Ice Cream Social

The weather will be getting warm in June so on the 20th at 4:00 join your friends and neighbors for some delicious homemade and purchased ice cream. Proceeds will go toward the upkeep of the community building. You may win one of our door prizes.

We'll also be welcoming back our very own Buddy R Kelly Jr. who will be providing live entertainment. Thanks Buddy!

Monthly Game Night

If you have not joined us on the second Friday night of every month, you are missing good eats and good companionship.

While the board members have their meeting at 6:00, the ladies are getting everything set out and ready to eat. We have potluck at 6:30 and talk about being good, its much better than good. The cooks outdo themselves and if anyone goes away hungry, it is their own fault. Then after eating and visiting, almost everyone stays and does more visiting while playing games. Most everyone plays Mexican train (with their own variation of the rules of course).

Turner Trade Days Are Coming

Yep, we have a new activity on the venue for this year’s fund raising. We will be having a community yard sale/trade day Saturday July 18th. So mark your calendars and start your spring cleaning. Outside spaces for the sale will rent for $10.00 and you can get a lot of stuff into a 12 X 20 area. A limited number of inside 8 X 10 spaces will be available for $15.00. If you need a table, they will also be for rent at $3.00 each. Two folding chairs will be provided to each booth. What a great opportunity to get rid of some of the stuff that has been accumulating around your house and you can make some money to boot. We want to start early in the morning, around 7 AM and you can sell as long as you want. You will be allowed to bring your merchandise out the day before and set it up. Each person must clean up their area before leaving, and any unsold merchandise must be removed by the end of the day. The sale will be advertised in the local newspapers and flyers will be posted. We hope this will be a successful event that will lead to a Turner tradition.

The Extension Homemakers Club, better known as the Turner Ladies Club, will be selling hot dogs, chips, drinks, and miscellaneous snack items. All profits from the snack sale, booth rent, and table rent will be deposited in the Turner Community General Fund.

Everyone knows how much it costs these days to upkeep a facility. We need to raise money to gurantee funds for future expenses of insurance, utilities, maintenance, and lawn care. If you want to participate in the Turner Trade Day event, reserve your space by calling Don or Linda Wilkinson at 479-997-8541, Max or Shirley Donnohue at 479-997-1590. Get your reservations in now. And remember…one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

PS…It has been rumored that Herschel has challenged Don to an old fashioned Hoop Roll contest. Don would like to officially accept this challenge and will now commence some vigorous training. The Trade Day function should provide an ample crowd to witness this courageous and valiant contest that could possibly qualify for an entry into the Guiness World Book of Records. He is also going to fervently explore the internet for official rules and will then provide his own rendition of them. Herschel…beware!

Plant Swap

Another new event is scheduled for May 16th. It is a Plant Swap at the Community Building at 9:00 AM. Bring any extra plants or seedlings you wish to give away. You can take home as many as you want. Hope to have a lot to swap. Come and see what we have to offer.

Fish Fry Coming!

Again it is the time for the annual fish fry for the Turner Community May 9, 2009. We will be cooking the fish outside the kitchen.

So come and kick back and enjoy the latest newest info (not gossip) going on in the community.

Starting time is called eatin' time, and we will be eatin' at 4:00P.M. Come ahead early and do some visiting. See you at the fish fry. Price is $7.50 adults and $3.00 for kids 12 & under for all you care to eat. Hopefully several door prizes will be awarded.

Annual Chili Supper Fund Raiser!

Turner community will be hosting it’s regular Chili Supper on February 21 at 6:30 PM. This is an annual event to raise money to pay for the upkeep of the building and grounds and to pay the utilities bills. However, there’s one thing special about this year…we’ll have live entertainment provided by local good ole boy, Buddy R Kelly Jr.

Buddy is an award winning singer and songwriter that grew up around these parts. He’s donating his time and talent to sing for us and we’re happy to have him. Buddy has won several song writing competitions including runner up for VH-1s “Song of the Year” award as well as played around the area for many years.

A self-taught guitarist, he’s a die-hard fan of Jim Croce, Neil Young and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. He’ll be bringing us tunes such as “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” (Jim Croce), “Bad Moon Rising” (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and selections made popular by artists such as The Eagles, Buddy Holly, Jimmy Buffet, Harry Chapin and Santana.

So come out, join the fun and help us support our community!

Yes! There Really Is A Spririt of Christmas!

