Stories from Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Tribune News Staff In a hearing that took approximately 30 minutes, Poinsett County Circuit Judge David Laser heard from prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case of former Marked Tree teacher and coach Rob Jennings. In the hearing, held at the Poinsett County Detention Center in Harrisburg, Circuit Judge David Laser heard from Jennings attorney Bill Bristow on a motion, asking that 22 of the 23 charges brought against Jennings last November be dismissed due to a statute of limitations issue. ...

Tribune News Staff When people in the Tri-Cities area think about Lepanto resident Mack Howington, they think about a man who has been a successful farmer, member of the Poinsett County Republican party and productive citizen. Yet, some do not know that Howington served his country in the United States Army...

For nearly three and half decades, the women of Marked Tree have been celebrating friendship and serving their community together through the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. The sorority was chartered in May of 1970 through the efforts of Virginia Ates, currently of Walnut Ridge. Ates moved to Marked Tree to work for Ritter and Company. She had been an active member of Beta Sigma Phi in Little Rock and decided that Marked Tree could also benefit from the organization...

The Marked Tree City Council met in regular session Monday night to discuss committee reports and improvements at the Marked Tree Municipal Airport. Mayor Ashlock announced that the city would be securing two tracts of land from E-Ritter. "The land will be used for future development," Ashlock said...

Tribune News Staff In its meeting last Thursday night, the East Poinsett County Board of Education heard from administrators about a new grading system and accepted the resignations of two coaches. In the meeting, held on the Tyronza campus, the board heard from EPC-Lepanto Elementary Principal Pam Faught about a new grading system that is standards-based and will move away from the standard A-F report card and move to the other system. ...

Finally, a long awaited day has arrived for Lepanto members of First Baptist Church. The groundbreaking for the new church was held on July 8. The corner of Oak of Edgewood Streets will be the home of the new facility. Pastor Laddie Whaley of Blytheville proudly looked on as Gillis Construction Company began the dirt work for the new church. The Nail Benders, a group associated with the Baptist Conference, will arrive on September 2 to begin building the new structure...

Tribune News Staff Members of the Marked Tree Rotary Club heard from two members of the 1123rd Transportation Company last Wednesday that recently returned from Iraq, serving in the United States Army during Operation Enduring Freedom. Terry Long and Melissa Short, both members of the Arkansas National Guard stationed in Blytheville and Marked Tree gave an overview to Rotary members of their service in Iraq last year. ...

The following is a list of stories from the world of sports, ending July 12, 2004: Arkansas athletes miss mark at U.S. Olympic trials: At least six athletes with Arkansas ties did not qualify for a spot on the United States Track and Field team Sunday in Sacramento, Ca. ...

Tribune Sports Staff With the start of the high school and college football season only about six weeks away, a leading football annual in the state of Arkansas says that both EPC and Marked Tree will battle in the 3AA District this year. In the Hooten's Arkansas Football annual, now on sale, the book picks EPC near the top of the 3AA district, after dropping from Class AAA this year. ...

David Shannon Preston, 32, of Tyronza died Saturday, July 10 at his residence in Tyronza. He was a farmer and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his parents: Donald and Peggy Preston of Tyronza; his grandmother: Mrs. Beulah Daniels of Tryonza; two sisters: Michelle Preston of Lake Charles, La. and Sabrina Tacker of Tyronza; and one brother: Donny Preston of Tyronza...

Blanche Nash, 64, of Lepanto died Saturday, July 10 at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. She was the retired Senior Vice President of Little River Bank in Lepanto and of the Church of God belief. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Ellen Eubanks...

Ocie Alice McDonel, 89, or Senath, Mo. died Wednesday, July 7 at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo. Formerly of Etowah, she was a homemaker and attended Etowah Pentecostal Church of God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Royce McDonel, four brothers and one grandson...

Catherine Cockrell Linton, 56, of Lepanto died Sunday, July 11, at her residence. Born at Lepanto, she was retired from American Greetings and was a member of First Baptist Church of Lepanto. Survivors include a son, David Earl Dover of Lepanto; her mother, Lounez Cockrell Poskey of Lepanto; and a sister, Glenda Boland of Heafer...

Flemons "Skinnie" Armstrong, 76, of Lepanto died Tuesday, July 6, at his residence. He was a retired farmer and a Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Agnes Armstrong of Lepanto; a daughter, Lois Criddle of Lepanto; a stepson, Raymond Liles of Palmdale, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Linda Turner of Manila; three sisters, Shirley Burns of Lepanto, Mattie McKinney of South Carolina and Glenda Woods of West Helena; three brothers, Bob Armstrong and Bill Armstrong, both of Mendon, Mich., and Burl "Dude" Armstrong of Lepanto; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.. ...

Marked Tree First Baptist Church will be holding an all day Bible school from 8 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 24. Pre-registration will be held from 6:30 pm. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 23. There will be popcorn and a movie for the children. Family time will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 25...

