Stories from Tuesday, December 31, 2002

Tragedy struck in Trumann this past week. Smoke from a tree fire caused the death of Beatrice Ivy, 26, of Trumann and her four children. Ivy lived at 227 Forrest. Her brother, Reggie Ivy, found the family Friday, Dec. 27, at approximately 6 p.m. when he went to the residence to borrow an item...

This new years eve will mark not only the end of the year, but for Jack Coggins is will be the last day to serve as Mayor of Trumann. Coggins has served in his position as mayor for the past eight years. As the man who led Trumann into a new century he has seen a lot of positive changes in the city. Including the addition of employees, renovation of police and municipal building, new fire station, sports complex and community center...

Letha Owens and Barbara Lewallen of Design Associates Realty in Trumann recently donated a VCR to the Trumann Senior Life Center for the seniors to enjoy and use. Members of the center will now be able to watch movies for recreation and health benefits. ...

The beginning of the New Year is usually a time of reflection. It's a time to look back over things the community has experienced - whether it be happy memories to rejoice in or past mistakes to learn from. The following is a combination of stories is a yearly review of the articles that were found on the front page of the Democrat during the 2002 year...

The Bay City Council met in two sessions this past month. The first meeting was Dec. 9 and the second meeting was Dec. 13. At the Dec. 9 meeting, the Council moved into executive session. Coming back from the executive session, Randy Bowers made a motion to increase the pay of city full-time employees, including the mayor, by $25 per week effective Jan. 1 and increase the pay of part-time employees by 62 1/2 cents per hour to $7.125 per hour. The motion passed...

Mr. Gregory Dean "Greg" Smith died December 18, 2002 at Regional Medical Center of NEA in Jonesboro, Ark., of natural causes. He was 43 years old. Mr. Smith was born on December 28, 1958, in St. Louis, Mo., and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a Bail Bondsman and was a former Deep Sea Diving Welder and of the Church of Christ faith. He was preceded in death by his father, Bobby Lee "Bob" Smith in 1991...

Mr. Paul Lyle Pankey passed away December 26, 2002 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark., of natural causes. He was 56 years old. Mr. Pankey was born in Jonesboro, Ark., and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a salesman and delivery man for FANS, veteran of the U.S. Army and of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Granville Lyle and Eva Mae Conatser Pankey...

Mr. Jimmie Mattix died December 19, 2002, at the family residence in Cherokee Village, Ark., of natural causes. He was 75 years old. Mr. Mattix was born in Trumann on January 3, 1927, and had lived in Cherokee Village for the past 12 years. He was a retired plumber, a Mason, veteran of the U.S. Army, member of the Local 155 Chapter United Assoc. of Plumber & Pipefitters and member of the Spring River Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Edward and Adalaid Watson Mattix...

Mr. Thomas Wilson Knight passed away on December 18, 2002, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, of natural causes. He was 67 years old. Mr. Knight was born in Trumann on May 20, 1935, and had lived in Trumann all his lifetime and was a retired truck driver for the Shipping & Receiving Department of Parker Hannifin, Corp. ...

Garland Moore, 73, died on Sept. 16 in St. Louis, Mo. Moore is a former resident of Trumann and attended school in Trumann through grades 10 - 12. He is survived by his wife Lucille; one son; one daughter and one sister Pauline Moore Loggains of Kalamazoo, Mich...

Mrs. Donna Kay Findley died December 26, 2002 at Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. She was 44 years old. Mrs. Findley was born on June 4, 1958 in Mendota, Calif., and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was disabled and of the protestant faith. She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Long...

Mrs. Kathy Marie Hargrove Cox died December 19, 2002, at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola, Ark., of natural causes. She was 48 years old. Mrs. Cox was born on August 16, 1954, in Trumann, Ark., and had lived in Keiser for the past 20 years. She was a pharmaceutical tech and of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her mother, Jessie Lee Hargrove in 1997, and two brothers, Steve Hargrove and Billy Hargrove...

Mrs. Lessie Lee Christy died December 19, 2002, at Rose Skill Care Nursing Center in Jonesboro, Ark., of natural causes. She was 95 years old. Mrs. Christy was born on October 13, 1907, in Lorado near Jonesboro, Ark., and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. ...

The St. Francis Lake Association recently held a meeting. That meeting concerned duck hunting on the St. Francis River. "It's not about duck blinds, about people but what the law says," St. Francis Lake Association President Bobby Benson told a large group of gatherers. The concerned citizens had ventured out on a stormy night, with tornadoes being reported in the area, to discuss the issue...