Calendar of events
Jan. 15
Boys and Girls Club of Van Buren Leadership Luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Van Buren High School Commons. Guest speaker will be Tim David, author of Magic Words and True Influence. The club’s youth of the year will be announced at the event, which is by invitation only.
Jan. 16
Mountainburg First Assembly of God will hold a blood drive from 2 to 6 p.m. Call (877) 340-8777 or visit www.arkbi.org.
Jan. 17
Mulberry Senior Center will hold a National Family Caregiver Support Program at 10 a.m. for caregivers of adults 60 years or older. “Helping Your Loved One with Depression” will be presented by Kristi Cowell of UAMS. Refreshments will be served. Call 997-1901.
Jan. 18
Alma Senior Center will hold a National Family Caregiver Support Program at 10:30 a.m. for caregivers of adults 60 years or older. “Helping Your Loved One with Depression” will be presented by Kristi Cowell of UAMS. Refreshments will be served. Call 632-3535.
Jan. 19
Alma Public Library will hold a redwork embroidery class from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Bring an embroidery needle, embroidery loop, red floss, envelopes and a shoe box. Call 632-4140.
Walmart Supercenter in Alma will hold a blood drive from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Call (877) 340-8777 or visit www.arkbi.org.
Jan. 23
Van Buren Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours will be 5:15-6:30 p.m. at Generations Bank, 2925 Alma Highway.
Jan. 27
Crawford County Spelling Bee will begin at 9 a.m. at the Fine Arts Center at Van Buren High School.
Jan. 29
Auditions for a performance of Mary Poppins Jr. will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday in the make-up room at the Van Buren Fire Arts Center. The auditions for Van Buren kindergarten through 12th grade students will include a one-minute monologue and 16 bars of music. Show dates are 7 p.m. May 26 and 2 p.m. May 27 at the Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $10.
Jan. 30
Alma Senior Center will host a National Family Caregiver Support Program at 10:30 a.m. for caregivers of adults 60 years or older. The topic “Helping Your Loved One With Depression” will be presented by Kristi Cowell of UAMS. Refreshments will be served. Call (479) 632-3535.
Feb. 3
Step Up to Wellness, a free community event hosted by Van Buren Original, will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seminars will be at the King Opera House and vendor areas at Main Attraction. Call Joy Holman at (479) 222-5241 or vanburenoriginal@gmail.com.
Feb. 24
King Elementary School will host its 13th annual Run With the Knights 5K, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at 411 N. 20th St. Proceeds will send students to fourth-grade camp. Early registration until Feb. 16 is $15. Registration after and day of the race is $25. For more information e-mail: Karen.Wallace@vbsd.us.
Miss Van Buren High School and Miss Teen VBHS pageants, hosted by Project Graduation 2018, will be 7-10 p.m. at the Van Buren Fine Arts Center, 2001 E. Pointer Trail.
Miscellaneous
Alma Masonic Lodge meets the second and fourth Mondays at the lodge building. Supper is at 6:30 p.m.
Children/family practice night is held Mondays at Hero’s Arena with barrel racing on Tuesdays and team sorting on Fridays.
Crawford County 4-H Shooting Sports 4-H Club meets the first and third Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 474-5286.
Crawford County Library System holds its board meetings the second Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September and November at 4:30 p.m. For meeting location or more information, call the library system at (479) 471-3226.
Crawford County Volunteers for Literacy, 2925 Alma Highway, Suite 9, in Van Buren, offers adult reading, math, English as a second language and other classes. Classes are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Call 474-4594.
Double-Six dominoes with no gambling is played in the Van Buren Historic District. Call (479) 459-4169.
English as a second language classes are offered at the Crawford County Adult Education Center, Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m. Call 471-0019.
GED classes are offered at the Crawford County Adult Education Center, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 471-0019.
Introduction to computer classes are offered at the Crawford County Adult Education Center. Call 471-0019.
Overeaters Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Central Presbyterian Church, 2901 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith. Call (479) 474-9606.
Robert Jack VFW Post 1322 hosts a PTSD peer support group meeting the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. The meetings are open to anyone. Call service officer Shawn Wenninger at (910) 709-9853.
Van Buren Farmers Market is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Freedom Park Pavilion on Main Street Saturdays and Wednesdays and 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Call (479) 259-7517.
Van Buren Lions Club meets at noon the first, third and fourth Wednesdays at Western Sizzlin’ in Van Buren.
Weekly
AA meetings are held Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Van Buren and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Mulberry Methodist Church.
Alma Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at noon at the Alma Community Center.
American Legion Post No. 31, 4901 Midland Blvd., Fort Smith, meets for coffee and donuts at 7:30 a.m.
Butterfield Assembly of God Church, 1302 N. 30th St. in Van Buren, will hold GriefShare classes each Wednesday at 10 a.m. in room 203 of the Family Life Center. For information, call the church office at (479) 474-4410.
Cedarville Senior Center is open on Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. for cards, dominoes and karaoke. Bring an item for a potluck. Donations to help with utility costs are encouraged. Call 474-5429.
Citizenship classes are offered at the Crawford County Adult Education Center Mondays, 6 to 8 p.m. Call 471-0019.
