Stories from Saturday, April 19, 2003

Law enforcement officials announced late last week that they are investigating allegations, involving a former Marked Tree High School teacher and alleged sexual misconduct. Sources told the Tri-City Tribune this week that the investigation centers around a long-time employee at the school accused of sexual misconduct by several current and former students at the school...

Tracy Tucker, of Lepanto, was 28 weeks pregnant in October of 2000 when she went to the hospital because she was short of breath and coughing terribly. Initially, doctors had thought her symptoms were allergy-related, but x-rays found cancer in her chest in two separate areas. "We didn't think to look for cancer while I was pregnant," Tracy said. One mass in her chest was the size of a grapefruit. Tracy began fighting for her life, and the life of her unborn baby...

Mayor Lawrence Ashlock has tightened the belt and cut the fat' in Marked Tree's budget in anticipation of the city's expenses exceeding its revenues this year due to the worsening economy. Ashlock told the Marked Tree City Council during its meeting on Monday, April 14, that he hoped things would look better by the fall, but until then, the city would be cutting back its expenses...

In its monthly meeting Monday night, the East Poinsett County Board of Education voted 5-0 to hire Gary Williams as the new High School Principal on the Lepanto campus. In the meeting, held on the Lepanto campus, board members heard from outgoing Superintendent Gerald Jennings, who gave an overview of the selection process and listed the candidates for the job. ...

Some 160 soldiers from the Arkansas Army National Guard's 1123rd Transportation Company left Fort Polk, La. yesterday, Wednesday, April 16, for an undisclosed location in support of the United States' war effort. The 1123rd is based out of Marked Tree with its Detachment 1, 1123rd Transportation Company out of Blytheville. The unit will be on federal active duty for a period of up to one year...

During a special called meeting of the Marked Tree Board of Education on Monday, board members agreed to ask voters to approve a 3-mill property tax increase and extend existing debt until 2023 after hearing from Robert Coleman, Vice President of Raney and Beardsley, Inc...

Frances Annette Smith, 62, of Lexington, Tenn. died on Sunday, April 13, 2003 at Osceola Baptist Hospital. A retired school teacher of Hollow Rock School District, Smith was preceded in death by her husband Jerry F. Smith. Survivors include one brother, Mike Flunk of Lepanto...

Ruben "Buster" Shinall, 77, of Lepanto died April 14, 2003 at the Methodist Hospital Central in Memphis. Shinall was born July 4, 1925 in Calhoun City, Miss. He was a retired farmer and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his wife, Jimmie Faye Shinall; two daughters, Peggy Foshee of Collierville, Tenn., and Anna Buck of West Memphis; one son, John Shinall of Lepanto; three sisters, Mary Freshour of Little Rock, Pearl Clark of Memphis, and Dolly Caldwell of Lepanto; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.. ...

Glen Madison May Sr., 89, died April 12, 2003 at the St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro. He was a farm worker, a Baptist and a WWII veteran. He is survived by one daughter, Rose Peridore of Caraway; four sons, Danny May of Horn Lake, Miss., Bobby May of Park Hills, Mo., Gordon May of Osceola, Steven of Manila; 13 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren...

Ruby Ruth Ingle, 84, of Marked Tree died April 11, 2003 at the Three Rivers Nursing Center in Marked Tree. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ in Marked Tree. Survivors include one son, Earnest Lee Ingle Jr. of Bella Vista, Ark; four sisters, Alma Stephens of El Campo, Texas, Kay Jackson of Tyler, Texas, Pauline Ryan of West Memphis and Louise Miller of St. Louis, Mo.; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren...

Will Gill, 91, of Turrell died April 16, 2003, at the Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. Gill was born July 4, 1911 in Hardemann County, Tenn. and was a farmer and a member of the First Baptist Church in Turrell. He is preceded in death by Ruby Mae Gill...

Patricia Bynum, 65, died on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 at her home in Luxora. Born December 23, 1937 in Counce, Tenn., Bynum was a lifetime resident of Luxora. She was a homemaker and a member of Rosa Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband, Lemuel Bynum Jr. ...

The Ladies Auxiliary of Revival Center Church in Lepanto is taking prepaid orders this week for homemade doughnuts, to be delivered April 26. Available will be glazed, chocolate covered, Raspberry, cream and lemon filled. Cost is $5.50 per dozen. Call 475-3564, 475-6157, or 475-3591...

Tyronza Mayor Marion Bearden met with a group of citizen recently to begin plans for a "Stars and Stripes Festival" to be held on May 24. This event will honor the military and the 1123rd National Guard Company from the area. The group plans for activities to include an honor guard, parade, gospel and country western music, arts and crafts, children's activities, a car show, and various contests and exhibits...

The churches of Lepanto present an "Easter Tableau" as a gift to the community. Visitors may drive through or park at the Calvary Baptist Church in Lepanto from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on the evenings of Thursday April 17, Friday April 18 and Saturday April 19...

The Chandler homestead used in the filming of "A Painted House" is being reconstructed at the Hallmark Hall of Fame National Headquarters on Crown Center in Kansas City. The house will be on public display from April 18 through May 11. Visitors will only be allowed to tour the exterior of the home while it is on display. The first public viewing of the movie "A Painted House" will be aired April 27 on the CBS network...

Doris Arlene Watkins, 50, of Lepanto, died on April 15, 2003 at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born January 27, 1953 in Tyronza, Watkins was a housewife and of the Pentecostal faith. Survivors include two sons, Robert Lee Fuller of Lepanto and Joe Christopher Watkins of Marked Tree; seven sisters, Diane Robbins of Brush, Colo., Lisa Kay Zitts of Springfield, Ohio, Marie Sipes and Kathy Ridge of Marked Tree, Patricia Kirkpatrick of Lepanto, Pamela Byrd of Bassett and Sandra Ham of Dyess; and one brother, Ronnie Allen Kirkpatrick of Jonesboro.. ...