Stories from Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Marked Tree First United Methodist Church recently welcomed their new pastor, Shelia Jones. Jones, 40, is originally from Mansfield, a small community in Northwest Arkansas. Jones graduated from Hendrix University in Conway with a bachelor of arts degree in humanities. After several years in the workforce, Jones began to feel there was something more she should be doing with her talents...

Tribune Sports Staff For people who know Lepanto resident Steve Tyler, they know that he is dedicated. For many years, Tyler has volunteered his services to the EPC athletic program in a host of ways. Tyler serves as the statistician for both the junior and senior high football teams, helps with the mowing and maintenance of all athletic fields at EPC and he and his wife, Payton this year served as the coaches for the EPC high school softball team...

The following is a list of news from the world of sports, for the week ending June 28, 2004: Cards sweep Royals, in rematch of '85 World Series: Scott Rolen and Edgar Renteria had three hits apiece Sunday as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Kansas City Royals 10-3 in interleague action. ...

Raymond Glenn Davis, 59, of Lepanto died Friday, June 25, at his residence. Born in Florence, Ala., he was a farm worker and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include a brother, Grady Davis of Walnut Ridge, and a sister, Effie Needham of Moneta, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Henry Davis and Mary Thomason...

Joy Ann Warren, 65, of Lepanto died Thursday, June 24, at Baptist Memorial Hospital East in Memphis. She was a member of Revival Center Church in Lepanto where she was also a Sunday school teacher. Survivors include her husband: Don Warren of Lepanto; one son: Jimmy Don Warren of Lepanto; one daughter, Regina Warren of Lepanto; four sisters: Juanita Rook, Imogene Gentry and Sharon Rook, all of Jonesboro, and Inez Riley of Fayetteville; and two grandchildren: Jimmy Warren Jr. and Misty Crawford...

Bobbie Lou Taylor Nicholas, 75, of Powder Springs, Ga. died Thursday, June 24 at Cobb Hospital in Austell, Ga. Born in Tyronza, Nichols was a retired certified nurse's assistant (CNA) and a member of Tyronza First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Nicholas, and her parents, George Taylor and Annie Young...

She was a member of Biggersville Pentecostal Church and enjoyed going to church, canning and antiques. Survivors include her stepmother, Lucille Stewart Studdard of the home; two brothers: Frank Stewart of Corinth, Miss. and J.C. Stewart of Rienzi, Miss.; one sister: Irene Stewart Archer of Corinth, Miss.; one half-brother: Johnny Ray Stewart of Rienzi, Miss.; and one-half sister: Georgia Ann Tucker of Booneville, Miss...

Allie Vee Dunavant, 77, of Hot Springs Village died Friday, June 25, in Hot Springs. She had lived in Keiser and Caraway before moving to Hot Springs Village, was a housewife and a member of Mountainside United Methodist Church in Hot Springs Village...

The Etowah-Lepanto Lions Club will be holding a fundraiser pageant at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 17 at the Lepanto High School cafeteria. Registration will begin at noon the day of the event. The pageant is open to ages 0 months to 16 years of age and up. Entries may be mailed to Etta Helms at 304 Thelma; Lepanto, AR 72354. For more information call 475-2055 or 475-2015...

Broadway Street Church of Christ in Marked Tree will be holding Vacation Bible School at 7 p.m. nightly July 12-15. People of all ages are invited to come. The church will also be hosting Summer Bible School from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning July 12 and going through July 30. Grades K-12 are invited to participate...

The following is a list of fireworks rules and regulations in the tri-city area: Lepanto: According to City clerk Tamara Wyatt, Lepanto's fireworks ordinance was enacted on December 14, 1972 by Mayor Carey Eason and members of the Lepanto City Council. The two-page ordinance lists in detail rules involving fireworks in the community...

The Marked Tree Police Department announced last week the arrest of two Marked Tree men on separate criminal charges. According to Det. Mark Robinson of the MTPD, on June 20, 2004 at around 2:20 a.m., the MTPD received a telephone call from an individual, stating that someone had broken into her home. After Off. Jerry Lung arrived at the residence, he noticed the owner of the home was holding a small automatic firearm...

Proposed layoffs and a one-cent sales tax are in the future for Poinsett County residents. The two options were discussed during a special Quorum Court meeting called to debate the future of the county Monday evening. The ideas began when the county found itself struggling to find revenues during the summer and fall months. ...