Crawford County Optimist Club meets at noon Thursdays at Las Fresas in Van Buren.
DivorceCare will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sundays, excluding holidays, at Heritage United Methodist Church, 1604 Pointer Trail in Van Buren, beginning Jan. 14. Childcare will be available with advanced notice for kids birth to fifth grade. Call LaToya Shepherd at (479) 474-6424.
Freedom for Life Ministries offers Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, 523 Main Street in Van Buren behind the literacy council office, Tuesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Call Lonnie Bennett, (479) 226-9476, or Jerry Cowan, (479) 650-4738.
GriefShare will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sundays, excluding holidays, at Heritage United Methodist Church, 1604 Pointer Trail in Van Buren, beginning Jan. 14. Call LaToya Shepherd at (479) 474-6424.
Handprints Sign Language Choir holds practice at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Vista Freewill Baptist Church, 2301 Fayetteville Road in Van Buren. Call Kerry Scott, 650-0215.
Hearts of Hope “Way Out” drug program meets 8 p.m. Mondays in Alma. Mulberry division meets Saturdays at 7 p.m.
Kiwanis Club of Van Buren meets at noon on Tuesdays at Chili’s.
Old Town Sertoma Club meets at noon Wednesday in Van Buren.
Spirit Plus Christian Life Center holds baseball classes each Tuesday. Call 474-2168 or 806-3134.
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets Mondays from 5 to 6 p.m. at VFW Post No. 1322, 23 N. 20th St. in Van Buren. Call (479) 459-2771, (479) 414-1049, (479) 221-7349 or (918) 498-2029.
Van Buren Rotary Club meets at noon Thursday at the Crawford County Extension Office, 105 W. Pointer Trail.
Wednesday Lunch Bunch meets 10:30 a.m. in the Center for Arts and Education, 104 N. 13th in Van Buren. Fee is $3.
White Rock Prayer and Teaching Center, 7723 Cain Road in Alma, holds scriptural teaching at 2 p.m. each Saturday. Call Gib Lutes, (479) 221-8289.
Monthly
First week
Autism Spectrum Disorders Support Group will meet the first Thursday at 7 p.m. at Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church, 3130 Pointer Trail East in Van Buren. Contact Rickie Timmons, (479) 471-7110 or (479) 461-9333.
Clear Creek Masonic Lodge in Mountainburg meets the first Thursday with dinner at 6:30 p.m and the meeting at 7:30.
Fort Smith Area Huntington’s Disease Support Group meets 6 p.m. the first Tuesday. Call Pat, 462-7711, or Sandee, 474-2221.
Friends of the Alma Public Library meets the first Tuesday in the Alma Public Library. Call 632-4140.
Friends of the Van Buren Public Library meet the first Monday at the library at 5:30 p.m. followed by a book talk.
God’s Harvest Church, 325 Ray Lane in Alma, holds a fellowship singing at 6 p.m. the first Saturday. A covered dish meal precedes the singing at 5. For information call (479) 629-4307.
Mountainburg FFA Alumni meet the first Saturday at 7 p.m. at Mountainburg High School.
Remy Masonic Lodge No. 487 in Mulberry meets the first Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., with dinner preceding at 6:30.
River Valley Chapter of the Blacksmiths of Arkansas meets the first Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1604 Daugherty Road in Van Buren. Call (479) 474-5547 or (479) 651-1507.
Robert Jack VFW Post 1322 motorcycle riders group meets the first Monday at 5 p.m. Call service officer Shawn Wenninger at (910) 709-9853.
Van Buren First Assembly of God, 1014 Fayetteville Road, serves home-cooked lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $7 each the first Thursday. Call 474-7832.
Van Buren Masonic Lodge hosts a breakfast in the lodge the first Saturday, from 7 to 10 a.m. Cost is $5 per person. Children 6 and under are free.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1322 meets 6:30 p.m., the first Monday at 23 N. 20th St., Van Buren. The VFW Auxiliary meets as well. Call Post Commander Earl Duty, (479) 670-3836, or auxiliary president Holly A. Baker, (479) 445-9303, or visit www.RobertJackVFWPost1322.org.
Second week
Alma High School Class of 1955 meets 11:30 a.m. the second Monday at D’s Family Restaurant on Collum Lane in Alma in February, May, August and November.
American Legion Post No. 31, 4901 Midland Blvd., Fort Smith, meets the second Monday at 6:30 p.m. for a family dinner. Cost is $5 per person. There are also guest speakers each month. Call post commander Bobbie Pike, (479) 782-6719.
Bond Special EHC meets at 10 a.m. the second Thursday at the Crawford County Extension Office, 105 Pointer Trail West in Van Buren.
Boys and Girls Club of the Alma Area board of directors meets at 6 p.m. the second Thursday at the club, 410 East Main. Call president Becky Newton at 632-2070.
Cedarville 4-H Club meets the second Monday at the Old Rock School at 6 p.m. Call 474-5286.
Crawford County 4-H Teen Leaders meets the second Monday at 6 p.m. at the county extension office in Van Buren. Call 474-5286.
