Ashdown School Board Meeting 05/19
The Ashdown School Board will have a special called meeting, May 19th, at 5:00 p.m. at the Ashdown Schools Administration Building, 751 Rankin Street, Ashdown, AR. The agenda items will include an expulsion hearing and personnel.
De Queen High School Spring Sports Awards Ceremony 05/19
The De Queen High School will have a spring sports awards ceremony on Monday, May 19th, in the De Queen High School Cafeteria. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, and awards will begin at 7 pm. There will be awards for basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, archery, trap, cheer, and track and field. Refreshments will be served.
Tri-County Regional Board Meeting 05/20
Tri-County Regional Library Board of Trustees will meet for their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, May 20th at 5 p.m., at the Sevier County-De Queen Branch Library. Financial reports along with old and new business will be discussed. Following the meeting the Board will have a training meeting.
Harvest will provide TEFAP USDA Food Boxes for Sevier County Residents 05/21
Harvest Regional Food Bank will distribute TEFAP USDA Food Boxes directly from their truck on Wednesday, May 21st, from 8:30- 10:30 am. The truck will be parked at the First Baptist Church Lockesburg located at 3466 S. Camellia Lockesburg, AR. Recipients must come inside the church to check in. Once checked in, recipients will go back to their vehicle and proceed to line up along W Magnolia and the church parking lot. The line will continue up W Magnolia to S Park Ave than north on S Park Ave towards W Spruce St. Next Mobile Pantry will be August 27th. Recipients must bring photo identification or proof of address to verify they are a resident of Sevier County. Distribution is limited to one box per household and 2 households per vehicle.
35th Annual Tri Lakes Bass Festival 05/24
The 35th Annual Tri Lakes Bass Festival will be held on Saturday, May 24th, from 6 am-1 pm. Event will be held at Tri-Lakes (De Queen Lake, Dierks Lake, and Gillham Lake. Must submit 1 registration form per person. You can make checks payable to Sevier County Chamber of Commerce. You can mail to PO Box 67 in De Queen, AR 71832 or drop off at 315 W Stillwell Ave in De Queen, AR 71832. For more information, call 870-584-3225 or email dqchamber@gmail.com. There is a $65 registration fee per person and $70 for late registration after 4 pm on Saturday, May 24th. The $75 registration bundle includes the registration fee and bass wristband. It is $80 for late registration and you wear wristband at hourly weigh-in. If your catch takes 1st place, you win an additional $50. Boat check and late registration begins at 5 am at Oak Grove & Rolling Fork in De Queen, Coon Creek & Little Coon Creek in Gillham, and Jefferson Ridge in Dierks. First weigh-in by 8 am and final weigh-in at 1 pm. Awards ceremony will be held at 3 pm at De Queen Herman Dierks Park. You must be present to win for door prizes and reel the weight. Must adhere to all event, state and federal rules and regulations. Hourly prizes on each lake are $100 for 1st, $80 for 2nd, $70 for 3rd, $60 for 4th, and $50 for 5th. For armband, it’s $150 for 1st, $85 for 2nd, $75 for 3rd, $65 for 4th, and $55 for 5th. Big Bass Overall winners are $2000 for 1st, $1000 for 2nd, $750 for 3rd, $500 for 4th, and $300 for 5th. If the last 2 digits of the biggest fish at each lake match the secret number, you win $10000.
Murray Neely Retirement Celebration 05/27
The De Queen High School will host a retirement celebration for Murray Neely to recognize 48 years of hard work and dedication to De Queen Schools. The retirement celebration will be held on Tuesday, May 27th, from 11 am-12 pm at the De Queen High School Library.
43rd Annual Sevier County Sr Citizens Appreciation Day 05/30
The 43rd Annual Sevier County Sr Citizens Appreciation Day will be held on Friday, May 30th, from 9 am-1 pm on the Sevier County Courthouse Lawn. This events shows senior citizens they can prioritize their wellness and embrace the spirit of Peace, Love and Good Health. Senior Citizens can enjoy free health screenings, demonstrations, a meal, and good fellowship where they can keep the good vibes flowing. The event is for ages 55 and older.
