom activities that involve the community in teaching and learning about conservation. Other awards and certifications have come from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Arkansas Environmental Federation and the Arkansas Wildlife Federation.

More information is available at http://www.SWEPCO.com/environment.

This is one of two ponds which the city intends to make deeper so that fish can be stocked and thrive there year-round and provide fishing opportunities for visitors. Photos by Randy Moll

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kaylin Cripps was one of the afternoon entertainers on the main stage in the Gentry Park during the July 4 Freedom Festival last summer. Photo by Randy Moll

Kaylin Cripps of Gentry will be performing with her new band in their first live concert, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., on March 31, at the Community Christian Fellowship Center, 525 South Lincoln Street, Siloam Springs.

The performance is for the Roberts/Philpott Eye Associates team “Relay for Life” fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society.

A spaghetti supper will be held at 5:30 p.m., along with other entertainment, silent and live auctions.

Cripps has performed at numerous local events and has won awards at county and state fairs, as well as being a regional winner in a McDonalds singing contest.

• April 21 — Country View Animal Care Center ($8.00), 8 to 10 a.m., at the Country View Animal Care Center in Gravette;

• April 25 — Decatur Fire Station ($8.00), 4 to 5:30 p.m. by the Country View Animal Care Center;

• April 23 — Hiwasse Fire Station ($8.00), 4 to 5:30 p.m. by the Country View Animal Care Center;

• April 26 — Sulphur Springs Park ($8.00), 4 to 5:30 p.m. by the Country View Animal Care Center;

• April 28 — Country View Animal Care Center ($8.00), 8 to 10 a.m., at the Country View Animal Care Center in Gravette;

• April 24 and 27 by appointment — Country View Animal Care Center, at 17624 West Highway 72, in Gravette ($8.00) — 787-6284;

• April 21-28 by appointment — Gentry Veterinary Clinic, at 21499 West Highway 12, in Gentry ($7 for one-year and $15 for three-year vaccination) — 736-2354.

Nelson Watson winds up for a pitch in Gentry's game against West Fork. Photos by Randy Moll

Additional photos from the March 9 game between Gentry and West Fork can be viewed online at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mollfoto/sets/72157629550656929

For the game results, see this week’s issue of the Westside Eagle Observer.

Stopped in time, Shyanne Nichols is about to release a pitch during tournament play in Siloam Springs on Saturday. Photos by Randy Moll.

Additional photos taken of local teams at the Siloam Springs softball tournament are available for viewing at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mollfoto/sets/72157629190564702/show/

The peach trees at Taylor's Orchard in Gentry are in full bloom this week. Photos by Randy Moll

Peach blossoms are the rule at Taylor’s Orchard in Gentry, with row after row of trees in full bloom this week. Barring a killing frost over the next several weeks, the probability of peaches in late spring and early summer looks good. The orchard will also have blackberries in July.

Pink blossoms make the rows of trees at Taylor's Orchard full of brilliant color.

Kyndra Meeker was crowned homecoming queen at Friday's basketball game in Gravette.

In this week’s issue of the Westside Eagle Observer are Gravette’s basketball homecoming photos and much more, including the following:

• Gentry police acquire Humvees;

• Private club license issued in Decatur;

• Gravette Council adopts planning jusrisdiction;

• Literacy program moves to new location in Decatur;

• Ribbon cutting held in Gentry;

• Hometown Events;

• Ordinance proposed to regulate trash rectacles;

• School honor rolls and student photos;

• Local high school sports;

• Weddings, births, obituaries;

• Weekly devotion;

• Opinion — Are there wolves in Arkansas? Fun on the bayou, No hog pen for Bill;

• Classifieds; and more.

The paper if off to the press and will be in mail boxes and on news racks tomorrow.

Gentry heavyweight wrestler Bryar Pruess works to control his opponent during wrestling action Friday at the Gentry High School gym. See wrestling results on Page 1B.

This week’s issue is off to the press and will be in mailboxes and on news stands tomorrow. Included are the following:

• Gravette High hosts ACE match;

• Gentry considers emergency management group;

• Hiwasse residents look to be annexed into Gravette rather than Bella Vista;

• Decatur schools adopt facilities plan;

• Special school election to be held in Gravette School District;

• Highfill adopts 2012 budget, changes city organizational structure;

• Gentry could change animal control/code enforcement to police officer post;

• Opinion and Letters;

• Gentry Chamber Banquet set for Feb. 23;

• Springtown bridge nearing completion;

• Colors Day photos for Decatur and Plans for Gravette;

• Local wrestling and basketball results;

• Hometown Events, Obituaries, Devotion and more.

For subscription information, call 1-800-482-1121. To provide news tips, call 787-5300. To advertise, call 524-4131.