Stories from Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Democrat News Staff Debbie DeRossitte stays busy working for the people of Poinsett County. She serves as a cooperative extension agent of family and consumer sciences for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. DeRossitte, 51, grew up in the Pine Bluff area. She has one daughter, Susanne Belk of Jonesboro. and one son, Jay DeRossitte. Her two grandsons -- Jayson, 5, and Aaron, 2, live in Jonesboro...

Edith Gernell Cox, 80, of Russellville died Friday, March 5, at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. She was formerly of Lepanto and Marked Tree and was homemaker. She was a member the Church of God in Russellville. Survivors include one sister, Goldie Dallas of Jonesboro, and two brothers, Tommy Brashears of Russellville and Jimmy Brashears of Lepanto...

Mary Evelyn Ham Dexter, 73, of Tyronza died Friday, March 5, at her residence. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist belief. Survivors include her husband, Robert A. Dexter of Tyronza; a son, Robert E. Dexter of Tyronza; a daughter, Carrie A. Merritt of Harrisburg; two sisters, Polly Taylor of Cahokia, Ill., and Edith Ford of Marked Tree; two brothers, Hugh Ham of Calfaz, Wash., and Billy Ham of Wenatchee, Wash.; six grandchildren, Nacole Willis of Trumann, Sarah Purnell, John Dexter and Jennifer Dexter, all of Tyronza, Robin Price of Harrisburg and Linda Shaw of Jonesboro; and two great-grandchildren.. ...

Mildred Swaim Doty, 96, of Marked Tree died Sunday, Feb. 29, at St. Elizabeth Place in Jonesboro. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church of Marked Tree. Survivors include a daughter, Georgia Berry of Corning; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren...

Robert Louis Harmon, 62, of Marked Tree died from pneumonia Monday, March 1 at Central Arkansas Hospital in Searcy. Born on November 9, 1941 in Brinkley, Harmon was a laborer of the Baptist faith. Graveside services were held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3 at Shady Groves Cemetery in Evadale with Brother Gary Andrews officiating...

Whit Franklin Herndon Sr., 79, of Lepanto died Wednesday, March 3, at Regional Medical Center of NEA. He was an implement dealer and owner of Pritchett Motor Co. He was a past member of Lepanto School Board, Rotary Club and was a former sports announcer for Lepanto High School. ...

Phyllis Hodge, 54 died on Sunday, Feb. 29 at UAMS Hospital in Little Rock from compilations of diabetes. Hodge was of Salem, Ark. and was previously a resident of Osceola. She was a retired security guard and of the Pentecostal faith. Hodge was survived by two daughters, Ronda Kemp of Salem and Lynn Phillips of Manila; one brother, Jerry Waldo of Chicago, Ill. and one grandchild...

Archie Lee Smith, Sr., 81, died of natural causes Tuesday, March 2 at White River Medical Center in Batesville. Mr. Smith was born in Savannah, Tenn. and had lived in Batesville for the past 24 years. He was formerly of Jonesboro and a retired factory worker of the Baptist faith...

As the public address system at the Ozark Activity Center, played the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey in the background before the announcement of the starting five before the EPC-Pulaski Academy game, EPC began its own odyssey last Saturday afternoon in playing Pulaski Academy in the semifinals of the Class AAA State tournament...

Going into this year's season, many of the so-called experts thought that the Marked Tree Senior Boys Basketball team would be good, in spite of losing 6-5 center Alan Price to an injured knee in football season. Yet, Marked Tree used guts and determination to advance to the Class AA State Tournament last week at Centerpoint...

Martha A. Cannon, 74, died on March 7 at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. She was a resident of Memphis and a retired book keeper. Cannon was survived by one daughter, Joan Cannon of Memphis; one son, James Cannon-Owens of Cross Roads, Ala.; her sister Sara Provost of Montgomery, Ala.; her brother Tommy Morrisett of Marked Tree and one grandchild...

