First Teen Game Night Held

The Stone County Community Center (SCCC) group hosted its first event Friday night, a teen game night with 84 high school students attending. The group has announced that its next event will be a free community-wide Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 2, on the Stone County courtsquare.

Volunteers are being sought to help with the event. Lots of committed people will be needed, school clubs, businesses, civic groups, church groups, etc.

Activities needed include events such as cake walk, bobbing for apples, pumpkin painting, corn hole, horseshoes, ring toss, a petting zoo and others. Anyone interested in hosting an activity booth is asked to email the SCCC committee at stonecountycommunitycenter@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Additionally, there will be competitive events like sack races, three-legged races, and a pie eating contest for various age groups. There will also be snacks such as cotton candy, peanut brittle, caramel apples, hot cocoa/cider and a chili cook off! Members of the community are invited to donate their best pot of chili that SCCC can sell at their potato/chili bar. All food proceeds will benefit further programming efforts of the SCCC.

Finally, the group would like to host a silent auction on this day as well. Please consider donating items for this auction.

In order for this program to grow, the group must have some seed money. The long term vision is to construct a multi-use building for all members of the community, with an indoor aquatics center and hydrotherapy pool at the city park that can be used year round at an affordable rate.

They are working with the University of Arkansas school of architecture on a rendering. Grant monies are available, and the group plans to start working on applications soon. However, many of the grants require matching donations.

To aid in this effort, SCCC has recently completed filing papers for tax exemption status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization so that individuals can begin making tax free donations.

Please consider this effort as part of the philanthropic legacy that you leave in this county to strengthen the health and well-being of all the citizens who pass this way both now and for years to come. Although a ballot issue may ultimately be necessary, SCCC would like to avoid further taxation on our citizens. Residents are asked to share this request with anyone else who group up in Stone County and might be willing to donate to the cause.

See more photos in the Aug. 28, 2019 issue.