Stories from Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Although it came as quite a shock to her, few people in Lepanto were surprised to discover that Nancy Franks was named Lepanto Citizen of the Year. When considering what qualities make one a good candidate for such an award, Franks seemed the natural choice for many Lepanto residents. Her selfless and compassionate care of others has not gone unnoticed...

James Dewayne Holmes, 40, of Trumann died last Thursday at his home in Trumann. A tree service worker and of the Pentecostal belief, Holmes is survived by his parents, Martha Curtis of Trumann and William Holmes, two daughters, Felicia Burnett of Trumann, Katie Holmes of Trumann; three sons, Charles Holmes of Trumann, Joey Holmes, Jeffrey Holmes of Trumann; three sisters, Becky Curtis of Trumann, Angela Holmes of North Carolina, Shannon Mekes of Conway; two brothers, Richard Curtis of Trumann and David Curtis of Trumann. ...

Ruth Savage Miller, 85, of Lepantodied Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Quince Nursing Home in Memphis. Miller was a member of Cherokee Baptist Church in Memphis. She was also a member of the Church On Mill in Tempe, Ariz. for forty years. Miller once worked as an assembler at a camera maufactoring company...

Elsie Irene Williams, 86, of Tyronza died January 13. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Tyronza. She was preceded in death by her husband, Newton J. Williams. Survivors include one son, Monte Owen Lillard of Lavinia, Tenn.; one daughter, Christine Lillard Gardner of Tyronza; one sister, Opal Schwantz of Poplar Grove; one brother, Thomas Milburn Montgomery of West Helena; and one grandson, Douglas Owen Gardner of Tyronza...

Edward "Ed" Redd, 78, of Harrisburg died Thursday, Jan. 13, at Jonesboro. Born at Tyronza, he worked in farm equipment and was a salesman. In the 1960s and 1980s he worked for Marked Tree Equipment Co., in the 1970s for Parkin Equipment Co. and in the 1990s for the People's Implement Co. at Earl. He retired in 2000. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, where he was an active deacon. He was an Army veteran and member of the American Legion for 50 years...

Kathleen Boxley McGill, 41, of Cumming, Ga. Died January 11. She was born in Alton, Ill. Survivors include her husband, Rick McGill, her parents: Howard and Shirley Boxley of Cumming, Ga.; and two brothers: Dr. Robert Boxley of Florida and David Boxley of Colorado...

Tribune Sports Staff It was a successful three games last Friday night as the East Poinsett County Warriors swept the Turrell Rockets in high school basketball action. At the game, held at Lepanto, the EPC junior girls, senior girls and senior boys teams all overcame slow starts to pick up victories in the district battle...

The Marked Tree senior boys and senior girls basketball teams continued their road trip last week, as they traveled east on U.S. 63 to face the Turrell Rockets last Tuesday night, in a key district battle for both teams. In the senior boys game, the Turrell Rockets jumped out to an early lead on their way to a 56-46 victory over Marked Tree. Turrell led Marked Tree 18-11 after one quarter, 27-20 at halftime and 38-30 after three quarters in the game, played at Turrell...

Mon., Jan. 10 Senior Boys Manila 87, Rivercrest 80 Senior Girls BIC 53, Walnut Ridge 35 EPC 61, Brookland 35 Harrisburg 50, Marianna 35 Manila 68, Osceola 29 Piggott 70, Marmaduke 55 Rivercrest 68, GCT 40 Trumann 45, Gosnell 29 Junior Boys Marked Tree 39, EPC 28...

Amanda Renee Evans, 25, of West Ridge died Tuesday, Jan. 11, at Regional Medical Center in Memphis. She graduated from East Poinsett County High School, and attended Arkansas Northeastern College and Arkansas State University. She was a member of Lepanto Baptist Church...

Charles Franklin Barnes, 68, of Tyronza died Sunday at his home. A farm worker and a Baptist, Barnes was born Sept. 10, 1936 in Cushman, Ark. Barnes is survived by three daughters: Charlotte Kay Mettler of Tyronza, Cynthia Lucas of Marion, Peggy Peters of Marion; four sisters: Bonnie Pilgrim of Lepanto, Debbie Tyler of Lepanto, Betty Lou Vaughn of Fairday, La., Agnes Smalling of Fairday, La.; and five brothers: Rollin Barnes of Arizona, Bob Barnes of Red Oak, Teddy Barnes of Springdale, Dean Barnes of Lepanto and Jackie Barnes of Lepanto. ...

Tribune News Staff Both area schools' superintendents made a trip to Little Rock last week to hear from members of the Facilities Review committee to hear in-depth what will be needed in the next five years for schools to meet standards. EPC Superintendent Mickey Pierce and Marked Tree Superintendent Gary Masters each traveled to Little Rock last week, along with members of their respective school boards and heard from the group, who released a report late last year on improving facilities at Arkansas schools, based on the Lake View School Funding case. ...