A Tyronza man was sentenced last week to 12 years in prison for vehicular homicide as a result of a Jan. 2003 accident on the Hernando De Soto Bridge, near Memphis. Mark Richards, 39, of Tyronza was sentenced in Shelby County General Sessions Court, due to an agreement between Memphis prosecutors, Richards attorney Ron Hunter of Marked Tree and Richards. ...

Tribune News Staff When you look at area businesses that have had staying power for the past quarter century, you have to look at Scott's Furniture in Marked Tree. The business, which has served customers in the Tri-Cities area since Feb. 1, 1978, recently moved from its location on Elm St. ...

Little Rock, Ark. -- July 12, 2004 -- Stealing electricity can be tempting during the torrid Arkansas summer months. However, tampering with electric meters is illegal and potentially dangerous. According to Larry Harp, manager of safety and loss control for the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, the crime is relatively easy to prove, utility companies take it seriously and there is always the risk of getting electrocuted while attempting to steal the electricity...

Doris Ann Riley of Trumann passed away on July 11 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. She was born in Monette and had lived in Trumann for the past 47 years, formerly of Lake City. She was a housewife and member of the Church of God of Prophecy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Jewel and Annis Viola Prichard Berry...

Shelby Jean Burns, 63, of Trumann passed away on July 12 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. She was born in Keiser and had lived in Trumann for the past 12 years, formerly of Jonesboro. She was a homemaker and of the Church of God faith...

Dianna Osment of Trumann killed her first balck bear on June 23 at Victoria River Lodge in New Foundland, Canada. This was the first black bear ever killed by a woman at the lodge. Dianna used a 1375 Hold Rifle to kill her 290 pound bear.

The North East Arkansas Gators ended their season last weekend with a fifth place victory in the United States Fastpitch Association "C" World Series. The 12 and under girls softball team earned a place in the series after taking a third place win at the USFA 12 and under tournament that was held at Paragould Rotary Park...

Soccer Sign-ups for ages 4 and up will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 19 at the Trumann Recreational Complex building. Players must be 4 by July 31 to play soccer. Sign-up fee is $40 for youth sizes and $45 for adult sizes and will include shirt, shorts, socks, and more games than last year...

The Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 22, at the CRDC Head Start Complex, 213 North Fisher Street in Jonesboro. The board normally meets the third Thursday of each month. It is meeting a week later in July to allow the construction contractor selected to build the agency's new administration building time to acquire bids for submission to the board...

The Trumann High School Class of 1956 is planning a reunion for Augst 27 and 28. There are a few classmates that have been lost track of and their address are needed. Those classmates are: Dennis Teague, Starline Linton, Mickey Fechis, Herman Tippett, Carletta Kildew, Douglas Bray, Barbara Fitzgerald Blass, Doris Momany, Lynn McSpadden, Annette Harvison, Margaret Bandy, Vernon Ray Moore, Barbara Ellis and Francil Tucker...

The Parkinson's Support Group will meet at 2 p.m. on Thursday July 14 at the conference room of East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging at 2005 E. Highland in Jonesboro. The scheduled speaker will be Dr. Tom Frank speaking about medications. This program provides a monthly newsletter, Parkinson's Resource library, and the latest publications on research and medications...

The First Assembly of God is hosting a revival at the church located at 104 Flossie Dr. in Trumann with Evangelist Patrick Kimberland. Times of revival are: - 11 a.m. Sunday, July 18 - 6 p.m. Sunday, July 18 - 7 p.m. through Monday, July 19 through Wednesday, July 21...

(Little Rock, Arkansas -- July 6, 2004) -- It is only the beginning of summer and already the Emergency Department staff at Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) has treated 10 cases of riding lawn mower accidents. At this time of year for the past two years, only one lawnmower accident had been reported...

Having a problem with your tomatoes? Cotton not growing just right? For all you unbiased source of agricultural advice turn to new Poinsett County Extension Agent, Craig Allen. Allen has been working with the extension office since June 28 of this year. He came to the office after 16 years at Syngenta, a wheat research station...

June 2 -- responded at 11:45 a.m. to an ADT alarm at the Trumann Warehouse located at 132 S. Melton. Engine 2 responded to the false alarm call due to drop in water pressure. Time of service was 15 minutes. June 6 -- Responded at 10 a.m. to Brown Lane in reference to Old Sewer Pond on fire. Engine 4 responded with 4 men and a service time of 30 minutes...

Cedar Park Elementary is preparing pre-kindergarten students for school life. Students who plan to attend kindergarten next year have been attending a week long program for school readiness. One of the teachers in the program, Lisa Blagg said the students learn classroom and school rules, they practice how to write their names and reading and coloring skills. ...

Westside volleyball team camps will be held Monday, July 19th - Wednesday, July 21. A bus will be leaving the Trumann High School Gym at the following times: - Jr. High will leave at 8:00am / returning at 12:30pm - Sr. High will leave at 12:30pm / returning at 4:30pm...