Stories from Friday, February 14, 2003

The Arkansas Army National Guard received a mobilization order Monday directing approximately 160 soldiers from the 1123rd Transportation Company based in Marked Tree. The company will be placed on federal active duty for a period of up to one year. Approximately 80 of those soldiers are from the Tri-City area...

BryAnna Renea Smith, five months, of Leachville, died Feb. 5, 2003, at Children's Hospital in Little Rock. She was born Aug. 7, 2002, in Paragould. She is survived by her mother and father, David Smith and Anna Collins of Leachville; her grandparents, Jerry and Mildred Collins of Caraway; one sister, Regina Smith of Lepanto; three brothers, Marc Smith of Lepanto, Wes Smith of Garden Point and Matthew Collins of Leachville...

Opal Lucille Martin, 93, of Keiser died Feb. 5, 2003, at her home in Keiser. She was born Sept. 4, 1909 in Bradford, Tenn. She was a homemaker and a member of the General Baptist Church in Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Melissa Seller and N.B. Barker...

Dillard Marshall, Jr., 71, a resident at the Osceola Nursing Home, died Feb. 3, 2003, at the Baptist Hospital in Osceola. He was born Oct. 6, 1931 in Nodina. He was a retired truck driver and of the Baptist faith. He is survived by seven sons, Ronnie and Jerry Dillard Marshall, both of Phoenix, Ariz., Donald Ray Marshall, Larry and Jeffery Marshall and Leon Craft, all of Osceola and Nathaniel Butler of Luxora; three daughters, Dalene Ward and Brenda Ward, both of Osceola and Debora Marshall of Texas; two sisters, Charlie Mae McFarland and Earnestine Tarvin, both of Phoenix, Ariz.; two brothers, Raymond Marshall and Odis Grey, both of Blytheville; 27 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.. ...

Cellon "Bill" Smith, 75, of Tyronza died Sunday, February 9, 2003 at his residence. A farmer, Smith is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Virginia Smith of Tyronza; four daughters, Carolyn Dianne Organ of Tyronza, Shirley Taylor of Tyronza, Dorothy Jean Smith of Jonesboro, Mary Katherine Welch of Tyronza; one son, Billy Wayne Smith of Trumann; three sisters, Francis Crawford of Mich., Helen Tire of Ala., Beatie Mae Kelly of Ala. ...

The Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, 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 Tyronza Police Department announced this week that they have received a computer that will help the department in fighting crime. According to Police Chief Curtis Swan, the department received a grant late last year to receive the computer, along with the Locater system, in finding missing and exploited children...

Citizens for Progress Committee members continue to organize plans to bring the Chandler farmhouse, used in the filing of A Painted House, back to Lepanto and establish a walking tour of interesting downtown movie sites. "We are working hard at raising money to pay for expenses of moving the house from Kansas City back to Lepanto," said Doris Pounders. ...

In a spirited debate Monday night, the East Poinsett County Board of Education discussed several education issues, with the debate centering on a word familiar with residents in the area: consolidation. Tyronza resident Charles Glover addressed the board about education reform and the possibility one day of EPC and Marked Tree becoming one school in the future. ...

Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department officials held a public hearing on Tuesday night to discuss the proposed design for an interchange at U.S. 63 and Arkansas 118. The Department came to the Tyronza Cafeteria with detailed plans that showed residents how properties will be affected by the new Hwy. and interchange. Department personnel were on hand to answer questions about the project and provide pertinent information to concerned citizens...

Herschel Lee Walker, 72, of Marked Tree died Feb. 5, 2003 at the Veterans' Hospital in Little Rock. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was a Marine veteran of the Korean War having served 13 months in Korea. He was a captain of the basketball and football teams in Marked Tree, a former Mason and enjoyed playing golf and pool...