Stories from Friday, August 15, 2003

A 14-year old Lepanto girl was killed early Wednesday morning in a one-vehicle accident on Ark. 140, near West Ridge. According to Cpl. Mark A. Dixon of the Arkansas State Police, on Aug. 13, 2003, at 3:45 a.m., a 2001 Dodge Neon was traveling west on Ark. ...

In its statewide meeting last week, the Arkansas Activities Association voted 19-0 to disapprove of creating a new classification, called AAAAAA, that would take the top 16 schools in the state, based on attendance and create a new classification. At the meeting, held at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, the proposal, called Proposal 8 would take the top 16 schools in the state, based on attendance and place them into the new classification. ...

Harold Walker, Jr., 23, of Blytheville, died on Sunday, August 10, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Blytheville. Born on August 6, 1980 in Blytheville, Walker was a restaurant worker and a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Survivors include his wife, Elnora Carter of Blytheville; parents, Virginia Spinks and Harold Walker Sr., both of Blytheville; grandparent, Ned Walker, of Blytheville; two daughters, Harliyah Walker and Fantasia Walker, both of Blytheville; four sisters, Jessica Walker, Jacklyn Anderson, and Aphordisia Talley, all of Blytheville, and Patricia Willcox of Indianapolis, Ind.; and six brothers, Fred Anderson, Charles Sanders and Terell Sanders, all of Indianapolis, Ind., Andre Anderson and Byron Walker, both of Blytheville and Brian Walker of Jonesboro.. ...

Vera Inez Parrish, 93, of Marion, formerly of Marked Tree, died Friday, August 8, 2003 at her Hobson Nursing Home in Marion. Born and raised in Savannah, Tenn., she moved to Marked Tree in 1930. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist belief. She was preceded in death by her husband, R.D. Parrish...

James Lee Howard Sr., 51, of Marked Tree died Friday, August 1, 2003 at Regional Medical Center of NEA. Born at Turrell, he was a member of the Industrial Street Church of Christ, where he served as a trustee. He was employed by Mid South Manufacturing...

Charles Dewayne Hill, 50, of Osceola died Sunday, August 10, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. A lifelong resident of Mississippi County, he was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Osceola. Survivors include his wife, Yvonne Hill of Osceola; three sons, Jeffery Hill of Blytheville and Dewayne Hill and Hamilton Hill, both of Little Rock; one stepson, Corey Harris of Little Rock; three daughters, Monica Anderson of Kansas City, Kan., Consuela Hill of Little Rock and Nellie Cullins of Blytheville; his mother, Odessa Hill of Osceola; two sisters, Valerie Wright of Memphis and Dana Burns of Texas; three brothers, Junius Ingram of Chicago and Ronnie Hill and Vincent Hill, both of Osceola.; and 20 grandchildren.. ...

Paul Edward Driver, Jr., 78, of Turrell, died on Thursday, August 7, 2003 at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. A farmer and member of Joiner First United Methodist Church, Driver was a US Army Veteran and a lifetime member of Post 5225 West Memphis/Marion VFW American Legion. He earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star while serving in the WWII Asiatic Pacific Theatre. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Edwards Driver, Sr...

Edwina Argo, 92, of Lepanto, died on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at St. Bernard Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. A member of the Lepanto First United Methodist Church, DAR, Eastern Star and the Lepanto Garden Club, she and her husband owned and operated Jones Drug Store in Lepanto for many years...

Sign up for the Marked Tree Youth Soccer League will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the soccer field between First Delta Bank and McDonalds. Parents may sign their children up for $20 per child. Division I is for ages 5 -- 7 years. Division II is for ages 8 -- 12. As the result of a formal change, this year the league will allow children up to 12 years old to play...

The Northeast Arkansas Methodist Outreach (NEAMO) Youth will be presenting a program at the Marked Tree First United Methodist Church at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 17 in the fellowship hall. The program will include refreshments and a media presentation of their resent mission trip to Panama City Florida. All the community is invited. For more information call the church at 358-2991...

The Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 21, 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...

Poinsett County representatives recently attended the annual statewide Equalization Board Meeting on July 22 in Pine Bluff. Johnny Rye, Jr., Poinsett County Assessor and Clyde Ford, Chairman of the Poinsett County Equalization Board received updates on the recent legislation, pertaining to Equalization Boards that passed through the 2003 Arkansas General Assembly. ...

When people think of living in a small town, they think about the peace and quiet and getting to know their neighbor. Yet, one of the more increasingly disturbing parts of living in a small town is the prevalence and availability of illegal drugs. Off. Rodney Davis of the Tyronza Police Department recently spoke with the Tri-City Tribune about the dangers of using and creating one particular drug: crystal methamphetamine...

At its meeting Monday night, the East Poinsett County Board of Education approved several issues and discussed a plan to revamp and rebuild lowering test scores at the school. In the meeting, held on the Lepanto campus, the board voted 6-0 to approve the 2003-2004 budget for the school. ...

In an announcement Wednesday, Rep. Marion Berry, along with U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor announced that the Marked Tree Municipal Airport will receive an award of $156,015 for runway improvements. The funds, according to the press release, will go to rehabilitating access roads, runways, taxiways and to improve airport drainage. ...

A tough schedule abounds for the ASU Indians this year, with some of the toughest games in recent history highlighting the schedule. The schedule starts on Nov. 10, with an exhibition game against Arkansas Tech in Jonesboro. After a Nov. 15 game against Athletes First, also in Jonesboro, ASU hits the road for a game against the Ole Miss Rebels of the SEC. ...