Another year come and gone, another Christmas passed. Sometimes I think about all the hustle and bustle of running, shopping cooking, decorating, and attending all the special Christmas events. Sometimes I wonder if it really is worth it all. This turns out to be a time consuming season, it involves extra work, demands extra time, and requires extra money to get it all accomplished. But if it were anybody else’s birthday that we were celebrating, I would have given up a long time ago. But because of who Christ is, and what He gave to me, I know that there’s something about this season of celebration that excites me, encourages me, and sustains me. For what other reason on earth could we possibly endure this seemingly endless schedule of gala? So yes, I believe there really is a Spirit of Christmas.

When all is said and done, the tree comes down, the decorations are packed away, and the house is somewhat back in order, can we remember the love expressed and carry it in our hearts until the next celebration? Did we share God’s love, make some good memories, touch someone’s heart with our community fellowship? I certainly do hope so, because that is why we volunteered to do it all again. Yep, Shirley Donnohue and Beverly Patterson agreed to be my partners again for the 2009 Christmas Celebration.

So let’s just do some reminiscing about the memories made this past Christmas. If you attended either event, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Our pie auction event definitely brought us some surprises. The Handsome Man contest was absolutely awesome with Don Wilkinson and Jim Parker really working the crowd and raising donations. These two had the perfect personalities to get this going. All you guys out there need to be buffing up for the next contest, I’m looking for two handsome men to volunteer for this fun competition. Our Pretty Girl was Addie Pippen, daughter of Debbie Pippin and granddaughter of Herschel and Aline Jones. Of course, everyone enjoyed the cakewalk, Arlene Riggs does such a super job getting cake donations and making lots of fun for everyone. Not sure about the Turkey Bowling…does anyone have any real bowling pins? I think the plastic set may have been too easy for most of the kids, but Barbara Deputy had plenty of cupcakes for those who made a strike. I’m always open to any suggestions for games and volunteers to oversee them.

We raised a record amount of funds with the auction of pies, cakes, cookies, and a donated jewelry chest hand-made by Wesley Riggs. Richard Mirus did an excellent job of auctioneering all the goodies for us. This year we had several quality door prizes donated so the ones that attended were eligible for some neat gifts. Better stick around next time if you weren’t there. We also had a $50.00 check from Katy Young; how great it is to have someone care about our community even though Jim has passed on and she was out of the country for the holiday. Special thanks go out to her. And thanks to all those who shared their pies afterward, wasn’t it good to sit around and enjoy some pie and coffee after all the festivities? And of course, Jeanette was busy in the kitchen making sure everyone was taken care of.

Our sacking party was a prime example of cooperation and determination to fill all those goody bags; I just believe Santa and his elves could learn a few things from us. We had an assembly line moving with constant motion and we probably set a record with our efficiency and time management. Think about joining us, there’s always room for another helper.

The Grand Finale was of course, GRAND, in my opinion. So good to have the Rocky Top 4-H group involved with our celebration. This year Chris Boerjan led us in Christmas hymns and dear ol’ Santa came for a special visit. I’ll let you know if I get the garage I asked for. The Turner Ladies Club provided refreshments... very very tasty, and Jeanette’s punch was delicious.

There’s just something about the sound of people laughing, telling stories, and visiting with friends; sharing this moment in time with our family, our neighbors, our community; nearly a forgotten tradition in America today. When we all grow old, I believe we’ll need memories such as these to help us through. I’ll say, “Hey…Hey…Don, do you remember that Christmas you dressed up in them cut off stripped overalls and we hung that glittered heart of gold around your neck? You even let me color your mustache, and you made that speech in front of all them people? Well, Sweet Tater, you shorely was a handsome man back then…know what…you still is!!”

Happy New Year and thanks to you all for making this another wonderful Christmas.

Till next time…..Linda Wilkinson

Here Comes Christmas

Don't Look Now, But Here Comes Christmas!--Can you believe that the year is almost gone and it won’t be long until that wonderful time of year we call Christmas! It seemed like just yesterday I wrote to thank you all for the great participation in our annual pie auction. And now it’s time to remind you of the community effort this requires to keep this tradition going. Our pie auction will be Saturday evening November 15th at 6:30 PM.

Please write this on your calendars and make plans for you and your family to attend. As always, we need pies and cakes donated, and we also need people to attend the auction and purchase all those goodies. Along with the pie auction we’ll have the traditional cake walk, ugly man contest, and prettiest girl contest, and we’re working on a new activity if we get all the items needed beforehand. We’ll have some door prizes for those in attendance; you might just be a lucky winner. Afterwards, the fellowship and desserts are nothing but finger-lickin-good! Whew, I can almost taste Shirley’s pecan pie…and just thinking about Sondra’s carrot cake makes my mouth water. And wash that down with Jeanette’s Christmas punch, don’t get no better than that!

Last year we collected almost $750.00 and that enabled us to prepare 150 goodie sacks for our Christmas Gathering! Good work Turner Community supporters!

