Stories from Thursday, August 15, 2002

Scott Aycock grew up in Marked Tree and now lives in Tulsa, Okla. This weekend, he will return home for his 30-year high school reunion. Aycock has a private practice in Tulsa working as a licensed marriage and family therapist. He said he was destined to become a counselor. Even in his high school days at Marked Tree, people would approach him asking for his advice...

Izora Freeda Bezzard, 74, of Manila died Aug. 6, 2002 at her residence. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lepanto. The funeral was Aug. 8 at Wilson Funeral Home in Osceola. Brother Mike Gonzales officiated the ceremony. Place of burial was at Potters Cemetery in Lepanto...

Billy Walker, 68 of Joiner died July 30, 2002 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in East Memphis. He was a roofer. The funeral was Friday, Aug. 2 at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel in Osceola. Brother Lee Dunn officiated the ceremony. Place of burial was at the Louise Chapel Cemetery in Joiner. Visitation was held...

On Saturday, Aug. 3, members and teachers from the Lepanto High School class of 1982 celebrated their 20 year reunion. They began with a luncheon at the high school cafeteria, with BBQ catered by Fat Daddy's. The cafeteria was decorated in the "Panther" theme, along with many photos on display of classmates from first through 12th grades. Everyone enjoyed reliving comical stories, experiences and memories from days gone by...

In its meeting Monday night, the East Poinsett County Board of Education voted 5-0 to accept the Special Education-related budget for the 2002-2003 school year. According to Supt. Gerald Jennings, the budget amount of $53,325 is decided through several factors, including the Crowley's Ridge Co-Op in Harrisburg as well as federal monies for special education to schools. ...

During an awards ceremony last Wednesday evening in Little Rock's River Market, Bill Lawson received the Arkansas Advertising Federation's Lifetime Service Award. Lawson, a North Little Rock resident, is a former President and Chairman of the Board of the organization. ...

In a sometimes heated meeting Tuesday night in Tyronza, the Tyronza City Council voted 6-0 not to re-hire Officer Light Roberts as a member of the Tyronza Police Department. With nearly 35 residents in attendance, the council heard from several area residents, who raised objections about Roberts and his work as a police officer...

The Trumann Sports Complex hosted soccer registration for three leagues Saturday. Forty children registered at the event for the under 6 league, the under eight league and the under 10 and 12 league. Not as many people came out as was expected. Last year 118 children registered for the fall soccer program. ...

William Rudolph Rowlett, 77, died May 21, 2002 in Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK. He was born and raised in Trumann and graduated from THS in 1943. He joined the Army Air Core serving in India during WWII. After 24 years of military service he retired in 1967 with the rank of MSG. Following his military career he worked at the VA Hospital in Oklahoma City as a Benefits Counselor and retired in 1988...

Donald Ray "Don" Pippinger passed away on August 10 at Regional Medical Center of NEA in Jonesboro of natural causes. He was 54 years old. Mr. Pippinger was born in Harrisburg, on May 19, 1948, and had lived in Jonesboro for the past 26 years. He was formerly of Trumann. ...

Betty Gene Kirby died August 11 at the family residence in Trumann of natural causes. She was 64 years old. Mrs. Kirby was born on December 21, 1937, and was a lifetime resident of Trumann. She was a Quality Inspector for the Parker Hannifin Corp. in Trumann and of the Baptist faith. ...

Virgil Austin Goucher died August 3, at his residence in Hartsville, Tenn, of natural causes. He was 72 years old. Mr. Goucher was born in Harrisburg on March 22, 1930, and had lived most of his lifetime in the Harrisburg area before moving to Hartsville seven years ago. ...

Ronnie Harrison is being honored with a retirement party at the Old Community Center in Trumann on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. Ronnie is retiring with thirty four years of government service. Thirty of those years were spent with the United States Postal Service serving the citizens of Trumann as a city letter carrier. The party is hosted by his co-workers, family and friends...

County Clerk Fonda Condra announces that filing begins for Municipal candidates at noon Monday, Aug. 19 and ends at noon Friday, Sept. 6. Petitions and political practice pledges are to be filed at the county clerks office during regular hours, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m...

At its meeting Monday night, the Bay School Board decided to take bids for the re-roofing of the gym. Superintendent Eric Kieffner discussed with the board that he had spoken to an individual who said that a metal roof could be installed for roughly $100,000 and that the roof would carry a 20-year warranty on the metal itself and a 20-year warranty on the workmanship. At the last school board meeting, the board listened to a proposal by Jamie Hall to roof the gym with a material called DuroLast...

The Bay City Council approved Resolution 2002-D at its meeting Monday night. The resolution acknowledges a land use agreement for land donated to the city on Brown Street. The owners of the land who donated the land to the city wished to remain anonymous. The city can use the land for any use it desires for as long as the city wishes to use the land...

Robert D. Hendrix, 15072 Woodruff Lane, Trumann has announced that he is a candidate for Position 5 of the Trumann, School Board. Hendrix is a lifetime resident of Trumann and a 1976 Honor Graduate from Trumann High School. He is the father of two children, Lauren (9th Grade) and Erin (6th Grade) and is the husband of the former Teresa McDaniel Hendrix. Mrs. Hendrix is a Resource Room Teacher at Trumann High School...

On July 1 of this year St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center received the bid to offer services to the Senior Life Center in Trumann. Crowley's Ridge Development Council formerly provided Service. The center offers seniors a place to go and get a hot lunch, play games and visit with their friends. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A bus runs each morning to pick up seniors and takes them home every afternoon, Monday through Friday...

Joseph "Joe" Elwood Foster is announcing his candidacy for Mayor of the city of Trumann. Foster has lived in Trumann since 1967. He is of the Baptist Faith. He graduated from Central High School in 1958 and served in the United States Air Force for more than three years. He served as an administrative clerk before receiving an honorable discharge. He and his wife, Katherine, have been married for 40 years and have one child, Jerry, and one grand daughter, Felisha...

The Trumann senior high football team began its first practice on Monday. The team began two-a-day practices with the first practice starting at 10 a.m. and the second at 4 p.m. The team will have pictures taken Aug. 16 at 9 a.m. and will play a benefit game Aug. 27 against Hughes. The junior high game will start at 5:30 p.m. and the senior high game will follow. Trumann plays in the 3AAA District against Osceola, Gosnell, Rivercrest, East Poinsett County and Harrisburg...