Stories from Wednesday, December 24, 2003

Tribune News Director A local school district will use its share of a recently received grant to work on improving literacy and math scores at the school. The East Poinsett County School District recently received word from the United States Department of Education that they will receive a $315,000 grant to help with improving test scores in grades K-6 on both the Lepanto and Tyronza campus. ...

A strong second run by the Riverside Lady Rebels was the difference last Thursday night, as the Riverside Lady Rebels defeated the EPC Lady Warriors 69-47 in senior girls action. In the game, played at Lepanto, Riverside jumped out to a 15-9 first quarter lead and expanded their lead through tough defense and EPC turnovers. ...

Tuesday, Dec. 16 Senior Boys Bay 85, Maynard 64 Gosnell 61, Osceola 58 Harrisburg 49, Trumann 41 Manila 68, Valley View 50 Marked Tree 45, Cave City 43 Riverside 60, CRA 40 Junior Boys Bay 56, Maynard 37 Osceola 53, Gosnell 35 Riverside 32, CRA 28 Trumann 32, Harrisburg 27...

The Marked Tree Indians battled two tough Earle teams last Friday night, winning both games (albeit by different margins.) The Marked Tree senior boys defeated Earle 69-47, while the Marked Tree senior girls had to stop a last second shot to pick up a 53-50 win...

The East Poinsett County Senior Boys Basketball team proved why they are one of the best teams in Northeast Arkansas Monday night, as they put together a strong third quarter on the way to a 79-45 victory over Rivercrest in 3AAA-South action. EPC led throughout most of the game, leading 15-7 after one quarter, 34-21 at halftime and 63-36 after three quarters on their way to victory. ...

She was born to Dr. Charles Glenn & Elizabeth Orton Swingle December 2, 1953 in Memphis. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Charles Glenn Swingle, Sr. of Rock island, Ill. and Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Beasley of Earle; her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Wade Orton of Johnson City and Knoxville; and a niece Kathryn Dodd Schisler of Weiner...

Albert Rollins, 83, of Marked Tree, died Thursday, December 18, 2003 at his residence. An Army veteran, he served in the 29th Infantry Co. in the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was a commercial fisherman who owned Rollins Fish Market for more than 50 years and was of the Baptist faith...

Thomas "Tommy" Leroy Gifford, 42, of Queen City, Texas formerly of Blytheville, died Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at Texarkana, Texas. Born in Osceola, he was a factory worker and was a member of Ruddle Road Church of God. Survivors include one daughter, Whitney Gifford of Queen City, Texas; one stepdaughter, Destanie Gifford of Jonesboro; his mother and stepfather, Deloris and Bill Sawyer, both of Queen City, Texas; his father, Leroy Gifford of Blytheville; one sister, Amber Marie Gifford of Blytheville; three stepsisters, Creseana Gist of Blytheville, Connie Johnson of Ala. ...

Nelda Jane Foster, 57, of Lepanto died Friday, December 19, 2003, at St. Bernard's Medical Center. She was of the Baptist faith and a homemaker. Survivors include two sons, Jerry Foster of Memphis and Timothy Foster of Little Rock; one daughter, Cindy Wilmoth of Jonesboro; three sisters, Mary Nell Edge of Malden, Mo., Barbara Pilgrim of Osceola and Katherine Mason of Lepanto; one brother, William Maddox, of Lepanto; and one grandchild...

Poinsett Justices adopted a number of ordinances Monday night, including an ordinance giving their stamp of approval on the county's 2004 operating budget totaling approximately $5.5 million. Included in the budget mix is a five percent pay raise for all county employees...

A former Tyronza teacher and principal, known for his work in Tyronza for many years, died last Saturday morning. C.E. "Ed" Norton, 92, of Harrisburg was born on July 29, 1911 in Sitka, Ark. He was the son of Jesse Thomas Norton and Orpha Spurlock Norton. ...

The Tri-City Tribune is proud to announce that Jimmy Laden has been selected as the 2003 Lepanto Citizen of the Year recipient. Laden, the owner of a Lepanto auction company, and his family have been residents of Lepanto for at least 15 years and have contributed to the area in many ways. ...

The city of Marked Tree recently announced that new rules and guidelines, involving the collection of garbage in the city will be enforced, effective Jan. 5, 2004. They include only garbage in the bins will be picked up by the garbage collectors. The city advises that area residents do not place garbage outside of a bin because the garbage will not be picked up that way, garbage must be sacked up and placed in bins and that bins must be placed within three feet from any object that stop the garbage truck from picking up garbage. ...

Tribune News Director A local group that has worked for many years in helping area residents were working early last Saturday morning to participate in a clothes and toy drive. Project PUMP, made up of a group of residents in the Marked Tree area, sponsored its 12th annual event to help residents in Marked Tree with supplying their needs at Christmas and at other times during the year. ...

The East Poinsett County Miss Warrior Pageant will be held Sunday, Jan. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the EPC Cafetorium in Lepanto. The categories are: Senior MissGrades 10, 11, and 12; Junior MissGrades 7, 8, and 9; Little MissGrades 4, 5, and 6; Petite MissGrades 1, 2, and 3 and Tiny MissAges 3, 4, 5, and kindergarten...