Poinsett County Quorum Court members unanimously approved a resolution Monday night that would help get the ball rolling on a countywide hazard mitigation plan. According to Merle Williams, Office of Emergency Management director, the U.S. Congress passed an act establishing the mitigation plan in which $4 million dollars has already been used by the county for disaster related emergencies and to supply and upgrade buildings including the Harrisburg School District...

Tribune News Staff The following is the fourth of a four-part series reviewing the events that occurred in the Tri-Cities area in 2004. The events cover Oct.-Dec. 2004: October Graduates of Tyronza High meet at reunion. Lepanto First Assembly of God welcomes new pastors...

At the recent meeting of the Poinsett County Intergovernmental Council, county officials, along with the mayors of each community in Poinsett County heard from Poinsett County Emergency Management Coordinator Merle Williams about the need for a Hazard Mitigation Plan for cities in the county...

The detailed facilities review report was the main topic of discussion at the regular meeting of the Marked Tree School Board Monday night. Marked Tree Superintendent Gary Masters and several of the board members traveled to Little Rock last week to meet with advisors and discuss the report...

In a meeting last Tuesday night, the Tyronza City Council voted 6-0 to accept the 2005 budget for the city of Tyronza. In the debate, at the Tyronza District Courtroom, council members heard from Mayor Marion Bearden about the budget, which funds city services such as police and fire, among others. ...

The Marked Tree Police Department announced last week that they will begin to strictly enforce two traffic issues in the community, effectively immediately. The city of Marked Tree recently changed traffic patterns near the Marked Tree Elementary School and high school gym from a two-way street into a one-way street from 7 a.m. ...

The Marked Tree Police Department announced Monday the arrest of two individuals on criminal charges, in separate cases. According to Det. Mark Robinson of the Marked Tree Police Department, last Saturday morning at around 10:00 a.m., Assistant Chief Chester Ford was on patrol, when he arrested Derrick Adam Ellis, 22, of Red Bank, Tenn. ...

Edward "Ed" Redd, 78, of Harrisburg passed away on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005 in Jonesboro. He was born in Tyronza, the son of Elbert and Lorene Fowler Redd. He worked in farm equipment and was a salesman. In the 1960's he started working for Marked Tree Equipment, in the 70's he worked form Parkin Equipment Company, in the 80's Marked Tree Equipment Company and in the 90's he worked for the People Implement Company in Earl where he retired in 2000...

Nina Helen Whitlatch Trenthem, 68, of Trumann passed away on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis of natural causes. Born in Trumann, she was a housewife and a member of First Baptist Church of Trumann. Survivors include her husband, Donald Trenthem of the home; one son, Doug Trenthem and daughter-in-law, Tina Trenthem of Trumann; her mother, Bessie Whitlatch Williams of Trumann; two sisters, Norma White and Mary Jane Richardson, both of Trumann; and one grandchild, Taylor Rae Trenthem.. ...

The Maple Grove Extension Homemaker club met Monday, Jan. 10 with seven members present. Wylma Parrish, the club's vice-president called the meeting to order. The thought of the month, "I must do something," will always solve more problems than, "something must be done."...

Governor Mike Huckabee awarded over $1 million dollars in 50/50 matching grants to communities all over Arkansas recently. The City of Trumann received $40,000 to add pavilions, renovate playground equipment and impact areas, resurface tennis and basketball courts and provide barrier free access at the six city parks. The parks are lacking in playground equipment and many don't meet handicap standards...

Trumann Police Department Det. Jerry Foster, Sgt. David Kelly and Ptl. Dale Parker arrested Brandy Young, of Brookland, on Jan. 13 for the felony charge of delivery of controlled substance (xanax). The arrest was made after a controlled buy was made from the suspect...

NORFOLK, Va. -- More than 6,000 Sailors and Marines in the USS Wasp (LHD 1) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) returned to their homeport of Norfolk, Va., this past fall after completing their first deployment as an ESG. The crew arrived home from supporting the global war on terrorism in time to get back into their shore routine for this past holiday season...

Judy Thompson of Trumann recently received a surprising gift. Ronnie Taylor presented her with a model of a halftrack, what her father drove during World War II. Thompson said after her father's death she looked everywhere to find one, but was unsuccessful...

Poinsett County has been chosen to receive $16,902 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county, according to Robert W. Wilford, executive director of the Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC). CRDC will provide administrative assistance in the distribution of the funds...

This week's teacher spotlight is Jane Lamberson. Lamberson is the librarian for Bay Elementary. She teaches the love of reading to kindergarten through sixth grades. She is a graduate of Bay High School, attended two years at Crowley's Ridge College and six years at Arkansas State University...

Un Cha Clark, 50, of Trumann passed away on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005 at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis from injuries received in an auto accident. She was born in South Korea and had lived in Trumann for the past 30 years. She was a Robot Welder for Delta Mfg. in Jonesboro and of the Buddhist faith...