Sevier County Library Reading Contest 06/02-07/31
The Sevier County Library will host a Summer Reading Contest beginning on Monday, June 2nd, through Thursday, July 31st. Reading broadens perspectives, expands your vocabulary, and stimulates imagination and creativity.
Lockesburg All School Reunion 06/07
The Lockesburg All School Reunion will be held on Saturday, June 7th, from 1-5 pm at the Old Lockesburg Gym (UA Cossatot Gymnasium). The campus will be available for tours. All alumni, classmates, friends, and family welcome to enjoy visiting with classmates and faculty and sharing that Blue Darter spirit.
Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas to Host Four-Day Regional Next-Gen Youth Conferences Focused on Leadership, Mental Health, and Prevention 06/10-06/13
Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas is proud to announce a dynamic four-day youth conference series spanning four counties in Southwest Arkansas. These high-impact events are designed to educate, inspire, and equip young people through interactive experiences centered on substance misuse prevention, mental health awareness, and youth leadership development. Hosted in partnership with national youth engagement leader Vive 18, offering enriching programming tailored to empower the next generation of leaders. The event will be held on June 10th at the UA Cossatot Campus in De Queen, on June 11th at SAU Tech in Camden, on June 12th at Mena Middle School, and on June 13th at Hempstead Hall in Hope. Times for each day are 9 am-2 pm. Check in begins at 8:30 am each day. This includes free lunch for all participants. Each conference day will feature powerful keynote speakers, hands-on leadership workshops, mental health and wellness sessions, youth contests, games, and giveaways, and community impact project planning. In addition to youth programming, adult-focused sessions will be held each day, providing tools for coalition-building and sustainable prevention strategies at the local level, Hidden in Plain sight, and advanced grant writing—led by Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas. Media, volunteers, or partners interested in attending or supporting the events can contact
Crystal Ball at Crystal.Ball@BTGArkansas.org or call (903) 417-4730 or Johnny@BTGArkansas.com or call (903)908-5763
Lockesburg All School Reunion 06/11-07/16
The Sevier County Library presents Color Our World Summer Reading Program on Wednesdays beginning on June 11th and ending on July 16th. The program will take place at 10 am each of those Wednesdays.
McCurtain Memorial Hospital Back to School Luau 08/02
The McCurtain Memorial Hospital Back to School Luau will be held on Saturday, August 2nd, from 9-11 am. The event is community-wide and will be held on 1301 E. Lincoln Rd in Idabel, OK. There will be free school supplies and back packs. There will be music, water features, games, food trucks, dunking booth, giveaways, vaccines and more. For more information, contact Christy McCullough at 580-286-7623 Ext. 925 or Kayla Manginell at 580-286-7623 Ext. 905.
ON-GOING PROGRAMS
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Sevier County Farmers Market
The Sevier County Farmers Market will open on Wednesday, May 7th, at 7 am-12 pm in Downtown De Queen at the City Pavilion. Saturday markets start on May 10th from 7 am-12 pm or sold out. 2025 vendor forms available on site. Follow their Facebook page for the latest updates.