The Bay Lady Yellowjackets continued to steam roll through the 3AA North Conference claiming two lopsided victories this past week. On Monday night, the Lady Jackets hammered the Maynard Lady Tigers 80-50 at Bay, and followed that up Thursday night with a 65-29 road drubbing over the Walnut Ridge Lady Bobcats...

Funeral services for Lafayette Preston, 89, of Bay who died Friday, Dec. 19, at his residence, were Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at Bay United Methodist Church. The Rev. Mike Winberry will officiate and burial will be in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Langford's Funeral Service...

Carolyn Savoie, 64, of Jonesboro died Saturday, Dec. 20, at St. Bernard's Medical Center. Born at Trumann, she was a retired transcriptionist for St. Bernard's Medical Center and a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Survivors include her mother, Monra Choat of Jonesboro; one daughter, Michelle Denise Steele of Jonesboro; one son, Edward Savoie of Killington, Vt.; two sisters, Pat McCaughan and Martha Brown, both of Jonesboro; two brothers, Richard E. ...

Debra Ellen White Taylor, 48, of Trumann died Sunday, Dec. 21, in Jonesboro. Born at Trumann, she was a lifetime resident of Trumann, a homemaker and a member of First General Baptist Church in Trumann. Survivors include her husband, Ronald Jefferson Taylor of the home; one daughter, Amy Michelle Taylor of Jonesboro; two stepdaughters, Tressia Rhonda Renee Stephens of Batesville and Sherry Ann King of Trumann; one stepson, Jason Dewayne Taylor of Trumann; her parents, Maylon and Imogene Hughes White, both of Trumann; two brothers, Ricky White of Jonesboro and Paul White of Trumann; and six grandchildren, Darren King, Christopher Stevens, Phillip Stevens, Jaden King, Alexus Taylor and Michael Stevens.. ...

Lucy Ann Evans, 69, of East Prairie, Tenn., died Thursday, Dec. 18, in the Baptist Memorial East Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She lived in Trumann from 1937 until 1954, where she graduated from Trumann High School in 1954. She attended First Assembly of God Church in East Prairie and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Sikeston...

Thomas Jefferson "Pop" Hatcher, 74, of Paragould died Saturday, Dec. 20, at Greene Acres Nursing Home in Paragould. Born at Osceola, he lived most of his life in the Trumann area before moving to Paragould four years ago. He was retired from the Singer Co. of Trumann and was a member of the Black Oak Baptist Church...

Funeral services for Woodrow Wilson Hall, 83, of Trumann, who died Friday, Dec. 19, at St. Bernard's Medical Center, were Monday, Dec. 22, 2003 in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann. He was born in Wynne and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a retired employee of the Singer Company in Trumann and a member of the Trumann Masonic Lodge and the Central Missionary Baptist Church in Trumann...

The Trumann Lions Club will have these programs in January: Jan. 7 - Randy Blankley with Sam's Club. Jan. 15 - Keith Kessinger, ASU's baseball coach. Jan. 22 - a performance by the Little Dribblers. Jan. 28 - Danny Honnoll with the Civil War re-enactment...

Kissing under the mistletoe has long been a part of Christmas tradition. But just what is mistletoe and how did its association with Christmas evolve? About the Plant - Mistletoe is especially interesting botanically because it is a partial parasite (a "hemiparasite"). ...

(Editor's note: The following recipe for gingerbread man ornament was sent in by Trumann Democrat reader Barbara Holt of Trumann.) Gingerbread man ornament 1/2 cup cinnamon 1/2 cup applesauce 1 tablespoon Elmer's glue Mix together all ingredients. Let stand for ten minutes or so, then knead dough. Should be stiff play dough consistency, using cinnamon sprinkle a small amount on counter or wax paper, adding more cinnamon to rolling pin and dough, roll out to about 1/4 thickness...

Dear Santa, What I want for Chrismsisa. Game Qub for Chrisms. Want super MarioSun and I hve been good. And for My Gameboy I want Super Mario Bros 3 and 2 ok. Whate is that I is b ion a colI want 2 and the movie.Whate is that I want i a pack of pokemon cards. And I want Mitybeans a 3 pack and rap. And a blag blag and What I want forth the Game Qub Maio Paty 5. ANd pipi Max and have a good Chrims...

BY CARIN MCCLUNG, Democrat Editor Students from the Trumann High School Future Business Leaders of America, JROTC and the Marked Tree High School National Honor Society volunteered their time to help make local families Christmas's a little merrier this year...

I want a bebey Gun. Devin Smullin Dear Santa, I have been good and bad mostly bad, but I will be good for you. I wont a new knife for deer hunting. I also want a preasnt for my mom, dad and sister. I also wont a bebe gyn, R.C. truck with a camera. Love, Sammie Jo Williams...

Bay's Yellowjackets played a pair of games this past week with mixed results, splitting two 3AA North conference games. On Tuesday night, the Yellowjackets manhandled the Maynard Tigers 85-64 at Bay, but on Friday night Crowley(s Ridge Academy shot 13-14 at the free throw line in pulling off a 68-58 upset over a stunned Bay crowd...