The program and distribution will be Saturday December 20th at 6:30 PM. I’m sure Luann and the 4-H kids will have a great treat for us, and maybe Santa will make another personal appearance.

Mark these days on your calendar, hope to see you all there. We are truly blessed to have a very concerned and hard working board, but this event is about you, about tradition, about a season to enjoy each other and our ability to share with the community.

Thank You. Linda Wilkinson

Bringin' the Fixin's

Several ladies have stated they would like to be involved in furnishing a dish when we have an event at the community building if they knew what to bring. The November Pie Supper and Christmas Program are about the only times we don’t have to have volunteers for food. Except pies for the Pie Supper and/or decorated cookies or candy for the Christmas Program. This year the EHC has volunteered to help with refreshments so we should be in for a real treat since the theme is “An Old Fashioned Christmas”, hopefully with some of the toys and games you found under the tree when you were young. We certainly invite you to the program which Luann and the 4-H kids do so well each year, then stay for the refreshments. We may even have a visit from our favorite friend at Christmas--Santa Claus himself.

Rock Around the Clock at Turner Community Building

About 6:00 pm on September 6, 2008, Lawrence and Richard Mirus pulled up their pick-ups out by the old see-saw racks behind the Turner School Building. One truck was pulling a barbeque smoker mounted on a trailer chassis and the other pick-up was loaded down with firewood and meats. The springs were groaning! Fire preparation in the smoker began quickly. Soon the oak and hickory wood fire was at about the right heat, and the guys began to lay the beef briskets on the pit to begin smoking.

If you know anything about brisket, you know that it can be the toughest and stringiest meat ever, if it is not cooked low and slow. Since this is the afternoon before the Turner Community Development Annual Barbeque Fundraiser, these guys just have one chance to get it right. They had determined that they were going to use a low wood fire for 24 hours to produce the flavor and tenderness they wanted. About 7:00 pm, other guys started to show up to check on the progress. About 8:00 there was a whole group assembled. Pete Watkins, Odell Brooks, Jim Parker, Don Wilkerson, Herschel Jones,. Chris Boerjan, Fred Peters and Glen Brandenburg all took their turns swapping stories and telling tales.
The tales got pretty entertaining. It seems that one time a Turner School kid got his britches taken off and thrown up into a tree where he couldn’t get them. The Principal was less than pleased! I wonder how that came out?

One by one the yarn tellers left to go home. Soon everyone had gone, except for Richard, Lawrence and Fred. Those guys stayed up all that cold night, talking and dozing and watching the fire under the meat. By 6:30 am the next morning, Lawrence began to cook breakfast. Rumor has it that they cooked and ate 4 pounds of bacon, a big black skillet full of scrambled eggs, and the better part of a large loaf of bread. It was told that Don Wilkinson ate smoked bologna until it nearly came out his ears.

By noon, samples were ready for the Turner School Alumni who poked their heads out back to see what was going on. At 1:00 pm about thirty school alumni dropped in to visit and enjoy being with their school mates of long ago. By 2:00 pm, the ladies of the community began to show up to organize the kitchen and food service for the barbeque. Pies, potato salad, deviled eggs, cakes and salads were only a small part of the delicious foods that were brought in to compliment the barbeque

About 100 people attended the barbeque which started at 4:00 pm. The barbeque was tender enough to cut with a fork, and had a glorious smoked flavor. By the time everyone had piled up their plates, board Chairman Mirus introduced Virgil Payne, a local candidate for JP, and Jason Watkins, a candidate for the Mountainburg School Board. Each gave a brief political speech, and asked for our votes.

Two plaques for Volunteer of the Year were presented to Jeanette Gibbs and Wesley Riggs. Turner Community owes them each a real debt of appreciation for the numerous hours of volunteer service they devote to us.

By 6:00 pm everyone had eaten all they could, were visiting with friends and having a good time. Just another 24 hours around the clock day of good fun and good friends!
Hey, just heard about the road crew starting to work on paving Mirus Hill. Too bad Jim didn't live to see the day. He would have organized a parade!!

Pope Cemetery Fish Fry

The annual Pope Cemetery fish fry, held on May 10 at the Turner Community Building was a great success. Even the bad weather could not put a damper on attendance. What a turn out! Approximately 100 people were served.

Hazel Holt was the organizer of getting the ladies to bring all the fine fixings and drinks. Richard Mirus was the organizer of getting the guys to help with cooking the fish, chicken and hush puppies! Give them a hand for they did an exceptional job!

The community made approximately $1200.00. After paying out all expenses, profit was approximately $654.00.

Feedback from people attending was very positive. Having it held in a building with clean restrooms and air condition was a big plus!