Lora Wright, 87, of Greenbrier, died Saturday, March 6, at Coshocton County Memorial Hospital in Coshocton, Ohio. Born in Marked Tree, she was a homemaker and was of the Church of God belief. Survivors include one son, Charles Wright of Greenbrier; two daughters, Eva Branan of Coshocton and Shirley Bohler of Lone Jack, Mo.; one sister, Freeda May of Cartersville, Ga.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren...

Doris Johnson is a lady who is well known and well liked by many in the Tri-City area. Through continual service and dedication, Johnson has left her mark on the hearts and lives of both young and old. Johnson, 46, grew up in Lepanto. She graduated from Lepanto High School in 1975 and went on to obtain an associate's degree from Mississippi Community College in Blytheville...

Tribune News Staff In its meeting Monday night, the East Poinsett County Board of Education voted to approve the contracts for all certified and non-certified employees, as well as heard from the district's Federal Coordinator on their plan for school improvement...

Mike Hood of Tyronza announced recently that he will be seeking election for Justice of the Peace for District 11. Hood, 47, served from 1992 to 2002 as Justice of the Peace. During his time in office he served on the building committee, 911 committee and road committee. Also during his service a new detention center was built, many wooden bridges were replaced with concrete structures and the courthouse was refurbished...

Town Crier News Staff The Lepanto Area Citizens for Progress (LACFP) group has been busy since they organized on Oct. 2, 2002, during the filming of "A Painted House," in Lepanto. The LACFP was originally formed to promote tourism in Lepanto during the exciting days of movie making downtown, and has evolved into a full-fledged area project involving people from all across Northeast Arkansas...

Tribune News Staff The Marked Tree City Council announced Monday night in its meeting that Marked Tree will begin its annual clean up on April 5. The "clean up, paint up, fix up" campaign will run April 5-16. Mayor Lawrence Ashlock encouraged citizens to take advantage of the city-wide clean up. "You should make every effort to gather up all trash and debris during this two-week time frame," Ashlock said...

EPC kindergarten registration will be held at Lepanto Elementary from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on April 14 and at Tyronza Elementary from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on April 15. Parents will need to bring their child's birth certificate, social security card, up to date shot records and records of a recent physical exam by a doctor. For more information, call 475-2632...

A benefit auction for Robert "Bobby" Tacker will be held at 7:00 p.m. on March 20 at the Lepanto Auction Company in Lepanto. Bobby is being treated for Cancer at UAMS. He lives at Whitton and has worked and farmed in the area for 52 years. All proceeds from the auction will go to help with the expense of his treatments...

Delores Irene "Dee" Barnes, 68, of Trumann died Sunday, Feb. 29, at Regional Medical Center of NEA. Born in Olathe, Kan., she had lived in Dinuba, Calif., before moving to Trumann in 1991. She was a housewife and a member of Faith Baptist Church in Tulot...

Mary Ethel Vuncannon,76, died of natural causes on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Trumann Health and Rehab in Trumann. Mrs. Vuncannon as born in Mississippi and was a lifetime resident of Trumann. She was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith. Vuncannon was preceded in death by her husband, Manual Vuncannon; two daughters, Mary Acker and Sue Russell; one son, Thomas Ray Steen; six brothers and her parents, Rubin and Myrtle Wilbanks Armstrong...

In a game, where teams are known for their persona, this Saturday's Class AAA state final between East Poinsett County and Osceola should make for an interesting game. Both EPC and Osceola are members of the competitive 3AAA-South district and have played each other three times this year and six times in the last two years. ...

Tuesday, March 2 Class AAAAA State Tournament at North Little Rock Senior Boys Fort Smith Northside 66, Sheridan 50 Little Rock Hall 63, Pine Bluff 51 North Little Rock 75, Forrest City 51 Senior Girls El Dorado 69, Mount St. Mary's 52 Fort Smith Northside 79, Benton 30...