BY MARTY COOK ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE (Editor's note: The following article appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Sunday, June 27. It is reprinted with the Gazette's permission.) Marcus Monk was his school's valedictorian, the state's Mr. Basketball and earned a football scholarship to Arkansas...

The Trumann Police Officer's Wives Association, POWA, is sponsoring a softball fundraiser. The POWA group will be playing against the Trumann Senior Men at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 24 at the Sports Complex on Pecan Grove Road in Trumann. Admission will be $2 for adults and $1 for children in grades K-12, children under kindergarten age will be admitted at no charge...

The Trumann Fire Department will test tornado sirens at least once a month at 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoons. Sirens will only be tested in good weather. Tornado sirens will sound when Poinsett County is placed under a Tornado Warning. The sirens will be sounded if a tornado is then spotted...

Trumann Fire Department Chief Rick Winkles and the members of the fire department will be going to business in Trumann next week performing building inspections. The firemen will be checking business to make sure they comply with fire codes. Business also will need to provide contact information in case of an emergency...

James "Sonny" Watson, 77, of Trumann died Sunday, June 20, at his residence. He had lived in Trumann for 25 years and was a member of the Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church in Tyronza. He was retired from Delta Wood Products in Trumann. He is survived by eight sons, Bobby Watson, Steven Watson, Charles Watson and Tommy Watson, all of Jonesboro, Jerome Watson of Trumann, Fred "Bubba" Watson of Little Rock, Chester Watson of Los Angeles and Harold Mitchell of Marked Tree; five daughters, Sheila Watson of Jonesboro, Helen Watson of Austin, Lottie Mae Watson and Elizabeth Watson, both of Los Angeles, and Shirley Watson of St. ...

The Delta Disposal Yard Dawgs played in the post-season tournament in Marked Tree on Saturday June 12 and took home the winning trophy. Team members are Evan Austin, Kendall Shelton, J.R. Holman, Setra Buchanan, Denarius Chandler, Justin Stevens, Blaike Jones, B.J. Carter, Jarrett Prince, A.J. McCoy, Lee Forbus and Quin Holman...

The Rouse family will be having a family reunion on July 24 at Craighead Forest in Jonesboro. The family has reserved pavilion 5 at the camp grounds. Family organizers want everyone to gather at the park around 11 a.m. All family members are invited to attend a day of fun, food and enjoyment...

The Trumann Area Fine Arts Council is hosting a calligraphy class at 7 p.m. on July 13, 15, 20 and 22 in the Fine Arts Building on Main Street. For more information or to enroll call Erin Coggins at 483-5528.

Trumann Police officers are updating their weapons. Chief Larry Blagg reports that the department recently received three semi-automatic rifles fro Phoenix Dist. Our of Pheonix, Ariz. The AR-15 M4 .223 Caliber rifles were made by Colt and are valued at $1,000 each. The guns were received through a trade program deal with the Phoenix company. They feature a collapsible stock and synthetic fore and butt stock...

Before heading to the fireworks stand resident in Trumann need to be aware of city ordinance no. 466. The ordinance restricts the sale and explosion of fireworks within the city limits of Trumann, except on certain dates. In 2001 the Trumann City council to restrict the sale and explosion of fireworks passed the ordinance. ...

A calligraphy workshop will be July 13, 15, 20 and 22 in the Fine Arts Building at 123 W. Main Street and sponsored by the Trumann Area Fine Arts Council. The class will be taught by Nadine Runsick of Jonesboro. Runsick has been trained in calligraphy at Arkansas State University and she taught fifth grade in Trumann Schools for 15 years...

Raven Harvey and Jessica Shuburte of Trumann recently returned home after studying abroad. They traveled to Florence, Italy with a group of 16 students from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. While in Florence both took photography and drawing classes at Lorenzo di Mich...

Note - The following essays were written by students participating in the Trumann YMCA summer program. They were asked to either write, "What the fourth of July means to me" or "How fireworks are made." All essays are typed as students handed them in...

The eleven and twelve year old Trumann All-Stars would like to say a thank you to all the people who stopped by their car wash on Saturday, June 26 at the corner of Hwy 463 and Hwy 69. Everyone's generosity helped the team reach their goal. The team would like to say a special thanks to Phil Smith for the use of his facility and water...