The beautiful quilt donated by Hazel Holt and hand quilted by the Turner Quilting Guild was won by Max and Elizabeth Fryar, Mulberry, AR.

We want to thank everyone who participated in helping out and those in attendance.

Calling all Firemen!

The Firemen Appreciation night will be forthcoming. Firemen, keep looking so you don't miss a good meal in honor of you guys and gals who serve us in a volunteer position is our local fire department.

Chili Supper

The February Chili Supper was a big success as usual. There were plenty of Chili pots with all the usual trimmings, potato salad, and other good things that goes with chili. The usual good desserts were present along with lots of drinks.

If you missed this event, remember us next February. Come and meet new and old friends and neighbors. We may even have a surprise or two.

Info, please…

…In the past, some of you said you would like to have an Old Fashioned Christmas, like you remember when you were young. Now it’s your turn to write to us and let us know your ideas. Please tell us about the tree decorations, kind of food, you remember, maybe the toys or gifts you would receive. Just any ideas would certainly be appreciated.

Also, if you have an idea for a community activity, please give us your ideas as well as idea for fund raisers.

Write to:
Turner Community Development Board
P.O. Box 362
Mountainburg, 72946

or e-mail
Richard Mirus at wonderfulrs@windstream.net
Beverly Patterson at bpatterson2@alltel.net

Upcoming events for 2008

February 9 @ 6:30 Chili Supper
March 4-H Easter Event-- date to be announced
May--Pope Fish Fry
May 17 @ 6:30 Fireman Appreciation Dinner
June 21 @ 4:00 Ice Cream Social
September 6 Homecoming @ 12:00 to 4:00 and Bar-B-Q @ 4:00
October 18 @ 6:30 Fund Raiser
October 4-H Halloween Event--date to be announced
November 15 @ 6:30 Pie Supper
December 20 @ 6:30 Christmas Program.

Another Community Christmas!

Congratulations Turner Community! You have celebrated another Christmas gathering with our special guest of dear ole Santa Claus one more time. And we’re again grateful to Luann Wise and her group for a wonderful Christmas play.

This event would not have been possible without your participation at the previous pie auction fund raiser. So thanks to you all, you know who you are, for bringing in the delicious desserts. And another special thanks to those who then stayed and bought them. Without these generous donators and purchasers, the Christmas bags would not have been given away.

We had a total of 35 pies and cakes in the auction. The famous Carrot Cake made by Sondra Carson brought in top money this year at $40.00. Max Donnohue was the lucky man that took it home. I’m sure he and his family enjoyed it tremendously. My grandson, Brian, was getting worried that a pumpkin pie was not going to show up, but thank goodness one did. I let him bid, (with grandma’s money), and was relieved when he finally got it for $25.00. I think Richard knew who was paying and set me up for that one!

Several pies were shared afterwards while Arlene Riggs conducted her annual cake walk. She had a steady crowd walking the circle trying to win one of the many cakes donated for this event. I think all who stayed had a great time eating all that pie, what could be better?

Cute little Mason Anstine won our prettiest girl contest. She had no trouble at all getting donations on her behalf and received a beautiful cake. But we had an excitement in the crowd trying to determine the ugliest man, and after several donations for the “other contestant” Fred Peters finally lost and took the jar of pickles home. Joe Fuller had just a few more dollars in his pocket to keep Fred in the lead.

When all was said and done, we had collected just over $750.00! We had 44 families represented with 125 members to receive Christmas Bags. Of course extras are always made for sharing, that’s what it’s all about. Approximately 150 bags were distributed.

Hope you enjoyed the goodies.

Several thank-yous need to be given: Shirley Donnohue and Beverly Patterson also served on the committee for this event. Shirley donated a wonderful gift basket for a door prize at the auction. Jeanette Gibbs and Sharon Mirus coordinated refreshments at both events. Our sacking party would have taken much longer if Don Wilkinson, Jeanette Gibbs, Richard Mirus, and Wesley Riggs had not assisted. Several vendors gave us discount pricing and even contributed product. I’m grateful for Sutherlands, Price Cutter, CV’s, and Wal-mart. I also want to especially thank Mountainburg First Assembly for the donations of several food items for this project.

This is a community event that has stood the test of time. Most of us don’t know how long this has actually been celebrated. As long as we have enough people who are willing to give of themselves, it can continue. When the next pie auction comes around, bake something, bring it to the auction, and stick around. We need people willing to buy a pie. The auction proceeds are our only source of funding. The fellowship afterwards is always a lot of fun.

If you have any ideas, feel free to share, and we’re always looking for volunteers to help in any way they can.

Thanks again…Linda Wilkinson