Stories from Monday, May 9, 2005

Ritter Communications Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Marked Tree, AR, has entered into an agreement with Cebridge Connections to purchase the cable television systems in a number of communities in Northeast and North Central Arkansas. Ritter Communications currently provides local phone, long distance, dial-up Internet, high speed Internet and wireless phone service to many of these communities...

On Monday, May 2, KAIT 8's Ron Smiley, visited the EPC Elementary School to talk to Janice Baine's science classes in grades 4-6. Baine, along with Elementary principal, Sharon Coburn, watched as the children enthusiastically greeted Smiley. Smiley dedicated his time on his day off to teach the children about the new Woods Ford K8 StormTRACKER. The children were excited to have a celebrity visit and many asked for autographs...

George Worthy Neal, 80, of Harrisburg died Friday, April 29, at NEA Medical Center. Named farmer of the year in 1960, he was a member and deacon of Valley View Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school and training union director. Survivors include his wife, Mable Ludean Neal of the home; two sons, George Jackson Neal of Harrisburg and Larry Neal of Marked Tree; a sister, Jolla Mae Moore of Osceola; two brothers, Travis Turner Neal of Little Rock and Martin Ray Neal of Bondsville; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.. ...

Funeral services for the Rev. John Dobbs Jump, 78, of Jonesboro, formerly of Little Rock, who died Saturday, April 30, at his home, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church of Augusta. The Rev. Guy Whitney will officiate and burial will follow in Augusta Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro...

Ray Henry Phillips, 89, of Horn Lake, formerly of Lepanto, died Wednesday, April 27, at St. Frances Hospital at Memphis. Retired from Frisco Railroad, he was a World War II veteran, serving under Gen. George S. Patton in the African Theater. He was of the Baptist belief...

Tribune Sports Staff Marked Tree's Indians (12-14) had only two hits in their Region Four opening round tournament game with Marmaduke on Monday in Monette, but those hits and an outstanding defensive effort were enough to overcome the Greyhounds, 2-1...

Tribune Sports Staff East Poinsett County (14-14) didn't have enough firepower to overcome state-finals contender BIC Monday at Monette as the 3AA-North district champion Mustangs pounded out nine runs to end the Warriors' season, 9-1. "They have probably the best pitching we've faced all year," coach Brian Weathers said afterward. "He threw hard and we just couldn't catch up with his fast ball."...

Tribune Sports Staff As seemed to be the case all year, Marked Tree had a one-inning lapse that spelled defeat as they went down 7-2 to Piggott Monday afternoon in the opening round of the Class AA Region Four Softball Tournament at Rector. "We lost, but I'm real proud of the team," coach Waylon Dunn said after the...

Tribune Sports Staff On May 16 at the Little Rock Holiday Inn Presidential Motel, EPC's Spencer Harston will be one of 10 student athletes in the state to be honored by State Farm Insurance for their academic and athletic excellence in the 2004-2005 school year...