Crawford County Car Club meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday at Dee’s Restaurant in the Meador’s Inn in Alma. Call Ethan Gordon at 719-0757.
Crawford County Genealogical Society meets 1 p.m. the second Tuesday in the Mushrush Room at Alma Public Library.
District 4 Volunteer Fire Department has its board meeting the second Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Station 1 in Cedarville.
Locke-Fern and Dollard Road Waterworks Public Facilities Board meets the second Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the water office, 505 U.S. 71 SW in Mountainburg.
Natural Dam Community Center meets the second Thursday at 7 p.m. at the community center.
Natural Dam Volunteer Fire Department meets the second Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Order of the Eastern Star Fidelity Chapter 86 meets the second Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Van Buren Masonic Lodge, 18 Fayetteville Road. Potluck supper begins at 6:30.
Republican Party of Crawford County meets at 7 p.m. at the Republican Headquarters, 620B Main St. in Van Buren, the second Tuesday.
Republican Women of Crawford County meets the second Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Republican Headquarters, 620B Main Street in Van Buren.
River Belles EHC meets 7 p.m. the second Monday at 105 Pointer Trail West in Van Buren.
Rocky Top 4-H Club meets in the Turner Community 2:30 p.m. the second Sunday. Call Luann Wise, 217-0280.
Rudy Park Community Association meets 7 p.m. the second Monday in the Rudy Community Building.
TLC Extension Homemakers Club meets 6 p.m. the second Monday at the Turner Community Building. Call Shirley Donnohue, 997-1590.
Turner Community Development Board meets at 6 p.m. the second Friday in the community building. Potluck follows at 6:30 and family night at 7.
Van Buren Masonic Lodge No. 6 meets the second Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6:30.
Woodmen of the World meets the second Monday at 6 p.m., 2410 Alma Highway. Call 410-1726.
Third week
Alma Area Chamber of Commerce meets at noon the third Tuesday at D’s Family Restaurant.
Alzheimer’s Support Group from Memory Lane meets the third Thursday at Legacy Heights, 1012 Fayetteville Road in Van Buren, at 2 p.m. Call 474-7233 or 262-6466.
American Legion Post No. 31, 4901 Midland Blvd., Fort Smith, meets the third Monday at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast, biscuits and gravy and pancakes. Cost is $5 per person. Call post commander Bobbie Pike, (479) 782-6719.
Butterfield District 5 Volunteer Fire Department hosts a pancake breakfast the third Saturday from 7 to 10 a.m. Donations accepted.
Clear Creek Masonic Lodge in Mountainburg hosts a pancake breakfast 7 to 10 a.m. the third Saturday. Cost is $5 per person.
Crawford County Conservation District board meets the third Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at 701 Fayetteville Road in Van Buren.
Crawford County Friends of Genealogy meets the third Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Van Buren Public Library. Meetings are not held in July and August. Call Janette Perryman, 474-0664, or Hilda Daugherty, 474-2270.
Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 61, Van Buren, meets 6:30 p.m. the third Monday at 23 N. 20th St., Van Buren. Call Danny Molina at 632-2588.
Dyer Women’s Auxiliary hosts community bingo the third Saturday 6-8 p.m. at the Dyer Community Building. Bring a small gift to be used as door prizes. Concessions are available.
Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 260 meets 7:30 p.m. the third Monday at the Remy Masonic Lodge No. 487 in Mulberry. Dinner precedes the meeting.
Order of the Eastern Star Melody Chapter 579 meets the third Tuesday at Fine Springs Masonic Hall in Alma at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments are served at 6:30.
Uniontown Extension Homemakers Club meets the third Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Uniontown Baptist Church in the fellowship hall. Call Sissie at (479) 474-6181.
Van Buren High School Class of 1961 meets the third Saturday at noon at Western Sizzlin’ in Van Buren. Call Phyllis Brammer Hamlin, 632-3343, or Judy Bushong Coleman, 474-6455.
Van Buren High School Class of 1965 meets for lunch the third Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Western Sizzlin’ in Van Buren.
Women’s Literary Club meets the third Monday 1 p.m. at 421 Webster in downtown Van Buren, September through May.
Fourth week
Alma Extension Homemakers Club meets 1 p.m. the fourth Tuesday in the Alma Public Library.
Alma VFW and VFWA Post 6465 meets 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday at the Alma Senior Inn.
Crawford County Animal Science 4-H Club meets at 2 p.m. at the Mulberry fairgrounds the fourth Sunday. Call Penni Templeton, 629-1016.
Sparks Regional Medical Center - Van Buren Auxiliary meets 1 p.m. the fourth Thursday in the hospital conference room. Call 471-4344.
United Methodist Men of Alma United Methodist Church hold a breakfast with pancakes, biscuits and gravy and sausage from 7 to 10 a.m. the fourth Saturday.
Information on upcoming events will be published on a space-available basis within 30 days preceding the event, for non-profit groups and organizations meeting in Crawford County only. Submit pertinent information to: In and Around, Press Argus-Courier, 100 N. 11th St., Van Buren, AR 72956, fax to 471-5607, or e-mail to: jmcclure@pressargus.com.