Stories from Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Finances were the main topic of discussion Monday night as the Marked Tree City Council passed two ordinances concerning the city's budget in its regular meeting. The first ordinance, which was passed unanimously, revised the city's 2004 budget to bring line items up to actual expenditures. The budget showed total revenue of $1,104,619 and total expenditures of $1,118,917, leaving the city with $14,298 more in expenditures than in revenue...

Tribune News Staff Friends and family gathered in Marked Tree last Wednesday night to honor the work and sacrifice of Gary Laster. Laster, who served as an Assistant Chief with the Marked Tree Fire Department retired last week after 25 years of service with the department...

Tribune News Staff When many people think of R.J. Pitts, they think of a former Marked Tree School Board member, a farmer and a longtime supporter of Marked Tree High School athletics. It is the latter that was on display Monday night as he hosted his 8th annual Steak Supper at the Marked Tree Elementary Cafeteria...

Tribune Sports Staff After two a day practices and ten weeks of the regular season, a whole new season begins this week, as the 2004 Arkansas State High School Football Playoffs start at football stadiums throughout the state. Northeast Arkansas is well represented in this year's state playoffs, as 17 teams battle for the state championship in three weeks. ...

Tribune Sports Staff Going into the season-ending game last Thursday night, both the Marked Tree Indians and Piggott Mohawks entered the game, losing a chance to go to the Class AA state playoffs. Yet, both teams entered the game, playing for pride and starting next year off on a good note...

Sports Editor Villager Journal Every week teams spend a large amount of practice time devoted to this basic premise: see the ball carrier, hit the ball carrier and bring down the ball carrier. Sounds simple, right? However, as with most things, this is easier said than done...

The Modern News During the annual Arkansas Assessors Association meeting held Oct.19-22 in Hot Springs, Poinsett County Assessor Johnny Rye, Jr. was re-elected as a representative to the Association of Arkansas Counties during the 2005-2006 session. The term lasts for two years...

The Poinsett County Sheriff's Department announced Monday afternoon the arrest of a Poinsett County man on criminal charges, stemming from an assault on a Sheriff's Deputy Sunday night. According to Poinsett County Sheriff Larry Mills, on Sunday night, Dep. ...

The Joiner United Methodist Church celebrated the birthday of Mrs. Ed Crutcher, the church organist, who was 100 years old on October 28. Mrs. Crutcher began piano lessons at the age of six, and started playing for the church in Griffithviile, AR, on a pump organ when she was 14. This means that she has been playing the piano or organ for 94 years. She continues to play for all the worship services, weddings, and funerals. The latest funeral was on Friday the day after her 100 birthday...

One hundred years of existence is quite a milestone for any person or organization. The member of Marked Tree First United Methodist Church are gearing up to celebrate the milestone in grand style on Saturday, Nov. 20 and Sunday, Nov. 21. The church will celebrate its centennial birthday with a weekend of special activities...

The Modern News The future of Poinsett County's 911 system was at stake at Monday evening's Quorum Court meeting. Judge Doyle Hillis brought the issue before the court and informed justices that they would have to make a very hard call on the county's 911 emergency notification system...

Wilma Louise Tatum, 75, of Trumann passed away on Nov. 5, 2004 at the NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. She was born in Bay Village and had lived in Trumann for the past 35 years, moving here from Illinois. She was a retired cafeteria worker of Cedar Park Elementary and member of the First Assembly of God Church in Trumann...

Ethel Mae Jones, 88, of Trumann passed away on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004 at the Trumann Health and Rehab in Trumann of natural causes. She was born in Pleasant Plains and had lives most her life in Trumann. She was retired from the Singer Company and a member of the Providence Baptist Church...

Alton Wayne Milligan, 78, of Trumann passes away on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004 at the family residence of natural causes. He was born in Leachville and had lived in Trumann since 1947. he was a retired electrician, a member of IBEW Local 1516 in Jonesboro, a veteran of the United States Navy of Ward War II and a member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann...

The East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging is calling for volunteers for the Ombudsman Program. An Ombudsman is a person who visits residents in nursing homes to help ensure they receive the quality of care they are entitled to. Volunteers can make a difference in the lives of nursing home residents by visiting with them, reading to them, writing cards and letters for them and reminiscing about their lives...

The Poinsett County Sheriff's office announced it eighth annual Citizen Appreciation Chili Supper will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at the detention center. The public is invited and tours of the center will be given. "This is an annual opportunity for us to display our appreciation for the continued support of the citizens of Poinsett County," said Sheriff Larry Mills...

Melton Avenue Church of Christ, 301 Melton Avenue, is having lessons on prayer at 7:30 p.m. each night during the week of Nov. 15 -- 19. The programs and speakers will be: Monday -- Terry Sanders of Tuckerman -- The fundamentals of acceptable prayer...

The Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, 2004, 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 Area Fine Arts Council will present the annual November Music / Art Fest meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11 in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church in Trumann. This year's program will feature traditional and contemporary music selections. ...

The story of R.G. "Corky" Richardson is truly one of hometown boy does good. Corky was raised in the Trumann area before heading off to the military at the age of 19. His sister, Betty Sue Dodd said that he wanted to be a policeman since he was in the eleventh grade...

George William White, 82, of Trumann passes away on Nov. 5, 2004 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. He was born in Elkmont, Ala. and had lived most of his life in Trumann. He was a retired farmer and employee of the Singer Company and was associated with Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann. He was a veteran of the US Army and World War II, a member of the Masonic Lodge #693, Eastern Star of Trumann and member of the Missionary Baptist Church...