Fiber Network Engineer 04/14-07/28
The Fiber Network Engineer Program is an Arkansas Fiber Academy program co-designed with industry partners to ensure students understand and master FTTH networks, routing, and switching. Practical labs, hands-on experiences, and guest lectures by industry experts are integrated into this 15 week program to give students a real-world understanding of their learning applies outside the classroom and insights into the latest developments in FTTH technology. Curriculum includes Introduction to Remote Work and Networking Fundamentals, Basics of Ethernet and FTTH Networks, Networking Devices and Protocols, Introduction to Routing and Switching, Remote Work and Network Security, Troubleshooting and Support, Lab Projects and Final Exam/Certification. Program highlights include free training funded by Office of Skills Development, supportive services available to assist qualifying participants with transportation costs, free tools worth over $800 for graduates, and career services including job placement assistance. Credentials offered are Calix Broadband Engineer Certification, Arkansas Fiber Academy Fiber Network Engineer Certification, and 45 continuing education units. Classes will be beginning Monday, April 14th, and will go through Monday, July 28th. The class will be held on Monday through Thursdays from 8 am-4:30 pm and provide 450 contract hours. Marty Allen is the instructor. For more information, contact 870-584-1178 or continuingeducation@cccua.edu.
Story Creek Baptist Church GriefShare
Story Creek Baptist Church’s GriefShare is designed to help those grieving the loss of a loved one(s). It’s a nondenominational and truth centered approach that helps to bring healing on the journey through grief. No matter your background or story, there is hope and help available. If this is something you, or someone you know may be interested in, please contact us through Facebook, Messenger, or by contacting us at 479-216-3752. Pending the interest response, we project to launch the GriefShare Group meetings beginning Monday, July 8th, from 6:30pm-8pm. These will be weekly meetings through the summer and are free of charge. There is a suggested fee for the participant workbook, but scholarships are available upon request. Please contact Story Creek Baptist Church with questions and check out the Story Creek Baptist Church Facebook page for further announcements.
DE QUEEN CHURCH OF CHRIST FOOD PANTRY
De Queen Church of Christ, 1305 W Collin Raye Drive, will have the food pantry on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month from 11 am to 1 pm. For more information, call 870-584-3226.
DE QUEEN FIRST ASSEMBLY FOOD PANTRY
De Queen First Assembly, 1440 West Collin Raye Drive, will have the food pantry on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 9 am to 10:30 am. Call 870-584-3435 for more information about De Queen First Assembly and their food pantry.
Wickes Trade Days
Wickes Trade Days are the 2nd Saturday of each month. No charge for vendors to set up. The vendors start set up around 8 and it’s located on the lawn between the Union Bank and fire station on 278 east in Wickes. You can search the Wickes TRADE DAY Facebook page for people to follow or contact 479-216-8234 for more information.
Micah 6:8 Coffee Time for Widows & Widowers
Micah 6:8 will host a coffee time for widows and widowers at 9 am on every 3rd Tuesday. Enjoy a free cup or two of the house coffee and cherish moments of fellowship with wonderful company. You can contact Micah 6:8 at 870-584-3115 or find them on Facebook. The address of Micah 6:8 is 302 W De Queen Ave in De Queen.
Sevier County Housing Authority Board Meetings
The Sevier County Housing Authority is going to have Board meeting the 3rd Thursday of every month at noon at the Housing Authority Community Room at 304 S 13th Street, De Queen. These meetings are open to the public.
Veterans for Foreign Wars Meeting
The Veterans for Foreign Wars (VFM) will meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month at the Legion Hut on 8th Street.
SEVIERLY STRONG – STRONGER TOGETHER!
De Queen/Sevier County Chamber of Commerce has started a new facebook page which will allow local businesses to post change of hours, curbside and home delivery availability as well as online shopping incentives. Help spread awareness for our local businesses by inviting friends and fellow business owners to join the group. For the most up-to-date listing or to post your information, click here.
PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TRAINING
The Division of Agriculture has made pesticide applicator training, certification available online.Fast Facts:
- Private applicator training now available online at uaex.edu/pat
- $20 cost does not include license fee paid to state
- Valid for both initial certification and recertification
FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION 2ND THURSDAY
Horatio Sotelo with Templo de Alabanza said they will be distributing commodities at the First Church of the Nazarene on Hwy 70B in De Queen the second Thursday of each month.
