Stories from Friday, December 13, 2002

A nationally-known educational program recently honored a Marked Tree High School teacher, for his work in building standards at his school. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards awarded Rick Hatley, a high school math teacher, the honor of becoming a National Board Certified Teacher. ...

It was a bad week for the Marked Tree girls basketball program, as both the junior and senior girls teams lost in the first round of the Tri-County Tournament. The Sr. Indians lost to host Paragould 42-23 in the first round game. Paragould led throughout the game, leading 10-3 after one quarter, 19-12 at halftime and 33-18 at the end of three quarters. ...

A key second half run and four players for BIC in double figures were the difference last Friday night, as BIC defeated Marked Tree 64-51, in senior high boys action. Marked Tree, playing only its second game of the year and its first game in 11 days, appeared lethargic in the first half, trailing BIC 17-11 after one quarter and 33-18 at the half. ...

Roberta Lee Wright, 75, of Marked Tree, died Dec. 5, 2002, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. She is survived by her brother, Forrest Wright of Bush, La.; a cousin, Soozi Williams of Marked Tree; two nieces and two nephews. The funeral was Dec. 7 at the Murphy Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Joe Sparks officiated the ceremony. Place of interment was at the Marked Tree Cemetery. Murphy Funeral Home of Marked Tree was in charge of arrangements...

Jimmy Norman Linton, Sr., 51, of Lepanto died Monday, December 4, 2002 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. Linton, a retired captain for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, was a member of the Church of God and President of the Disabled Hunters Association of Jonesboro. ...

Ruby Aileene Fisher, 69, of Tyronza died Wednesday, December 4, 2002 at Three Rivers Nursing Center in Marked Tree. Fisher, a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of Tyronza is survived by her father and mother, George A. and Elsie Smith; six sons, Hershel Fisher, Jr., Jimmy Fisher and Elvis...

Carl Allen, 78, of Dyess, died Dec. 5, 2002, at his residence. He was a member of the Dyess New Hope Pentecostal Church of God and was a construction foreman for Folk Construction Company of Memphis. He is survived by his wife, Sue Allen of Dyess; three daughters, Brenda Malone and Debbie Vaughn, both of Dyess and Faye Carlock of Marion; three brothers, Clarence Allen of Foley, Ala., Lloyd Allen of Dyess and Loyce Allen of North Little Rock; two sisters, Helen Gary and Sylvia Franks, both of Dyess; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.. ...

The Tyronza Fire Department Christmas Parade will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Sat. Dec. 21. Decorate a trailer, tractor, truck, car, ATV, horse, or anything else. First, second and third place winning float entries will receive trophies. Entry forms are available at the Tyronza City Hall and must be turned in by Dec. 18...

The Friends of the Lepanto Goldsby Library announces its 6th annual Tables on Display at the Goldsby Library in Lepanto from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. Refreshments will be served and a door prize given away at 5 p.m. Admission is $3 per person. This year's special feature is "A Painted House" table. For more information, call the library at 475-6144 or Patsy McClain at 475-2043...

The Marked Tree Community Blood Drive will be held Friday, Dec. 13 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Marked Tree City Hall. T-shirts will be given to all donors.

The local Angel Tree is now on display at the Unico Bank in Marked Tree. For more information on the tree, call 358-3700.

In its meeting Monday night, the East Poinsett County Board of Education heard from Band Director Tommy Duffel about purchasing band uniforms for the school's band. At the meeting, held on the Lepanto campus, Duffel spoke to the board about a plan to purchase 70 band uniforms, for children in grades 7-12 that participate in the school's band. ...

First Delta Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Lisa Cavitt to Assistant Vice President / Loan Officer and the appointment of Chris Lehman as Vice President / Senior Lending Officer. "Lisa has been a part of the management team for the past several years and has made a great contribution to the Loan Department," said Steve Wilcoxon, President / CEO of First Delta Bank. She is married to Scott Cavitt and they have twin sons, Heath and Andrew, ages 3. They live in the Tyronza area...

LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas State Highway Commission has opened bids for a project to improve a Poinsett County roadway, according to Commissioner J.W. "Buddy" Benafield of Hickory Plains. The purpose of the project is to construct an interchange on Highway 63 at Highway 149 in Marked Tree and to extend the north frontage road along with a new frontage road on the south side at the Highway 75 interchange at Marked Tree. ...

In November 1989, a group of dedicated women founded the Lepanto Community Christmas Committee. With almost 50 people in attendance at the first meeting, the committee decided to clean up, fix up and light up Lepanto. With the help of donations from the community, the committee decorated Main Street and held Lepanto's first Christmas Parade...

Mack Howington, of Lepanto, has long been known for his beautiful woodwork. He displayed his craftsmanship at the War Eagle show for 21 years and sold his works at the Pink Palace Fair and the Osceola Methodist Church Fair for several years. A member of the Arkansas Craft Guild for over 15 years, Howington has now limited his exhibitions to one a year, the Arkansas Craft Guild's Christmas Showcase, which was held Dec. 6-8 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock...

Playing in one of the toughest tournaments in Northeast Arkansas this year, the EPC Sr. Warriors fought back from a key loss to pick up the third place trophy in the KFC-Taco Bell-Pepsi Hurricane Classic last weekend. The Sr. Warriors (4-2), under first-year coach Kevin Kyzer battled in the eight-team tournament, facing AAAAA team Russellville and Memphis teams Overton and Trezevant in the three games. ...