Stories from Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Tribune News Staff In its meeting Monday night, the East Poinsett County Board of Education heard from a Lepanto man about a plan to start a preschool at the school. In the meeting, held on the Lepanto campus, Lepanto resident Fred Stuckey told the board that starting a preschool at the school. ...

Both the Marked Tree senior boys and girls basketball teams overcame a loss Tuesday night to pick up a victory Friday night to conclude district play for the 2003-04 season. Last Tuesday night, the Marked Tree Indians traveled north on U.S. 63 to face the Turrell Rockets in games that had bearing on the upcoming Sr. ...

It was a busy week for the East Poinsett County Lady Warriors as they faced three tough opponents in the final stretch run of the 2003-2004 basketball season. The week began last Monday, as the EPC Lady Warriors faced a tough Osceola Lady Seminoles team in the last home conference game of the year. ...

The East Poinsett County senior boys basketball team proved why they are one of the best teams in Northeast Arkansas this past week, with a couple of strong wins over district opponents. Last Tuesday, the Sr. Warriors battled the Harrisburg Sr. Hornets in the final home conference game of the year for EPC. ...

Joseph Romans, 87, of Osceola died Friday, Feb. 6, at Baptist Memorial Hospital at Osceola. Born at Iverson, Ill., he was a retired factory worker and Army veteran. There are no immediate survivors. Graveside services were at 11 a.m. Saturday in Sandy Ridge Cemetery at Burdette. The Rev. Moses Black officiated and burial was under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home of Osceola...

John Franklin Elrod Sr., 71, of Marked Tree died Thursday, Feb. 5, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. He was a chef and a member of the Church of God. Survivors include one daughter, Jackie Trenthem of Horn Lake, Miss.; three sons, John Elrod Jr. ...

Tribune News Staff Poinsett County Circuit Court Judge David Laser last Tuesday set the trial date for two prominent cases involving Marked Tree individuals for trial in Poinsett County Circuit Court. In hearings held in Harrisburg, at the Poinsett County Detention Center, Judge Laser set a Feb. ...

Poinsett County Circuit Clerk Claudia Matthews announced this week that she will be seeking re-election for a fifth term in the May 2004 Democratic primary. Matthews, who worked as a Deputy Clerk for seven years before becoming Circuit Clerk in 1997 told the Tri-City Tribune, "I enjoy my job and look forward to seeing the citizens of Poinsett County daily. ...

The Marked Tree Police Department announced Monday the arrest of five Marked Tree residents on drug-related charges, stemming all from separate cases. According to Det. Mark Robinson of the MTPD, on Feb. 7, 2004, he and Sgt. Jeremy Bond of the MTPD arrested James Hunt, 39, and Johnny Eaton, 24, both of Marked Tree on drug related charges, stemming from a traffic stop. ...

The Lepanto Police Department announced this week the arrest of a Lepanto man, on a charge of residential burglary and theft of property. According to Lepanto Police Chief Raymond Oakes, on Jan. 13, 2004, a resident living on May St. reported to police that someone had broken into his home and taken approximately $1,500 in items from the home. ...

Tribune News Staff Financial issues were on top of the agenda at Monday's monthly meeting of the Marked Tree City Council. City clerk-treasurer Pam Wright presented the city's financial and water statements for discussion. Mayor Lawrence Ashlock presented committee reports for the airport, fire department, police department, street department and water department. No substantial comments were made about the reports...

(Editor's Note: The following are a series of excerpts from a book, written by Lepanto resident Malcolm Patterson in February 2000 about his experiences in World War II, serving as a member of the United States Coast Guard. The book tells of his memories of the Southwest Harbor Coast Guard Base in 1943.)...

Tribune News Staff Keith Steele is a man known for his jovial demeanor and his friendly attitude. He serves the community of Marked Tree through his service as director of Arkansas State University Technical Center and president of the Marked Tree Chamber of Commerce...

Tuesday, Feb. 3 Senior Boys Bay 69, Marmaduke 66 BIC 86, Rector 55 Earle 78, Cross County 58 EPC 88, Harrisburg 37 Gosnell 68, Valley View 53 Osceola 70, Manila 48 Rivercrest 82, Trumann 53 Riverside 68, CRA 55 Turrell 57, Marked Tree 51 Senior Girls...