Stories from Wednesday, December 12, 2001

It was announced Monday that the Board of Directors of the Bank of Trumann have executed a letter of intent to sell their bank to First Delta Bankshares, Inc. of Blytheville. The Trumann bank, which was founded in October 1911 and has continuously served the Trumann area since that date, is located on Arkansas 463 in Trumann. ...

Mr. Roger Dale Samuel,53, died Monday, Dec. 3, 2001 at the family residence in Trumann of natural causes. Mr. Samuel was born Dec. 23, 1948 in Jonesboro, and lived most of his lifetime in the Trumann area. He was a laborer and a member of the McCormick Baptist Church. ...

Mr. Raymon "Judge" Richardson, 86, died Friday morning, Dec. 7, 2001 at Beverly Health & Rehabilitation Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. Mr. Richardson was born Dec. 26, 1914 in Lunsford and lived most of his lifetime in the Jonesboro and Trumann area...

Democrat Editor Fletcher Curtis considers himself lucky. Curtis, a survivor of a couple of heart attacks in 1981, spent 33 months on the USS Washington during World War II. After 14 major battles, the 80-year-old suffered only a broken finger, which he incurred while loading one of the 54-pound bullets into a gun...

The American Legion Post 42 recently replaced the veterans monument, on the corner of Highway 463 and Main "I'm real proud of the job the people in the American Legion have done," Commander Ron Taylor said. Taylor wrote to the VA Administration about the condition of the monument, which was erected in 1969. Just this year veterans' names were etched but were replaced due to misspelling and other errors. Needham's Memorial on Highway 18 fixed the errors free of charge...

Democrat Editor State Sen. Steve Bryles told the Trumann Lions Club Wednesday he plans to run for reelction. Under the new redistricting, the District 15 seat Bryles is running for includes all of Poinsett and Mississippi counties. The senator currently serves District 28, which includes two townships in Poinsett County, all of Mississippi County and a portion of Crittendon County...

Democrat Editor Guy Coxson urged Trumann Rotarians Thursday not to fear the stock market in slow economic times. He said he doesn't know if the market will go up or down tomorrow, and "I don't care. I'm concerned about 10 years. I know what it's going to do in 10 years."...

The Trumann School District recently announced that they have filled out an application with the Arkansas State Department of Education, seeking to renovate several portions of roofs at Cedar Park Elementary School. Supt. Joe Walezonia told the Democrat that the state of Arkansas applied for and received an $8 million grant from the federal government, for projects dealing with school renovation (in particular rural schools.) The $8 million will then be sent to schools throughout the state...

Democrat Editor BAY- After sorting through 18 applications in a two-hour and 10-minute executive session, the Bay School Board Monday night hired a new superintendent. The Board gave current BHS principal Eric Kieffner the nod for the head position...

Mrs. Annie Bell Williams, 80, died Sunday morning, Dec. 9, 2001 at the family residence in Trumann, of natural causes. Mrs. Williams was born Oct. 29, 1921 in Lincoln County, Tenn., and had lived in Trumann for the past four months and was formerly of Fayetteville, Tenn...

Mr. Ronnie Lee Campbell, 46, died Sunday Dec. 9, 2001 at the family residence in Trumann of natural causes. Mr. Campbell was born May 13, 1955 in Wilson, Ark., and lived in Trumann for the past 11 years and was formerly of Florida. He was disable and a member of the United Pentecostal Church in Trumann. He was preceded in death by one sister; two brothers and was the son of the late William Allen and Mary Lou Stout Campbell...

Mr. Cecil Edward "Pete" Hodges, 83, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2001 at the family residence in Trumann of natural causes. Mr. Hodges was born Oct. 3, 1918 in Jacks Creek, Tenn., and had lived in Trumann for the past seven years and was formerly of Lawrenceburg, Tenn...

Democrat Editor Bay fired away behind the arc, draining nine three-pointers in Thursday night's Pre-Holiday Tournament semifinal with Nettleton. However, the Raiders built a 15-point, first-half lead and held off the Yellowjacket barrage. Nettleton earned a date with Valley View in Saturday's Pre-Holiday final with a 71-58 win...

Democrat Editor Trumann (2-3), minus starting point guard Preston Timbs, was eliminated in the senior boys semis of the Pre-Holiday Tournament, Wednesday night, with a 59-46 loss to top-seeded Valley View. The Blazers used a big third quarter to offset a sluggish first half and pull away to an 18-point lead going into the fourth quarter...