Stories from Thursday, December 4, 2003

Tribune News Director A dream became reality last Tuesday as members of the Lepanto Fire Department, along with members of a Lepanto family broke ground on the new Lepanto Fire Station. In a ceremony, held on a cold, blustery day in a vacant lot on Greenwood St., Lepanto Mayor Dale Dunlap, Lepanto Fire Chief Damon Tyler and Mik'l and Dan'l Portis, along with members of the Lepanto Fire Department broke ground on the 45' x 96' building that will house the city's Fire Department and rescue equipment. ...

Tribune Sports Staff In a game that saw 14 different lead changes and three different players score in double figures, it was the most basic of shots that decided Monday night's junior boys basketball game between EPC and Piggott. Two free throws by Logan Ballard with 9.4 seconds left was the difference, as Piggott defeated EPC 44-42 in the first round of the EPC Jr. Invitational Tournament Monday night...

Tribune Sports Staff Officials of an area basketball tournament have decided to honor the efforts of a former school superintendent and his career, by naming their tournament after him. It was announced this week that the Tri-County Tournament will be now known as the Gerald Jennings Holiday Tournament, to honor Jennings and his career in education in Northeast Arkansas. ...

Reba Diane Sloan, 55, of Marked Tree died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, at her home. She worked in home health aid and was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include her mother, Elenor Hicks of Marked Tree; one son, Kenny George of Marked Tree; two daughters, Renee Grissom of Marked Tree and Lynn Blagg of Tyronza; four sisters, Janet George of Marked Tree, Geneva Martin of Colorado, Joyce Thompson of Marion and Glena Smith of Springfield, Mo.; two brothers, Jerry Hicks of Melbourne and Lonnie Hicks of Marked Tree; and four grandchildren.. ...

Roger Dean Tucker, 44, of Birdsong died Monday, Nov. 24, 2003, at his residence. He was a construction worker and an Army veteran. Survivors include a son, Roger Tucker of Chicago; a daughter, Conesha Nicole Blake of Chicago; his father, George Tucker Sr. of Birdsong; three sisters, Teresa Brown of Tyronza, Carolyn Tucker of Marion and Barbara Holloway of Birdsong; and two brothers, George Tucker Jr. of Memphis and Ricky Turner of Birdsong...

James M. Moore, 73, of Lepanto died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at Regional Medical Center of NEA. He was a professional musician and a World War II veteran. He was member of the Aeronautics Association and the American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Jessie Moore of Lepanto; one son, James Kipp Moore of Crowley, Texas; two daughters, Kimberly Jo Moore of Olive Branch, Miss., and Kathy Fowler of Rector; three grandchildren, James Kyle Moore, Lindsay Fowler and Kelly Fowler; and three great-grandchildren.. ...

Larry Wayne "Moondog Spot" Booker, 51, of Dyersburg died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis. He had been a professional wrestler for 30 years. Survivors include five sons, Larry W. Booker, James Booker, Jody Booker and Jody Wayne Booker, all of Dyersburg, and Chris Booker of Wilson; two daughters, Angela Booker of Kingston, Tenn., and Jennifer Booker of Dyersburg; his mother, Gladys M. ...

Robert Charles "R.C." Barnes, 76, of Walnut Ridge, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at Senatobia, Miss. He was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his wife, Margie Rogers Barnes of Walnut Ridge; three sons, Troy Barnes of Southaven, Miss., Robert Barnes of Byhalia, Miss., and Victor Barnes of Senatobia; six daughters, Bobbie Jeans Oswalt of Nesbitt, Miss., Glenda Faye Crockett of Senatobia, Tina Davis of Byhalia, Dina Wittington of Batesville, Tabitha Walker of Ponotoc, Miss., and Linda Mullins of Walnut, Miss.; eight sisters, Mildred Young, Betty Sue Klenk and Carolyn Milton, all of Walnut, Billie Doris Sexton and Dorothy King, both of Tiplersville, Miss., Annie Vandandver of Meridian, Miss., Kay Youngblood of Victoria, Miss., and Faye Barnes of Blue Mountain, Miss.; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and 18 geat-great-grandchildren.. ...

Tribune News Director With progress showing from the ground up, the city of Tyronza is currently working with a consulting firm to build a new 200,000-gallon water tower inside the city. The plan, which initially started in late 2001and early 2002 under former mayor Drexel Gill's administration calls for the new tower to replace an older tower, which was built in the early 1930's for residents in the city. ...

The Marked Tree Board of Education voted 4-0 Monday night to accept the low bid of a Memphis financial company to restructure debt service for the district. In the special meeting, held Monday night at the Marked Tree High School Library, the board voted to accept the bid of First Tennessee Financial to restructure debt service to come into compliance with an order by the Arkansas Supreme Court that a school district will have 25 mills of Maintenance and Operation to reach compliance with Amendment 71 of the Arkansas constitution. ...

Tribune Sports Staff Fans expecting to see a renewal of a rivalry that has been exhibited off and on for the last 14 years got their money's worth Tuesday night, as fans got to see two of the best players in Northeast Arkansas in EPC forward Marcus...