Stories from Friday, February 15, 2002

Tribune Editor Governor Mike Huckabee informed Superintendent of Trumann Public Schools Joe Waleszonia that he will come to the school and discuss his "The Next Step" program. Huckabee will arrive around 4:30 p.m. at the school auditorium and will discuss the program for 10 to 15 minutes. He will then open the floor for general discussion for 35 to 40 minutes. This discussion will not necessarily focus on his "Next Step" program...

Grady D. Smith , 87, of West Memphis died Sunday, February 10 at his home. He was a farm equipment mechanic and charter member and deacon of Victory Fellowship Church in West Memphis. He was also an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife, Mary A. ...

Pastor Larry Richmond, 50, of Osceola died January 23 at North East Arkansas Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Osceola, Richmond was pastor of Pleasant Grove M. B. Church in Osceola for 10 years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, lifetime resident of Osceola and a member of Blytheville area Minister Fellowship...

John Luther Lacy, 61, of Harrisburg died January 7, 2002, at his home. Born in Osceola, he was of the Baptist faith. Lacy is survived by his wife, Sara Jane Lacy of Harrisburg; three daughters, Jonna Neal and Paige Tyler, both of Lepanto and Rebecca Blansett of Marked Tree; his mother, Faye Lacy of Lepanto; one sister, Mary Ruth Adams of Caraway; one brother, Lonnie Lacy of Lepanto; and seven grandchildren...

Bonnie Lou Hutcheson, 63, of Pontiac, Mich., died February 10, 2002. Hutcheson was originally from Dyess, moved to Pontiac in 1965, and retired from Bill Knapps in Rochester Hills, Mich. Survivors include husband Curtis Hutcheson; two daughters, Deborah Hutcheson and Susan (Gene) Brown; two sons, Curtis Brian Hutcheson and Leon Hutcheson; one sister, LaVada Hall; two brothers, Charles Turner and George Turner; and four grandchildren...

Robert Roy Huffins, 56, of Fisher died Wednesday, February 6 at Ripley, Miss. He was a mechanic and an U.S. Army veteran. Huffins is survived by eight sons, Robert C. Huffins, Frank D. Huffins, John E. Huffins, Jimmy R. Huffins, Ted A. Huffins, Jason E. Huffins, Richard R. Huffins and Dennis W. Huffins, all of Fisher; two daughters, Emily M. Huffins and Shelley N. Huffins, both of Fisher; one sister, Joyce Huffins of Lepanto; and 15 grandchildren...

Mildred "Millie" Lucille Shiflett died Feb. 2, 2002 at the family residence in Trumann. She was born on Oct. 31, 1936. She was 65 years old. Survivors include one son Tommy Moore of O'Brien, FL; six daughters Bonnie Bentley, Sharon Woods, both of Trumann, Joyce Cook of Payneway, Peggy Dalton of Maynard, Glenda Collett of Success, Wanda Vanderpool and Mona Page both of Tulsa, OK; three brothers Donald Woods of Waterproof, LA, John Woods of Guadalajara, Mexico and William Wayne Woods of Tulsa, OK; one granddaughter and 2 great grandchildren.. ...

Opal Ann Earnhart, 81, of Caraway, died Tuesday, February 12 at her home. Born in Williford, Earnhart was a homemaker, public school teacher and served in the priesthood as a teacher. She was a member of the Community of Christ Church in Caraway. Earnhart is survived by her husband, Paul Earnhart; one son, Gary Paul Earnhart of Caraway; two daughters, Paula Ann Earnhart and Janie Sue Qualls, both of Lake City; one sister, Jewel Johnson of Jonesboro; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.. ...

Clarence Junior Durfee, 47, of Marion died Monday, February 11, 2002, at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Tyronza. Durfee is survived by mother Pauline Shepherd of Trumann; two sisters, Louise McCorkle of Tyronza and Brenda Ward of Jonesboro; three brothers, Jim Harris of Gravite, Cleveland Blanchard of Marion, and Winston Blanchard of Tyronza; one daughter, Nikki Schwartz of Marion; and two grandchildren...

Mary Taylor Colby, of Mayfield, Ky., died Thursday, February 7 at her home. She was a retired school teacher of the Mayfield, Ind. School System and a member of the Mayfield First United Methodist Church. Colby is survived by two sons, Stephen Colby of Paducah, Ky. ...

Jerry Organ, a 22-year resident of Poinsett County has announced his bid for sheriff and tax collector for the May Democratic primary election. Organ, 46, has 13 years of law enforcement experience. Organ and his wife, Diane, have been married for 19 years and have two children...

Tribune Editor Marked Tree City Council met Monday night, February 11 with seven members present, one absent. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved and financial reports were presented by City Clerk, Pam Wright and approved. Ms. Mary Ann Arnold requested a resolution to name the proposed childcare center, to the Marked Tree Learning Center citing the state request to drop the words day care from titles of all Arkansas centers. ...

Earlier this month, eight members of the Marked Tree High School DEFY (Drug Education For You) trained along with students from Trumann and Harrisburg for TCK. TCK, or Teens Coaching Kids, is a program in which drug free high school students teach upper elementary students (grades 3-5) about the dangers of "Gateway Drugs", such as nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana. ...

Peers Rewarded in Delivering Excellence By AMMI LUNG, Tribune News Staff This column has been created to spotlight exceptional high school students in the Tri-City area who have made an impact in their school and their community. After days of fighting with ideas, the name "Teen P.R.I.D.E." stood out because the students that will be featured deserve to be rewarded for their achievements and should have pride in what they do...

James E. Steen,77, of Trumann died Wednesday Feb. 9 at Regional Medical Center of Northeast Arkansas. Steen was born on Sept. 8, 1924 in Cornith, MS. He is survived by his wife, Beulah Steen, of the home; seven sons, Boyd Steen, Randy Steen, Houston Hamilton, all of Trumann, Junior Steen, Jonesboro, Johnny Hamilton, Dayton, TN, Rickey Hamilton, Florida, Frankie Hamilton, North Carolina; three daughters, Joyce Blagg, Mary Mae Acker, Patsy Simpson, all of Trumann; six brothers, Carlton Steen, Tyronza, Burton Steen, Illinois, Wayne Steen, Kenneth Steen, both of Marked Tree, Hayes Steen, Alabama, J.W. ...