Stories from Thursday, January 13, 2005

Three hundred soldiers from the Arkansas Army National Guard were recognized Sunday, Jan. 9, with a "Freedom Salute" ceremony for contributions they made while mobilized in support of the global war on terrorism. The ceremony honored 167 members of the Marked Tree-based 1123 Transportation Company, 124 members of the West Memphis-based 216th MP Guard Company, and nine members of the North Little Rock-based Detachment 1, 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment...

Tribune Sports Staff The East Poinsett County senior boys basketball team went into last week's games starting a stretch that sees EPC facing several tough teams, both in and out of district play. And EPC had two tough losses in the week, losing to both conference foe Earle and opponent BIC...

Avah June Trulis, 81, of Skokie, Illinois, died Friday, January 6, 2005, in Skokie, Ill. Mrs. Trulis was a retired hostess for the Hyatt Regency in Lincolnwood, Illinois. Survivors include her husband: Andrew Trulis of the home, three grandchildren: Carrie Skipper and Jerry Greitens, Jr., both of Marked Tree, Arkansas, and Thomas Greitens of De Kalb, Illinois, four great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren...

Vera Gardner, 84, of Marked Tree died Monday, Jan. 3, at South Mississippi County Medical Center at Osceola. Born at Weldon, she was a homemaker and of the Baptist belief. Survivors include one sister, Emma Buchanan of Marked Tree. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8 in Pine Rest Cemetery at Lepanto, with Dr. Moses Black officiating. Burial followed under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home of Tyronza...

William W. Craft, 81, of Bakersfield, Calif., formerly of Marked Tree, died Thursday, Jan. 6, at Bakersfield. Survivors include three sons: Bill Craft of Marked Tree, Jim Craft of Friendship and Stan Craft of Bakersfield; a daughter: Margaret Steers of Bakersfield; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren...

The Lepanto Police Department announced Monday the arrest of a Manila man on several criminal charges, stemming from an incident in Lepanto last week. According to Police Chief Raymond Oakes, on Jan. 2, 2005 at around 8:30 p.m., the Lepanto Police Department received a telephone call about a possible hit and run near Mills Circle. ...

The Lepanto Fire Department, along with Etowah First Responders responded to a house fire early Monday morning. According to Lepanto Fire Chief Damon Tyler, on Monday morning at around 5:45 a.m., a person was traveling near West Ridge, when they spotted a house on fire near the Jerry Evans farm shop on Ark. 140. The person went to a nearby home to wake up the farm manager, who went to the home to try to get the people in the home out of the home...

Tribune News Staff Going into his final two-year term in office, St. Rep. Wayne Nichols believes that this year's legislative session will be very busy, with many issues being discussed. In an interview with the Tri-City Tribune last Friday, the District 56 representative from Marked Tree said that several key issues will be discussed in the session, which began Monday in Little Rock. ...

Tribune News Staff (Editor's note: The following article is part three of a series of four articles detailing events in the Tri-City area during 2004. It covers July through September of 2004.) In July, a storm hit the area on the fourth of July leaving debris and broken power lines in its wake...

Marked Tree City Council members met last Monday in regular session to swear in its alderman and review financial reports. Poinsett County Judge Doyle Hillis led alderman in taking the oath of office. Justice of the Peace Harold Blackwood was also present to take the oath. ...

Tribune News Staff In the first meeting of 2005, the East Poinsett County Board of Education voted to approve the two-year contract of Supt. Mickey Pierce and discussed a meeting later this week with state officials on the issue of facilities. At the meeting, held on the Tyronza campus, board members voted 6-0 to approve the two-year contract of Supt. ...

After a nearly three week layoff due to Christmas and a first round loss in the NEA Tournament at ASU, the Marked Tree senior boys basketball team returned to action last week, as they faced the Bay Yellow Jackets in a game of regional foes. And Bay used a strong third quarter to pick up a 61-57 victory over Marked Tree, in senior boys action. ...

Tribune Sports Staff The East Poinsett County senior girls basketball team returned to action last Tuesday night, with a district game against the Earle Lady Bulldogs in a game at Lepanto. And four players scored in double figures to lead EPC to a 63-51 victory over Earle in 3AA-South action...

Mon., Jan. 3 Senior Girls Bay 80, Piggott 66 Paragould 55, Marmaduke 38 Rector 52, Walnut Ridge 19 Rivercrest 92, Marianna 35 Riverside 43, CRA 32 Trumann 44, Manila 41 Junior Boys Trumann 41, EPC 34 Junior Girls Manila 41, Trumann 29 Rivercrest 44, Marianna 11...

3AAA-South Games Thurs., Jan. 13 Gosnell at Rivercrest (JG, SG) Manila at Harrisburg (JG, SG) Osceola at Marianna (JG, SG) Fri., Jan. 14 Harrisburg at Osceola (JB, SB) Manila at Gosnell (JB, SB) Rivercrest at Earle (JB, SB) Trumann at Marianna (JB, SB)...