Stories from Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Ronnie Harrison was sworn in as Trumann's new mayor on Jan. 1by Judge Steve Inboden. Harrison along with the city council read an oath of service. Harrison has 30 years of civil service, through the U.S. Postal service, 12 years serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission, 10 years on City Council, 10 years on the Finance Committee, two years on the Recreation Committee and nine years with the Trumann Chamber of Commerce Wild Duck Festival, serving eight years as chairman...

Bessie Lillian Vickers, 86, of Trumann died Jan. 2, 2003, at the Regional Medical Center of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro. Vickers was born in Bay and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a housewife and of the Church of God faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Vickers, in 1965; one son, Marion Vickers; one sister; one brother and was the daughter of the late Lon and Minnie Brewer...

James Leman Thompson, 89, of Trumann died Saturday, Jan. 4 at the family residence in Trumann of natural causes. He was born in Granbury, Tex. And had lived in Trumann since 1990 and was formerly of Marked Tree. He was a retired civil service from Shepard Air Force Base and was in the grocery business for 22 years in Wichita Falls, Tex., veteran of the Army and World War II and a member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann. ...

D.A. Bratton, Sr., passed away December 31, 2002, at his home in Trumann. He was 50 years old. Mr. Bratton was born June 5, 1952, in Black Oak, Ark. He was a farm worker and of the Pentecostal faith. Survivors include two sons, D.A. Bratton, Jr., and Hilton Thomas Bratton, both of Trumann; one daughter, Patricia Milzal of Jonesboro; seven sisters, Nancy Wilson Ellen Morlock, Dorothy Woods and Ruby Ward, all of Trumann, Julie Russell of Twist, Ark., Betty Bulter of Trumann and Hazel Ross of Malvern, Ark; two brothers, Tommy Bratton of Palestine, Ark., and Clay Bratton of Marked Tree; and two grandchildren.. ...

Beatrice Marquette Ivy, 25, of Trumann died Dec. 27 from injuries received in a house fire at the family residence. She was born in Marked Tree and had lived in Trumann for the past 22 years. She was a homemaker and a member of the St. John Baptist Church in Trumann. She was preceded in death by her father, Sterling Ivy, Jr...

Vernita Monet Mason, 1, of Trumann died Dec. 27 from injuries received in a house fire at the family residence. He is survived by his grandmother, Olivera Howard Watson of Trumann. Visitation was Wednesday morning at Thompson Funeral Home. A memorial service was held Wednesday in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home with Rev. James Lee Howard officiating...

Jerald Cordez Mason, 6, of Trumann died Dec. 27 from injuries received in a house fire at the family residence. He is survived by his grandmother, Olivera Howard Watson of Trumann. Visitation was Wednesday morning at Thompson Funeral Home. A memorial service was held Wednesday in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home with Rev. James Lee Howard officiating...

Daryl Jospeh Mason, 4 of Trumann died Dec. 27 from injuries received in a house fire at the family residence. He is survived by his grandmother, Olivera Howard Watson of Trumann. Visitation was Wednesday morning at Thompson Funeral Home. A memorial service was held Wednesday in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home with Rev. James Lee Howard officiating...

Cherl Vache Mason, 6 of Trumann died Dec. 27 from injuries received in a house fire at the family residence. He is survived by his grandmother, Olivera Howard Watson of Trumann. Visitation was Wednesday morning at Thompson Funeral Home. A memorial service was held Wednesday in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home with Rev. James Lee Howard officiating...

Part - Time II Police Officer Certification Class starting January 27 and ending March 15, 2003. Classes held at night and weekends. Taught by certified police instructors at the Marion Police Department's Training Class in Marion, Arkansas. Call Captain James Wilson at 870-739-2101 for further information...

The Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at the CRDC Head Start Complex, 213 N. Fisher St. 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 Underprivileged Children's Christmas Fund raised enough money this year to purchase gifts for 105 families, including 289 children. Last year the fund covered 275 children in 97 families. Employees of Southern Pioneer Insurance Companies helped select and wrap gifts for the children. The company also contributed financial support toward the cause...

July 3, 2002 Best buds found the first cotton blooms of the season on the same day. The first bloom reported was found by Penter Farms. The second bloom was reported by Henderson Farms. July 10, 2002 The Trumann Police Department announced the addition of Robert Baxter as their new patrolman. Baxter replaced Sgt. David Shuburte who left the department to pursue another career...

The report from the Arkansas State Medical Examiners Office in Little Rock rules the cause of death of Beatrice Ivy and her four children to be accidental. The official cause of death was smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. The report also stated that none of the victims had any blunt trauma to any of the bodies...

Quillon Vincent is the new mayor of Bay. But he is no stranger to Bay. Vincent was born and raised in Bay. He recently retired from Bay Electric, an electrical contracting company he created and ran for the past 32 years. The company has served about 41 cotton gins in the area. Vincent began doing electrical work in the 1960s. He started with Jay Electric in Bay...

BAY - The Bay senior boys squeezed by Walnut Ridge 48-44 here Friday night. After the first quarter of play, Walnut Ridge led 12-10. In the second quarter, with 6:09 left to go in the quarter, Walnut Ridge took a time out leading 15-11. Bay managed to pull ahead leading 21-17 at halftime. Bay kept that four-point edge leading 29-25 after three quarters of play...