Stories from Wednesday, September 8, 2004

With the recent failure of the increase of the county sales tax by a 3-to-1 vote last Tuesday, Poinsett County officials are looking for new ways to come up with money to finance a believed shortfall in county revenues. Voters last week voted against an increase by the vote of 1,060 against and 535 for the increase, which, if passed would have helped to fund county services. ...

Tribune Sports Staff With all of the tradition and success of the East Poinsett County tennis program in the past 15 years, EPC is preparing for one of its toughest schedules in history as the 2004 tennis season begins. EPC, who had several players reach either the district finals or state tournament last year returns five players from a team that has experience, yet has the youth movement that will keep things interesting in Lepanto for the next few years...

Tribune Sports Staff Even though the team has only two players, the team has prospects of being "little, but mighty." Those are the words of Marked Tree tennis coach Betty Burge, who enters the 2004 tennis season with optimism about her team. Marked Tree, who returns 3AA-South district boys singles runner-up Mike Brown faces a district this season that should improve with the addition of EPC and facing teams like Riverside on a four-match schedule in 2004. ...

The East Poinsett County tennis team opened the 2004 season with wins last week versus several tough tennis teams. Last Tuesday, the team traveled to Nettleton to face both Nettleton and Wynne in a tri-match. The girls faced both teams, while the boys team faced only Nettleton in the match. ...

It was the John Ed Turpin and Dee Love show last Thursday night as the Marked Tree Jr. Indians defeated the Salem Jr. Greyhounds 38-6 in junior high football action. Turpin, a bruising running back scored two touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards on only 16 carries to lead Marked Tree to victory. ...

It was the one-two punch last Thursday night, as the East Poinsett County Junior Warriors faced a tough Earle team that was intent on winning the game, EPC's first game in Class AA in six years. However, the potent EPC offense, led by quarterback Brett Hardin moved the football down the field in a 16-6 victory over Earle in junior high football action...

Tribune Sports Staff The 2004 football season got off to a good start for the Marked Tree Indians, as five different players scored touchdowns as the Marked Tree Indians defeated the Murfreesboro Rattlers 45-0 in senior high football action. In the game, played at 51,000-seat War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Marked Tree overcame a tough start beginning the game and found the end zone on a big play. ...

Arville Holmes Vick, 82, of Harrisburg died Monday, Aug. 30 at his residence. He was a retired mechanic and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include one daughter, Rebecca Kirk of Booneville; two brothers: Leonard Vick of Harrisburg and Henry Vick of Fayetteville; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren...

Denny Layne Hale, 54, of Steele, Mo. died Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Born in Jackson, Tenn., he was a lifelong resident of Steele, had worked as a police officer in Steele for three years, was a self-employed carpenter and was a member of the Pentecostal Church of God...

Tribune News Staff Officials with a one of a kind agricultural field day celebrated a milestone last Thursday morning, as they hosted the 2004 Judd Hill Cotton Technology Field Day at the Judd Hill Plantation near Trumann. The event, in its 10th year brings together farmers, distributors, producers and elected officials at an event that is known throughout Northeast Arkansas as one of the only industry-driven agricultural days in the United States...

Construction began last Friday on First Missionary Baptist Church in Lepanto. However, the workers were not ordinary carpenters. Nail Benders for Jesus, a group of senior citizens from all over Arkansas, came to help the small congregation build their new building...

Tribune News Staff Lepanto, Marked Tree and Tyronza District Judge Jim Dunlap announced last Thursday that he submitted his resignation as a District Judge in Poinsett County, effective Sept. 1, 2004. Dunlap, who has served as a judge in Lepanto and Tyronza since 1990 and in Marked Tree since 1998 told the Tri-City Tribune that his resignation came as a result of family reasons. ...

Tribune News Staff Drug addiction and its consequences is an epidemic sweeping the nation, reaching people of all classes, races and economic status. An organization is hoping to open its doors in Poinsett County to offer hope for the county and its citizens...

Gennetter Gibson, 81, of Osceola died Friday, Sept. 3, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola. Born in Crawfordsville, she was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Joiner, where she was in the choir and served on the mothers' board. Survivors include five daughters, Martha Latham and Arbedella Lewis, both of Osceola, Gwen McDaniel and Linda Gibson, both of Memphis, and Shirley Marshall of Blytheville; five sons, Little Joe Gibson of Virginia Beach, Va., Leroy Gibson of Joiner, Billy Gibson of New York City and David Gibson and Muhammad Allemeen, both of Chicago; two brothers, Joe Jackson of Chicago and Daniel Thomas of Osceola; 36 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.. ...

Monday - Chicago hot dogs, tomato relish, kraut and onions, French fries, peaches and milk. Tuesday - Chicken nuggets, potatoes and gravy, green beans, rolls, applesauce and milk. Wednesday - Burrito with chili, refried beans, chips and dip, pineapple chunks and milk...

The annual See You at the Pole event for students is set for 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at the Trumann High School flagpole in front of the library. Parents and adults who would like to show support will gather at the Methodist Church across the street...

Trinity Church, 107 E. Highland Drive in Jonesboro will host a Gospel Music Explosion at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18. The free admission concert will feature music by: Christlike, Tinity, Eric Hinson and Psalm 101.

The Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at the CRDC Head Start Complex, 213 North Fisher Street in Jonesboro. Board members from the eight-county CRDC service area will gather at that time to act on matters affecting the numerous community service programs supported by the agency...

The Trumann Rotary Club gave dictionaries to all third graders at Cedar Park Elementary. The club selected the third grade after reading studies that cited the third grade as the time when students become interested in words and learning about words...

Classmates and friends enjoyed the Class of 1956 reunion. Some in attendance had not been in Trumann since their teen years. Some of the activities planned for the reunion were: visiting the Old Community House that held many memories for the group and touring Trumann...

There will be a Lost Cane Reunion from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Manila Airport Center in Manila. Everyone from Lost Cane and vicinity are invited to attend. Those who attend are asked to bring old pictures and stories to share. There will be a Pot Luck , drinks, utensils and plates will be provided, but no alcohol will be allowed...

Clarence Darrell Reese and two of his daughters, Pam Chipman and Polli Bibbs and his son-in-law, Joey Chipman, recently attended Reese's 65th Signal Battalion Reunion in Ownesboro, Kentucky. Reese served in the "A" Company of the 65th Battalion during World War II...

Bay High School has several new teachers joining the staff this year. Sissy Cain (Yellow Shirt) Ron - shirt colors are just for my use and I will take them out of the stories. Sissy Cain is teaching band and choir for 7 - 12 grades and music rotation and music survey...

The Northeast Arkansas Moving-Up Tournament, ASA / USFA state 2005 Qualifier will be on Sept. 18 at the Trumann Sports Complex. The tournament if for machine pitch teams, ages eight and up and fast pitch teams ages 10 and up and 16 and up. The entry fee is $100 and each team must provide balls that they want to hit. Deadline for entry is 5 p.m., Sept. 15...