Stories from Friday, September 12, 2003

The 2003 Millage Election will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003. Voters are being asked by the Marked Tree School District to add 3.0 new maintenance and operation (M&O) mills to meet the 25.0 mill M&O requirement. Voters are being given the opportunity to vote in this tax increase to avoid a larger increase of 7.3 to 8.3 new M&O mills, which the Poinsett County Quorum Court will be required to levy if voters defeat the millage request, according to the Attorney General. ...

The East Poinsett County tennis team started its season this week, with victories over Piggott and Trumann. Last Thursday, EPC, coached by Tommy Ford, picked up a 5-0 victory over Trumann in boys play, yet tied at 3 all in girls play. In boys singles, Adam Robertson (EPC) defeated Joe Timbs (Trumann) 6-2, Daniel Collins (EPC) defeated Blake Wright (Trumann) 4-0, retired, Colby Turner (EPC) defeated Blake Wright (Trumann) 6-4 and Chris Thomas (EPC) defeated Merritt Davis 6-1. ...

In a game that has been 364 days in the making, the EPC Warriors will attempt to seek revenge Friday night as they face the DeWitt Dragons in Lepanto. In week two last year, DeWitt pulled away with a 13-12 victory over EPC, giving the Warriors a non-conference loss in the early going. ...

After an opening loss to rival EPC, Marked Tree this week turns its attention to district play, where they will face the Salem Greyhounds. Salem (0-1, 0-0), with Head Coach Bob Grass was 5-5 last year and finished in a fourth place tie with Palestine-Wheatley in the competitive 3AA District. ...

A key fourth-quarter drive for EPC was the difference last Friday night, as the EPC Warriors defeated the Marked Tree Indians 28-0 in a non-conference game. In the game, played at Warrior Field, the EPC defense took advantage of a key Marked Tree error and moved the football down the field for a go-ahead score. ...

Andrew Carter Raymond, infant son of David Allen Raymond and Beth Parsons of Dyess, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Blytheville. In addition to his parents, survivors include paternal grandparents, Morris and Kathy Smith of Dyess; and maternal grandparents, Steve and Sharon Roberson of Dyess...

Howard Roberts, 93, of Osceola died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. He was a lifetime resident of Mississippi County. There are no immediate survivors. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleave and Clara Roberts...

Billy Dale Rackley, 62, of West Union, S.C. died Tuesday, Sept. 2, at his residence. He was a butcher at a grocery store and was formerly of Lepanto. Survivors include five daughters, Melissa Rackley of West Union, Teresa Rackley of Grand Rapids, Mich., Mary Stehlin of Hanover Park, Ill., Denise Auyday of Carlostream, Ill., and Patricia Rogers of Walhalla, S.C.; one stepson, John Sauve of Niles, Mich.; and 10 grandchildren...

Wilburn John Miller, 75, of Marked Tree died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. He was a member of the Upper Room Apostolic Church. Survivors include one sister, Mary Brown of Marked Tree, and one brother, Zane Miller of Marked Tree...

Lucille Clark Collie, 95, of Marked Tree, died Monday, Sept. 8, 2003 at St. Bernard's Medical Center. Survivors include one son, George H. Collie of Dothan, Ala.; seven daughters, Jewel Hutcheson of Baldwin, Miss., Aline Buck and Ada Penter, both of Jonesboro, Barbara Pounds of Dennis, Miss., Ophelia Thompson of Marked Tree, Trudy Bessent of Hayesville, N.C., and Gale Watters of Benton; and 32 grandchildren...

Mary Alice Ashburn, 92, of Joiner died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2003 in Joiner. She was a member of Wardell Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Thomas "Sonny" Ashburn of Ravenden Springs; four daughters, Charlene Davies of Imboden, Mary Jo Higginbotham and Alice Spears, both of Joiner, and Eva Carol Barber of Jonesboro; 13 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren...

Snyder Industries, Inc., in Marked Tree has qualified for the OSHA Pre-SHARP program. SHARP stands for Safety Health Achievement Recognition Program, a federal recognition and exemption program to reward small employers who have exemplary safety and health management systems...

Officials with the East Poinsett County School District met with residents in Lepanto and Tyronza this week to discuss ways to help improve test scores at the school. In meetings held last Thursday in Tyronza and Tuesday in Lepanto, those officials stated that improving test scores, having parental involvement and having strong standards and expectations will help to remove EPC from the School Improvement List, for Tyronza and Lepanto Elementary and the ALERT list for EPC High School that was announced by the Arkansas State Department of Education last month.. ...

Members of a concerned citizens group in Lepanto heard Tuesday night from the top law enforcement official in Poinsett County about an issue that has received a lot of attention in the Tri-Cities area recently: illegal drugs. Poinsett County Sheriff Larry Mills spoke with the group and answered questions from the approximately 25 residents in attendance. ...

With only one day before the deadline to pay, Marked Tree Mayor Lawrence Ashlock asked the City Council to approve the settlement of the Kirk's Aviation, Inc. vs. the City of Marked Tree and Lawrence Ashlock, Jr. lawsuit at its regular meeting on Monday...

Some news and notes from the world of sports, for the week ending Sept. 4, 2003: ASU QUARTERBACK WINS SBC AWARD: Arkansas State quarterback Elliot Jacobs received the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week Award, for his efforts Saturday night in a 63-6 victory over Tennessee-Martin. ...

Four touchdowns by Brian Coleman was the difference last Thursday night as the Marked Tree Jr. Indians defeated the Salem Jr. Greyhounds 28-6 in 3AA-District play. With five minutes left in the opening quarter, Coleman began the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown run. ...