Stories from Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Tribune News Staff Thanks to the Department of Rural Services, children in Marked Tree will now have a safer place to play. The City of Marked Tree recently received a $15,000 grant to replace the floor of the Carver Gym. Gov. Mike Huckabee presented the award to mayor Lawrence Ashlock, city alderman Cleo Johnson and State Rep. Wayne Nichols...

It was a strong early going for EPC last Thursday in a high school baseball game against Marked Tree at Warrior Park. However, pitching woes in the second and sixth innings provided the difference in a 16-5 Marked Tree victory over EPC. After two Marked Tree runs in the top of the first inning, EPC's bats came alive as the Warriors scored four runs in the bottom of the first, off Marked Tree starter Jeffrey Thompson. ...

Maggie Bell Hulett, 104, of Osceola died Friday, March 12, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. Born in Kent, Miss., she was a member of St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church. Survivors include one brother: John Cargo of Washington, D.C.; two nieces: Mozetta Whitfield and Della Whitfield, both of Osceola; and three nephews: Luther Whitfield of Osceola, Frisco McDonald of Pine Bluff and Alonzo McDonald of St. Louis, Mo...

Clarence Parker Jr., 82, of Osceola died of heart failure March 20 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. Born March 18, 1922 in Lula, Miss., Parker was a retired American Greetings worker and an Army veteran from World War II. Parker was also a member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Osceola...

Annie Mae Davis, 89, of Joiner died of kidney failure March 18 at Methodist Hospital in Memphis. Born Jan. 5, 1915, Davis was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Pisby Missionary Baptist church. Davis was survived by one daughter: Mae Davis of Joiner; two sons: Charles Wicks, Jr. of Osceola and Perry Lee Bell of Hot Springs; three sisters: Janie Hughes, Roxie Hughes and Lillian Graham, all of Memphis; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild...

Rev. Leslie M. Riherd, Sr., 87, of Owensboro, Ky. died Thursday, March 11 at Owensboro Medical Center. Riherd was a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and his favorite Bible verse was Job 19:25, "I know that my redeemer liveth." Born in Park City, Ky., Riherd was the son of the late Clitus B. and Annie Martin Riherd. He was a graduate of Cave City High School in 1934 and Georgetown College in 1937. His postgraduate education was at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary 1937-1940...

Glen Bunyon Neal, 77, of Lepanto died Thursday, March 18 at his home. Neal was born in Bondsville where he lived and farmed most of his life. He served in World War II as a demolition and rescue expert in the European Conflict with decorations including two Bronze Stars...

Broadway Church of Christ in Marked Tree will hold a special gospel meeting from April 12th through the 15th. Services will begin at 7 p.m. each night. Brother Bill Williard will be preaching each night. His sermon topics are as follows: Monday, "The Home as God Would Have It"; Tuesday, "The Church as God Would Have It"; Wednesday, "I am Debtor" and Thursday, "God's There."...

The following individuals have filed, as of Monday, March 22, 2004 either with the Arkansas Secretary of State's office or the Poinsett County County Clerk's office for the 2004 primary election, scheduled for May 18: Federal Offices: President: Lyndon LaRouche, Democrat, March 18...

Four former employees of the Poinsett County Road Department have filed suit against Poinsett County Judge Doyle Hillis. Michael Crockett, Ray Thomas, Timothy Risper and Rodney McCulston filed the suit in U.S. District Court at Jonesboro on March 4...

The Marked Tree Police Department announced this week the arrests of several individuals on criminal charges: On March 10, 2004, the Trumann Police Department arrested Cameilla Smith, 27, of Trumann on a warrant for second-degree forgery out of Marked Tree. ...

The Marked Tree Chamber of Commerce will be holding a Spring fun night at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 8 to honor area businesses. A meal of fish and all the fixings will be followed by games and door prizes. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased by calling the chamber office at 358-3000. The deadline to reserve a ticket is Friday, April 2...

Democrat News Staff One might use a lot of words to describe Rev. Jimmy Dale Thrasher, but boring is not one of them. From entertaining the older ladies of the church with stories of his rock n' roll days, to preaching gospel messages relevant to today's society, serving others is the focus of all Thrasher does...

The city of Marked Tree will begin its "clean up, paint up, fix up" campaign from April 5 to April 16. Mayor Lawrence Ashlock encourages 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...

Tribune News Staff The Marked Tree School Board met on Monday, March 22 to discuss regular business, make policy changes and evaluate personnel changes. In executive session, the school board accepted the resignation of elementary school teacher Crystal Cline and junior high school math teacher Gary Johnson. ...

Tribune News Staff Pam Wright wears many hats. From keeping the books to mowing the yard, Wright plays an integral part in the operation of the City of Marked Tree. Wright, 51, grew up in Trumann. She and her husband of 33 years, Dale, moved to Marked Tree in 1975. They have two sons. Matt Wright works for Marked Tree High School as the senior high baseball coach and the assistant football coach. David Wright works for the city of Fayetteville in the parks and recreation department...

A point guard who has dazzled area basketball fans with her ball-handling and shooting ability and her coach will be honored this weekend, as both have been selected to participate in a nationally known basketball camp. Marked Tree sophomore guard Rudy Martin was recently selected to participate in the Arkansas Athletes Outreach Top 25 camp this Friday and Saturday in Fayetteville. ...