Stories from Wednesday, April 18, 2001

by Bob Allen, Editor Members of the Trumann Industrial Development Commission (TIDC) approved the hiring of an independent auditor and discussed several other matters in what proved a brief meeting Monday evening at the Trumann Municipal Building. Barbara Lewallen, in her first meeting since being elected president of the organization, later stated that "we're just as happy as can be" with progress being made in the business and industrial community in Trumann, but that efforts will continue to improve upon that progress.. ...

The Yellowjackets golf team is having an awesome season, with a 4-2 record on the season. The Jackets beat out ten other teams to win the Manila Invitational Golf Tournament Monday afternoon with a team score of 159. Chase Davis shot a 78 and Blake Ferguson shot an 81 to bring home the trophy...

Rivercrest dropped Trumann to 11-4 on the year with a 5-1 win at Wilson Thursday, April 12. The 'Cats could manage only five hits in the seven innings of action in the losing effort. The 'Cats picked up their lone run in the initial inning of play...

Cindy Martin, head coach of the THS Lady Wildcats track squad, was understandably happy this week after her girls registered impressive finishes in numerous events at the Lady Mustang Relays at Buffalo Island Central Thursday, April 5. The Lady Wildcat relay squad consisting of Erica Simmons, Talia Payne, Sundra Porter and Falisha Washington finished first in the 400-meter, 800-meter and 1600-meter relays to lead the Trumann efforts...

Charles Edward King, 71, of Trumann, died Sunday evening, April 15, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. King was born on April 28, 1929, at Henderson, Tennessee, the son of the late Joshua and Roberta (Davidson) King. He was a former employee if the Singer Co. ...

Charlene Adams, 72, of Trumann, died Wednesday morning, April 11, at the family residence in Trumann, of natural causes. Adams was born in Trumann and lived there as a lifetime resident. She was a housewife and a member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Dell Collins Morgan...

Pearl DePriest Lairson, 86, of Trumann, died Wednesday evening at Craighead County Nursing Center in Jonesboro, of natural causes. Lairson was born in Lunsford and had lived in Trumann most of her lifetime. She was a housewife and member of the First Pentecostal Church in Trumann. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Lee Lairson in 1999; three sisters and was the daughter of the late Austin and Nora Ellen Moore DePriest...

Thelma Birdsell McGowan, 85, of Trumann, died Tuesday, April 10, at Rose Care Center, in Trumann. McGowan was born in Newport and spent most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include two sons, Vernon McGowan, Jr. ...

by Bob Allen, Editor What ball games? Sometimes it gets very frustrating around here. I'm one of those people who likes to plan. I want to schedule well in advance to maximize use of my time, whether it be for business or pleasure. Local sporting events are putting a real crimp in that effort...

At the April 9 meeting of the Bay School Board, board members agreed to extend the 2000-2001 school calendar to make up for three days missed due to bad weather. Bay students will attend school through May 30, instead of May 28. Teachers will be at school until June 1...

The planned relay for life fund-raiser is less than two weeks away and promoters are working hard to make sure the event is one of the most successful in the area. Relay For Life is a new program in the Trumann area. At least, it's new in the respect that it has never been officially promoted on the local level. And when local supporters decided to go for the big event, they decided to go for it in a big way...

The closing of numerous gas station/convenience stores operated by Griffin Express, LLC of Jonesboro was reported in the March 28 issue of the Trumann Democrat. At that time a receptionist told a Democrat reporter, "We have no comment right now." Griffin officials ended their silence last week when they granted an interview to Larry Fugate, managing editor of the Jonesboro Sun, and announced the closure of some 60 convenience stores in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi...

A "Walk of Honor" was proposed for the Veterans Park at the intersection of Highway 463 and West Main Street during a recent meeting of American Legion Post 42 in Trumann. Proposed by Sue Nunnally and Geneva Robbins, guests at the meeting and former members of the post's auxiliary, the brick walkway would become part of a number of renovations being planned for the park. A fund-raiser was launched recently to garner funds to complete the renovations...

The Bay Yellowjacket baseball team lost their last three games, to bring them to 2-13 on the season. Last Thursday, April 12, the Yellowjackets lost to Rector 10-0. Chase Davis was the losing pitcher. In a game played Friday, April 13 at the Craighead County Tournament held at Nettleton, Riverside took a late lead to win the game...