Stories from Wednesday, December 17, 2003

Tribune News Director (Editor's Note: The following is the second in a series of stories about local veterans and their experiences, during the time of war.") For most 20 to 21 year old college students today, many of them are thinking about getting their education and building their life and family for the future. Imagine being a 20-year old being sent to Europe during the heaviest battles of World War II...

Marked Tree residents, along with students at Marked Tree High School mourned this week for the loss of a beloved teacher, Brad Godwin. Godwin, 28, died Saturday in Memphis. Godwin was born on Dec. 16, 1974 to his parents, J.T. and Sharon Wadley Godwin of Batesville. ...

In its meeting Monday night, the Lepanto City Council voted to approve a policy that calls for no biased law enforcement by the Lepanto Police Department, in compliance with state law. In the meeting, held at the Lepanto District Courtroom, the council voted to accept a policy drawn up by City Attorney Noyl Houston that all cities in the state of Arkansas are going through in passing the ordinance before the year is over. ...

In its meeting Monday night, the Marked Tree Board of Education voted to accept the bids of two companies for computer services in the district. In the meeting, held at the Marked Tree High School Library, the board voted 5-0 to accept the bid of Tangent computers for 42 computers for the Marked Tree Elementary Computer Lab and the Marked Tree High School Alternative School Lab. ...

Tribune News Director The Tyronza City Council voted 5-1 last Tuesday to approve the 2004 proposed budget for the city and its various departments. In debate, held at the Tyronza District Courtroom, council members heard from Tyronza mayor Marion Bearden about the budget, which includes a 3% raise for all city employees, a transfer of $30,000 to the General Fund for a property purchase and an expenditure of $20,000 to purchase a truck for the city's water department. ...

Monday, Dec. 8 Senior Boys Gerald Jennings Holiday Tournament Gosnell 80, Armorel 51 Marked Tree 58, Corning 48 Pre-Holiday Tournament Nettleton 54, Harrisburg 38 Westside 71, Bay 61 Senior Girls EPC 70, Harrisburg 53 Marmaduke 77, Bay 61 Osceola 65, Trumann 35...

The Marked Tree senior boys and girls basketball teams faced two tough teams Tuesday night, as they faced the Cave City Cavemen and Cavewomen, in a non-conference matchup. In the boys game, held at Indian Gym in Marked Tree, a last second shot by Brad Jones was the difference as Marked Tree defeated Cave City 45-43 in senior boys action. ...

With one tournament title already in their reach, as they won the Mountain Home Shootout two weeks ago, the East Poinsett County senior boys basketball team returned to action last weekend as they participated in the Paul Draper Classic at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kan...

The East Poinsett County Lady Warriors overcame a deep first quarter deficit and injuries to pick up a 54-47 victory over the Gosnell Lady Pirates last Thursday night. In the game, played at Warrior Gym in Lepanto, EPC fought back from a 12-2 first quarter deficit in battling Gosnell all night. ...

Virginia Pauline Shepard, 82, of Tyronza died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at Three Rivers Nursing Home in Marked Tree. She was a member of Tyronza Church of Christ. Survivors include four sons, Winston Blanchard of Tyronza, Cleveland Blanchard of Marion, Ray Blanchard of Harrisburg and Carl Blanchard of Jacksonville; three daughters, Louise McCorkle and Lisa Shepard, both of Tyronza, and Brenda Ward of Jonesboro; four sisters, May Staton and Eloise Duvall, both of Trumann, Gene Wagner of Tyronza and Vernell Adams of Sikeston, Mo.; two brothers, Sonny Savage of Memphis and Herman Savage of Tupelo, Miss.; 18 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.. ...

Esther Brown, 80, of Dyess died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. She was a homemaker and a member of the Presbyterian church. She was preceded in death by her husband Hollis (Buster) Brown. Survivors include four sons, Albert Brown of Corning, Tony Brown of Mountain View, Paul Brown of Lepanto and Peter Brown of Caraway; three daughters, Sharon Gann of Marked Tree and Phillis Springer and Janie Brown, both of Dyess; a brother, Richard Mortenson of Coon Rapids, Mn.; two sisters Ann Joehnck of Burlington, Mn. ...

Robert Walker, 87, of Marked Tree died Monday, Dec. 15, 2003, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. Survivors include his wife, Mary Howard Walker of the home; one son, Robert Eugene Walker of Jonesboro; one stepson, Dr. Gerry Grant of Clarksdale, Miss.; one daughter, Judi Bingham of Marked Tree; and one stepdaughter, Janet Flurry of Oklahoma City...

Bradley Thomas Ray Godwin, 28 of Marked Tree died Saturday in Memphis. Born on December 16, 1974 in Batesville. He was a school teacher for the Marked Tree School District, a member of the FFA, American Turkey Federation, Batesville 4-H and Harrison St. Church of Christ of Batesville...

Tribune News Director Area residents braved the elements last Saturday afternoon as the City of Lepanto hosted its 2003 Christmas Parade on Main St. In spite of the cold temperatures and even colder rain, residents from three Arkansas counties participated in the parade, which is sponsored by the Lepanto Community Christmas Committee. ...

The following is a list of area teams and their first round opponents in the 2003 NEA Basketball Tournament, at Arkansas State University: AAA-AAAA-AAAAA Boys Number two seed EPC: Dec. 23, 4:30 p.m., facing the winner of Harrisburg v. Valley View Unseeded Manila: Dec. 22, 3:00 p.m., facing Corning...