Stories from Monday, October 14, 2002

Truly a family clinic Marked Tree Family Clinic formerly operated by Janet Hughes Pearson will be opened on Monday, Oct. 14 by new owners Laura and Robert Boxley. Dr. V.B. Smith (pictured above) backs the new owners in their endeavor. Dr. Smith started in this same clinic in May of 1964 and remained there until his retirement in 1992...

A big offensive night by the one-two tandem of running back Anquion Williams and quarterback Sugar Ray Jones was the difference Friday night, as the Marked Tree Sr. Indians defeated the Cross County Thunderbirds 27-13 in high school football action...

The Rivercrest Colts proved why they are one of the top teams in Northeast Arkansas last Friday night, with a 50-18 victory over EPC in high school football action. Rivercrest (5-0, 2-0) were led by the running back tandem of Zach Logan and Cedric Vaughn, who each scored two touchdowns on their way to victory. Logan rushed for 106 yards on 16 carries, while Vaughn rushed for 73 yards on six carries...

Martha Jane Barton Pritchett, 92, of Lepanto died Sunday, October 6, 2002 in Eupora, Miss. She was born May 18, 1910 in Searcy. Pritchett came to Lepanto in 1935 to teach school. In 1938, she married Raymond A. Pritchett of a pioneer Lepanto family, and lived in Lepanto 34 years. ...

Eunice Brooks Coats, past resident for many years of Marked Tree, Ark., arrived at her heavenly home on Aug. 28, 2002. She had lived in Gobles, Mich. since 1986. Eunice was born on Feb. 26, 1918 in Cash, Ark. to Stella and Harrison Brooks. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mart Coats, in 1977 and her brother, Lawrence Brooks, in 1998. ...

She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband, Boyd Armstrong of Saltillo, Miss.; her mother, Maxine Hendrix of Saltillo, Miss.; her father, Wheeler Hendrix of Marked Tree; four sons, Jonathan Armstrong and Gary Smith of Saltillo, Miss., Barry Huffman of Lepanto and Matthew Smith of Jonesboro; four daughters, Michelle Merrell of Ponotoc, Miss., Bonnie Hendrix and Amanda Huffman, both of Saltillo, Miss. ...

She was a retired produce manager and she and her husband, Buford Oakley, founded the Apostolic Church in Tyronza in the early '70s. She is survived by a son, Stephen Hopkins of Lees Barg, Fla.; a daughter, Jean Steller of Jackson, Mich.; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren...

The Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the CRDC Head Start Complex, 213 North Fisher Street in Jonesboro. Board members from the eight-county CRDC service area will gather at that time to act on matters affecting the numerous community service programs supported by the agency...

The service and parts team at Holly Chevrolet in Marked Tree knows how to win big. The dealership recently competed in GM's Grand Slam Drive-Away contest and drove home winners. Service manager Michael Scrape and parts manager Don Farrell were each winners of a GM vehicle worth up to $50,000...

Law enforcement officials gathered in Harrisburg last Thursday to announce that a reward is being offered for information leading to the location and/or safe return of missing Tyronza girl Jennifer Ann Gill. In a press conference held at the Poinsett County Detention Center, Poinsett County Sheriff Larry Mills and officials with the Arkansas State Police took questions from the press, giving an update on the case. ...

Scott Glenn (The Right Stuff, Hallmark Hall of Fame's The Seventh Stream), Robert Sean Leonard (Dead Poet's Society) Hallmark Hall of Fame's The Boys Next Door), Arija Bareikis (Snow Falling on Cedars, 0z) and Logan Lerman (Riding in Cars with Boys, The Patriot) headline the cast for Hallmark Hall of Fame's production of John Grisham's A Painted House...

Pocahontas Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for First Community Bank (FCB), and Marked Tree Bancshares, Inc. announced today that they have executed a letter of intent, which outlines the terms on which Pocahontas Bancorp will acquire the stock of Marked Tree Bancshares, Inc. Marked Tree Bancshares is the holding company for Marked Tree Bank, located in Marked Tree, Arkansas...

The Marked Tree Indians return to battle this week to face the Rector Cougars, who have, in spite of their 1-4 record have put points on the board this season. Last Friday, the Rector Cougars traveled to Turrell to face the Rockets and both teams saw an offensive explosion, in a 69-54 Rector victory over Turrell. ...