Stories from Thursday, February 20, 2003

It was a tearful farewell as 166 personnel with the Arkansas National Guard's 1123rd Transportation Company, based in Marked Tree, were deployed last Thursday, with a send-off celebration held at Marked Tree Elementary. Marked Tree Mayor Lawrence Ashlock, Jr. ...

Most sports fans know that in order for a team to be successful and win championships, the team must have leaders that influence their teammates, both on and off the court. And the Marked Tree Indians have two such leaders. Duanaway Barnes and Brad Jones, both members of the Barbara Wilburn-coached Sr. ...

Vera Watters, 78, of Lepanto, died on Saturday, February 15, 2003 at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. Watters, a homemaker, was born in Poinsett County and was a member of the Church of Christ. She loved to fish. Survivors include her husband, D.D. "Buddy" Watters of Lepanto; one son, Jerrel W. Watters of Eads, Tenn.; one grandchild and one great-grandchild...

Kelly J. Watt, 72, died on February 17, 2003 in Jonesboro, Ark. Watt was born in Hulky, Miss. and was a member of the Eastside Baptist Church in Osceola. Survivors include two sons, Larry Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz. and Thomas Johnson of Marked Tree; two daughters, Paulette LaBryer of Caraway and Brenda White of Mechanicsville, Va.; one brother, Quincy Hollis of Waukegan, Ill.; two sisters, Dorothy Pannell of Booneville, Miss. ...

Nellie Kemp Vickery, 71, of Cherokee Village, Ark. formerly of Lepanto, died on Friday, February 14, 2003 at her residence. Born in Oil Trough, and a widow of Carl Buster Kemp, she was formerly a member of the Etowah Pentecostal Church of God. Survivors include her husband, Clyde Vickery of Cherokee Village; three daughters, Sharon Herman, of Lepanto, Deborah Simons of West Ridge and Susan Morris of Cherokee Village; three sons, Danny Kemp of Cherry Valley, Dennis Kemp of Oxford, Ark. ...

Cliff Sharp, 76, of Jonesboro, died Monday, February 17, 2003, at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro. Sharp, a retired pipe fitter, was a member of Greensboro Road Church of Christ in Jonesboro and an Army Corp veteran. He was preceded in death by his grandson Jeremy Sharp and one brother, H.T. Sharp...

Billy Joe "B.J." Phillips, 21, of Marked Tree died on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 in Marked Tree. A carpenter, Phillips attended Milam Chapel Baptist Church and loved to hunt and fish. Survivors include his parents, Richard and Sissy Phillips of Marked Tree; one sister, Lee Byers of Vilonia, Ark.; one brother, Sidney Phillips of Marked Tree; one sister-in-law, LeErin Phillips; three nieces, Harley Annaleigh Phillips, Amber Copeland, and Allie Marie Craig; several aunts and uncles and his Labrador, Sarge.. ...

Rosie Lee Jones, 74, of Osceola, died on Tuesday, February 11, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. Born in Drew, Miss., Jones was a housewife and a member of the Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church in Osceola, Ark. Survivors include five sons, Calvin Boyd and Charles Dixon of Argo, Ill., Wyde Dixon of LaGrange, Ill., Neal Dixon of W. ...

Virginia Cooper, 84, of Payneway, died Wednesday, February 12, 2003 at Payneway. Cooper was a member of the Corners Chapel Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Reginald Taft Cooper and one daughter, Jo Ann Moody. Survivors include one son, Teddy Cooper of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; one daughter, Linda Kay Cooper of Fayetteville, Ark,; two brothers, Hugh Dixon of Blytheville and Sonny Dixon of Michigan; two sisters-in-law, Doskie Ford of Marked Tree and Willeen Smith of St. ...

Cindi Pitts, of Marked Tree, gave a gift from the heart when she had ten inches of her hair cut and donated to "Locks of Love." Locks of Love is a not-for-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 with medical hair loss...

At the Tyronza City Council meeting last week, council members discussed the need for 24-hour police coverage, city employee issues and the impact of the proposed I-555 overpass at Hwy. 118. Mayor Marion Bearden brought the issue police coverage to the attention of the council. ...

"This was a year of triumph, a year of sadness, as we weathered winter storms and the summers' drought, the awarding of the contract for I-555 and the death of many of our citizens. Without opposition, our City Council and Clerk/Treasurer were reelected. As we move ahead, I pledge the full and continued support of our employees and myself," said Mayor Lawrence Ashlock, Jr. as he presented the state of the city report to the Marked Tree City Council at its Feb. 10 meeting...

(AP) _ A police officer says a Tyronza, Ark., man never braked or slowed down as he swerved from an exit lane back toward eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 and struck and killed three family members standing by a disabled van on a Mississippi River bridge...

Marked Tree residents heard about the Governor's education reform plan, millage requirements, new curriculum requirements and school personnel issues at the Marked Tree Board of Education's open meeting held on Feb. 10. Bob Coleman, a representative of Raney and Beardsley was on hand to address questions concerning the millage issue. ...

With the regular season ending last Friday, teams in Poinsett County now turn their attention to their respective district tournaments this week. An important tournament this week is the 3AAA-South District Tournament, being played this week at Valley View. ...