Stories from Friday, July 11, 2003

United States Representative Marion Berry joined other officials to break ground and begin work bringing Highway 63 up to Interstate Standards to become Interstate 555 last Thursday, July 3. The groundbreaking will start the work to create an overpass for Highway 149 to cross Highway 63, the future I-555. The entire conversion of roads to Interstate Standards is funded through federal funding and is projected to cost $100 million...

Kenneth W. Barnes, 60, of Trumann died Thursday, July 3, 2003 at his home. He was a member of the Christian Worship Center of Trumann. Survivors include his wife, Eloise Barnes of Trumann; two daughters, Teresa D. Johnson and Katheryn L. Propes, both of Trumann; his father, Marvin Barnes; four sisters, Marie Frey and Phyllis Price, both of Trumann, and Irene Simpson and Katheryn Cornell, both of California; one brother, Buel E. Barnes of Trumann; and six grandchildren...

County Clerk Fonda Condra announces beginning July 16, marriage license fees will increase from $45 to $58. Act 1029 of 2003 levied an additional fee to marriage licenses for the Domestic Peace Fund. This fee is broken down to $10 to the Arkansas Children's Fund, $1 to the Arkansas Department of Health, $11 to the Domestic Peace Fund, and $2 to a special account for exclusive use for the operation of the county clerk's office. The remaining $34 is deposited into the County General Fund...

A public auction for the sale of tax delinquent land in Poinsett County will be held at the County Courthouse in Harrisburg on Tuesday, July 22, at 2 p.m. according to Mark Wilcox, Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. Registration will be at 1:30 p.m...

The Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the CRDC Head Start Complex, 213 North Fisher Street 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...

Black Oak Baptist Church invites all children four years old through sixth grade to Vacation Bible School. V.B.S. will be held Sunday July 13 -- Friday, July 18, from 6 -- 8:30 p.m. The fun will start Saturday with a V.B.S. Kick-off Party at 2 p.m. There will be games, prizes, a watermelon eating contest, moon walk and more. For any child needing a ride, please call Bro. John Dillinger at 807-852-2208...

First United Methodist Youth from Marked Tree are heading up a Florida Mission Trip beginning July 21 through 25. The youth will be involved with serving a soup line for the homeless shelter at the Panama City Rescue Missions, performing skits, sign-language, hula and singing for the Nursing Homes, beach ministry with the Noah's Ark mission crew as well as attending nightly Christian Concerts and bible studies...

During the June and July regular meetings of the Tyronza City Council, the council rejected a bid from B&B Disposal, adopted a new dog ordinance and was informed of missing inventory items and city personnel changes. In June, Mayor Bearden informed the council that Police Chief Curt Swan had reported several items missing from an inventory list including a SIG .40 caliber pistol with five clips and two trigger locks and a radar gun. ...

State, county and local law enforcement officials announced Tuesday morning the arrests of over two-dozen individuals from Poinsett County, on drug-related charges. In the investigation, dubbed "Operation Clean Sweep" by officials, state, county and local law enforcement, worked together to build their case and used the opportunity Tuesday to make arrests. ...

The Arkansas Activities Association announced this week the results of their three-year reclassification program, which is used to determine classifications for all sports activities in the state. Under current regulations, the first 32 teams, based on enrollment at the school are placed in Class AAAAA; the next 32 teams are in Class AAAA; the next 96 are in Class AAA; the next 64 in Class AA and the rest in Class A. ...

Ten runs in the first three innings were the difference Monday night as the Marked Tree Indians defeated Corning 13-2, in Senior Babe Ruth action. In the final game, before the Sr. Babe Ruth district tournament this week, the Marked Tree bats came alive as the Indians scored two runs in the first, one run in the second and seven runs in the third, to build a 10-0 lead. ...

News and Notes from the world of sports, ending July 11, 2003: FOUR CARDS NAMED TO NL ALL-STAR TEAM: In results announced Sunday, four members of the St. Louis Cardinals were selected to the National League All-Star team for the 2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, in Chicago on July 15. ...

MARKED TREE -- For a 15 year old East Poinsett County High School student, seeing his photos published in his hometown newspaper is only the beginning of fulfilling his dreams of becoming a full-fledged professional photographer. William "Scooter" Brewer of Marked Tree came to the Tri-City Tribune office several weeks ago to inquire about putting his photography talents to work for the sports section of the newspaper. ...

John Henry Reed Sr., 59, of Osceola died Friday, July 4, 2003 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. Born in Nodena, Ark. on May 7, 1944, he was a retired factory worker and was of the Baptist belief. Survivors include his wife, Pearlie Reed of Osceola; his mother, Nancy Reed of Osceola; three sons, John Henry Reed Jr. ...

Connie Mae Horner, 56, of Jonesboro died Sunday, June 29, 2003 at her residence. Born in Blytheville, she was a factory worker and a member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Markeeta Horner and Vickie Horner, both of Jonesboro; one son, Dennis Horner of Jonesboro; and nine grandchildren, Valencia Horner, Montez Horner, Preniecesa Horner, Dennis Horner Jr., Rickeedra Horner, A'Keem Horner, La Krisha Horner, Markeeta Horner and Quartina Horner...

Graveside services for Herman Utah "Bo" McDaniel Jr., 58, of Lake City, who died Thursday, July 3, 2003 in Lake City, were held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 7, in Lake City Cemetery, with the Rev. Carl Edge officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home of Lake City...

Elnora Butler, 83, of Marked Tree died Tuesday, July 1, 2003 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. She had lived in Marked Tree for 15 years after moving from Tyronza. She was a member of Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, where she served on the Mother Board...

Guy Hardesty, 63, of Marked Tree, formerly of Blytheville, died Friday, July 4, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital East in Memphis. Born in Armorel, he was a 1958 graduate of Blytheville High School. He worked for American Greetings and Montgomery Ward and was owner and operator of Hardesty's Arts and Crafts...

A leading football publication in the state of Arkansas recently reported that the teams in Poinsett County will be battling through the pack this football season. Hooten's Arkansas Football, in its 12th year of predicting football success in the state of Arkansas says that East Poinsett County, Marked Tree and Trumann will battle against several tough teams in 2003. ...