AREA COMMUNITY NEWS: Bones, Bakers & Bags in Eldon; Safe & Healthy Kids Fair in Keosauqua; Veterans Coffee in Keosauqua; Breakfast in Bonaparte

Bones, Bakers & Bags set in Eldon

ELDON - GATE's 13th annual Bones, Bakers & Bags is planned for Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Wapello County Fairgrounds in Eldon.

The day includes a rib cook-off, an apple pie-making contest and a bag toss tournament. Events also will include a pie auction, music performed by local artists and a community barbecued meal.

Contest judging begins at 3 p.m., with the pie auction, awards, dinner and bag toss tournament to follow.

The rib cook-off entry fee is $25. Teams can register the day of the event or in advance by calling 641-455-1574.

A cooks's meeting will be at 10 a.m.

Participants must cook six pork ribs to be turned in for judging at a specified time. Judging boxes will be provided.

An optional 'appetizer round” also will be available for teams entered in the rib cook-off. The appetizer round will not impact a team's overall score.

A traveling trophy will be awarded to the rib cook-off champion. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.

Limited electric hookups are available.

Contestants in the apple pie-making contest can register the day of the event or preregister by calling 641-777-1935.

To enter, a participant must provide one apple pie for contest judging and one pie of any flavor to be donated to the pie auction.

Pie turn-in time is 2 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three scored apple pies.

For information regarding the apple pie completion or to donate pies to the pie auction, but not compete in the contest, call 641-777-1935.

Teams that would like to participate in the bag toss tournament can register the day of the event or preregister by calling 641-799-1170.

The entry fee is $40 per team. Half the entry fees collected will be paid back as purse to top-placing teams. The remaining 50 percent of the entry fees collected goes to the nonprofit organization GATE - Gothic Area Tourism of Eldon - and its ongoing community betterment projects, including Bones, Bakers & Bags.

Team registration and bracket assignment begins at 4:30 p.m. The tournament begins following the rib and pie contest awards.

Boards and bags will be provided.

Safe & Healthy Kids Fair set in Keosauqua

KEOSAUQUA - The annual Safe & Healthy Kids Fair is planned from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 30 at the Roberts Memorial Center on the Van Buren Fairgrounds in Keosauqua.

The fair is free and open to the public.

Students in the Van Buren County Community School District or who are home-schooled in Van Buren County will receive a free school supply voucher and backpack.

Free dental screenings, vision screenings, books, hygiene items, snacks and more will be provided.

For information, call Melissa Daugherty at 319-293-8727.

Veterans Coffee scheduled Thursday

KEOSAUQUA - A Veterans Coffee is planned at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 at Great Day Cafe in Keosauqua.

Everyone is welcome and need not be a military veteran to attend.

Free coffee and refreshments will be provided by Veterans Affairs.

For information, call Kathy Saltzgaver at 319-293-3793.

Breakfast on Main offered Aug. 3

BONAPARTE - A Breakfast on Main is planned 7-9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Whitely Opera House in Bonaparte.

A full, hot breakfast is planned.

A free will donation will be collected.