DAISY STATE PARK UPCOMING EVENTS
Copy and paste the link below for a list of upcoming events:https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/daisy-state-park
EXTENSION HOMEMAKERS CLUB MEETINGS
The Extension Homemakers Clubs (EHC) of Sevier County hold regular monthly meetings for members to gain new knowledge through workshops, programs, activities and service projects. Everyone is welcome and information is available by contacting Janet Cantrell at 870-584-3013.De Queen EHC meets the 2nd Wednesday of Each month in The REA building AT 9:30 a.m.Gillham EHC meets the 2nd Friday of each month in member homes in Gillham at 10:00 a.m.
AMERICAN LEGION NOW ACCEPTING ALL HONORABLY DISCHARGED MILITARY SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN
Ricky Hendricks, Commander of Post 54 in De Queen has announced more people can join the American legion. Previously only veterans with certain years of service were eligible, but now policies have changed to allow for anyone who has been honorably discharged from the military to join the legion. The local Legion Hut in De Queen is located at 813 North 8th street and the group meets the 2nd Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m.
DE QUEEN FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUES SAFETY REMINDERS
De Queen Fire Chief Dennis Pruitt has issued a reminder to citizens about carbon monoxide safety. For anyone who does not have a carbon monoxide detector or smoke alarm, call The Fire Department at 870-584-7224.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC NOW
You may now purchase copies of Arkansas Birth and Arkansas Death certificates at the Sevier County Health Unit, 304 N. 4th Street in De Queen.. For more information, call 870-642-2535AR Birth Certificates are $12.00 for first copy and $10.00 for each additional Birth Copy. AR Death Certificates are $10.00 and $8.00 for each additional Death Copy.At this time, they are only able to accept Cash or Check.You can still purchase certificates at: 4815 W Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72205.
IMAGINATION LIBRARY REGISTRATION FORMS
Imagination Library of Southwest Arkansas is an early childhood BOOK GIFTING program for all Sevier County children Birth to age Five. The children will receive an age appropriate book, monthly, at no cost to the parents, for children of Sevier County.To register for the Gifting Program, forms may be picked up at KDQN studios, De Queen Auto Group or at any Sevier County Library or you can register at www.imaginationlibrary.com.For more information, please call Z.Z. at 870-642-4886, Mary Ellen Dooley 870-584-8663, Melanie Marshall at 870-784-2882 or For Spanish information call Erika Buenrrostro at 870-784-5154.
HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are needed in Lockesburg, De Queen, Ashdown, Foreman, and Texarkana to help hospice patients and their families. Call Latoya Farris at 870-773-2621 or email: latoya.Farris@encompasshealth.com.
DONATIONS FOR CHALICE CUPBOARD ACCEPTED MON-SAT
Donations for the chalice cupboard may be dropped off at the De Queen branch of the Sevier County Library.
HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED ON THURSDAYS
Application for the low-income home energy assistance program will be accepted in Sevier County at the De Queen Nazarene Church on Thursdays from 8am-noon.
CASA SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
CASA of the Ouachita Region is currently looking for volunteers to advocate on behalf on foster care children. More information on volunteering can be found by calling Yuliza Stubbs at 870-518-4026 or email aguirreyuliza@yahoo.com.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY MEETING EVERY FRIDAY
De Queen First Assembly Celebrate Recovery is lead by Joe and Hattie Vance every Friday night at 6:00 p.m in De Queen. Information can be found by calling 870-584-3435 or email joehattiecr@yahoo.com.
HORATIO COMMUNITY LUNCH
Community lunch every 3rd Saturday at Horatio 1st Assembly of God Fellowship Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Every one is welcome and there is no cost.
FREE CLOTHING AT SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST
Seventh Day Adventist church is hosting a free clothing giveaway session every Thursday from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. The church is located at 1446 red bridge road in De Queen.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT GILLHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Gillham Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for extra help. Informational meetings are held at the station on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month with the exception of December. Contact Marc Rosson at 870-584-9434 to find out more about volunteering opportunities. Cent