Stories from Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Ray Knight, 78, of Trumann passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 at St. Elizabeth's Place in Jonesboro. He was born in Judsonia, the eldest son of Henry Theodore and Sylvia Pearl Leggett Knight. He graduated from Piggott High School and attended Arkansas State College. He was a fifty year resident of Trumann. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the navy in the Pacific, in the Marianna Islands on Saipan near the island if Tinian...

Troy Lee White, 77, of Heidelberg, Miss. passed away on Monday, Feb. 14, 2005 at the family residence of natural causes. He was born in Gholson, Miss., had lived in Mississippi for the past four years and was formerly of Trumann. He was a former employee of Parker Hannifan and the Singer Co. in Trumann and a member of the Shady Grove First Baptist Church in Heidelberg...

Richard "Toot" Ferguson, 73, of Bay died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005 at Baptist Memorial Hospital East of Memphis. A native of Craighead County, he had lived most of his life in the Bay area and attended Bay Assembly of God. He was employed by the Bay School District and retired from Colson Caster Corp...

Opal Irene Birdno Smith, 83, of Lepanto died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 at Trumann. Born in Portia, Mo., she was a homemaker and a member of Lepanto Church of Christ. Survivors include three daughters, Linda Powell of Lepanto, Connie Smith of Trumann and Renee Smith of West Memphis; five sons, Billy Joe Smith of Plant City, Fla., Jimmy Smith, Paul C. Smith and Jackie Smith, all of Lepanto, and Ronnie Smith of Blytheville; 24 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren...

The Trumann Police Department made several drug related felony arrests recently. Debra Rice, 1249 Bermuda Way in Trumann, was arrested on Feb. 17 by Sgt. David Kelly. She was charged with possession of controlled substance (crystal meth) with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance (pills) shoplifting and criminal trespass...

The Maple Grove EHC met Monday, Feb. 14 in the fellowship hall of the church with seven members present. They had one new member, Joan Pankey join the club. Debbie Derossitte and Barbara Wright were the guests. The group enjoyed a potluck lunch. They had a workshop on flower arranging. Wanda Moss sowed the group the art of arranging flowers. She made a tall arrangement, one in a small basket and a saddle arrangement for a headstone...

Trumann residents participating in the Leadership Trumann program for the 2005 term are: Janae Glover, Sharron Turman, Trenity Fritz, Carin McClung, Mattie Wortham, Lois May, Sherry Jordan, Ricky Winkles, Arleen Smith, Barbara Lewallen, Kim Watkins, Michelle Wilson, Zac Inboden, Anthony Patterson, Megan Heilman, Jan Brune, Lee Reeves, Susan Greenwell, Camillia Green, Ronnie Harrison, David Box, Wanda Penna, Rick Atkins, Amanda Atkins, Barbara McClung, Pam Daniel, Danny Harvison, Scotty Jones, Sheila Walters and Logan Sheets.. ...

WASHINGTON D.C.--Senator Mark Pryor announced today that he is accepting applications for summer internships in both his Washington and Little Rock offices. He said interns have the opportunity to gain hands on experience in different aspects of the legislative process and constituent services. Interns also have access to special tours and outings in the Washington D.C. area...

The campuses of Central Elementary and Trumann High School will conduct a Family Fun Night at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24 in the high school cafeteria. The focus of this meeting will be state mandated testing that will take place during the week of March 8-11...

Applications for Crowley's Ridge Development Council's Crisis Intervention Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) services will be taken starting March 1. The "crisis" service is only for qualifying individuals who have received "shut off" notices from their utility provider(s). Applicants will be processed on a First Come, First Served Basis (each customer will be given a ticket when arriving and will wait until ticket is called for an interview)...

Drivers coming through the stop light at Hwy 463 and Hwy 69 Friday morning gave generously to the Make-A-Wish program. City workers worked the stop light from 6 a.m. until around noon collecting money for drivers in buckets. City workers who collected money were - Richard Mabe, Lucas Mabe, Jeff Stewart, Stephanie Stewart, Gary Henry, Tony Rusher, Earnie Link, Anthony Blackwood and...

A committee has formed to put on a production of Peter Rabbit and Me by Beatrix Potter at the Trumann Sports Complex during April. The committee had a meeting last week to discuss the possibility of putting on the play. The committee has decided that this would be a great opportunity for the children of Trumann and Bay to get their first experiences on a stage. There are several speaking and non-speaking parts for children as well as many behind the curtain positions available...

Staff Sgt. Donnie Hathaway returned to Trumann to visit friends and family before he returned to Georgia for military service. Hathaway, a 1996 graduate of Trumann High School joined the Army in April of 1999; he worked as a mechanic for the Army for almost two years...

Hugh William Craig, Jr., 60, of Smithville passed away Monday, Feb. 14, 2005 at Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain home. He was born in Trumann and lived there until ten years ago when he moved to Smithville. He was retired from Parker-Hanifan and was of the Baptist faith...