Stories from Tuesday, April 29, 2003

Tyronza citizens are planning the Stars and Stripes Jubilee to be held on Saturday, May 24, beginning at 10 a.m. in Tyronza, honoring past and present military. The day will be full of fun events, including a Patriot's Parade of area veterans, floats, decorated vehicles and a special children's section. ...

With the regular season ending, most baseball teams in the state of Arkansas now turn their attention to post-season play. That is the case for the six teams that make up the 3AA-South District. This week, Marked Tree played host to those teams in the 2003 3AA-South District Tournament. In the first round, played Thursday, both Riverside and Cross County advanced into the second round, with easy wins over Turrell and Hughes, respectively...

The East Poinsett County baseball team ended its season this week, as the team lost two tough ballgames. Last Wednesday, EPC ended its regular season schedule with a home game against Trumann in Lepanto. With the winds, blowing out to left field at around 40 mph, Warrior Park quickly turned into a hitter's paradise, as both combined for 28 runs and over 30 hits. ...

Jo Ann T. Wood, 67, of Tyronza died Wednesday, April 16, 2003 at the Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was an office manager for the ASCS office and a member of Tyronza Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Paula Hatcher of Lepanto, and Melinda Acoach of Atlanta, Ga.; and two grandchildren...

Billy Ray Williamson, 69, of Memphis, died on Thursday, April 17, 2003. He is preceded in death by his parents, Row and Velma Williamson; two aunts Thelma Marbry and Pearl Smith; and one uncle, Melvin George, all of Marked Tree. Survivors include his wife, Flora Williamson of Memphis; two daughters, Trina Anderson of Bartlett, Tenn. ...

Carlton Eugene "Buddy" Kent, 66, died Sunday, April 20, 2003, at his home in Payneway. Born on May 15, 1936 in Mississippi County, Ark., Kent was a farmer, and an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a board member of Marked Tree Co-Op and Payneway Water Association, a member of Stumpy Point Hunting Club and of the Baptist faith...

Ruby Lavern Holder, 79, of Osceola died Sunday, April 20, 2003 at the Baptist Hospital at Osceola. Holder was a retired school cafeteria worker and a member of Bethel Church of Lord Jesus Christ. Survivors include her husband, John Holder of Osceola; one daughter, Eva Schoepp of New Orleans, La.; two sons, Jimmy Holder and Michael Holder both of Osceola; one sister, Lena Mae Burchan of Tupelo, Miss.; two brothers, JR Brooks of Dell and Paul Brooks of Osceola; 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.. ...

Erma Dean Baker, 46, of Luxora, died Wednesday, April 16, 2003 at the Methodist Hospital in Memphis. She was born July 26, 1956 in Luxora to Allen Walters and Hattie Rhines. She was a factory worker, a member of New Salem M.B. Church in Luxora, church choir member, and Eastern Star...

The Garden Point Cemetery is having its 8th annual benefit BBQ Dinner Friday, April 25, from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Etowah Fire Station located at 4626 West State Highway 136 Etowah, Arkansas, 72428. Eat in or Carry-out. The Sandwich Plates will consist of a Jumbo BBQ sandwich, Bean, Slaw, Chips, and a Dessert. The price of the plates is $5 each. Some lunch deliveries available, Call 870-531-2340 or 870-531-2374...

April is Arkansas Children's Month. The Parents of Mary Ann Arnold Head start celebrated this event by having an Easter Fund Raiser to provide the head start families with an egg hunt and cookout. The Mary Ann Arnold Head Start would like to thank the following business for their donations: Morgan Michael's Salon, Marked Tree Auction, Tan N Tone, John Deere, Clark's, First Delta Bank, Marked Tree Bank, Lepanto Video, McDonalds, Sonic, Lepanto Flower Shop, Friends of the Library, Hood's Caf, American Greetings, Golden Grotto, Marked Tree Fire Department, Kohn Bray, and Donald Gilley for providing us with a grill, and the center would like to tell the parents who pitched in to make this a wonderful day for the children how much we appreciate them. ...

Members of the Marked Tree Lions Club made a contribution of $250 for fiscal year 2002-03 in sight conservation funds from their club's fund-raising projects to Lions World Services for the Blind in Little Rock. LWSB is a project of the Lions Clubs of Arkansas, and contributions from the clubs are used for its day-to-day operations providing rehabilitation services for the blind...

Jim Warren reviewed "Dollar Cotton" at the Goldsby Library in Lepanto. In 1942, John Faulkner (1901-1963) published Dollar Cotton, his only work set outside the Mississippi hill country. It tells the story of Otis Town, who around the turn of the century, acquires a virgin tract of Mississippi Delta and after tremendous efforts turns it into a lucrative cotton plantation, only to lose everything in the recession of 1921 when the cotton market collapses...

The members of Xi Alpha Phi Chapter of Marked Tree are sponsoring a care package drive for local military. The men and women of the military need support and they need material items to help them with daily needs while on active duty. Some items needed:...

Best-selling novelist John Grisham's A Painted House comes to vibrant life in the 216th presentation of the Hallmark Hall of Fame Sunday April 27, 8 p.m. on CBS. A Painted House, John Grisham's 12th novel, draws on the writer's childhood memories and "local lore" from the Arkansas Delta...

EPC continued its dominance of the 3AAA-South District tennis title Monday, by sweeping both the boys and girls division of the tournament. Under Head Coach Tommy Ford, EPC won the boys doubles and girls doubles title, with their number one doubles teams picking up the titles. ...