Stories from Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Troops 1123rd Transportation Company in Marked Tree were deployed Tuesday at the direction of the governor to assist with hurricane relief efforts in Mississippi. Officials with the company said that approximately 75 soldiers from around the Tri-City area will be deployed...

Prior to the scrimmage against Riverview last Thursday, EPC junior high football coach Brian Weathers said the Riverview coach didn't want to go with the format they had earlier agreed upon. Instead of going fifteen consecutive plays each then playing two normal quarters, exclusive of kickoffs and punt runbacks, the opposing coach wanted to just run plays over and over...

EPC stepped up two classifications last Tuesday as they took on Green County Tech from the AAAA East conference in a pre-season scrimmage. As with all scrimmages of this sort, the play, not the score, was the most important thing. And this was fortunate because two days after the contest, coach Mark...

"I was pleased with the first scrimmage," Marked Tree coach Tim Branum said after last Tuesday's jamboree between the Indians, Bald Knob, Augusta and Harrisburg at Harrisburg. "But the second quarter we didn't compete like we should have. We got tired."...

Tribune Sports Staff The football season will begin this week with area junior high teams going into action Thursday and senior teams taking the field Friday. In looking back at past seasons, while some teams and individuals may stand out in the memories of fans, often, they are not as highly regarded in state annals, as might be expected. Some, in fact, are not even listed...

Paul Spurgeon "Sonny" Thompson, III, 71, of Jonesboro died Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. He was born in Jonesboro and had lived most his life in Trumann before moving to Jonesboro six years ago. Thompson was a funeral director and embalmer for over 50 years for the family owned Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann, was retired Poinsett County Coroner after 36 years of service, member of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, past president of the Northeast Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, past president of the Memorial Insurance Company of America, veteran of the US Army having served in the Korean War, past president of the Trumann Lions Club, retired member of the Trumann Volunteer Fire Department and member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann.. ...

Larry Thomas Ray, 54, of Mountain View died Sunday, Aug. 28. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Dewey Ray and Anna Lou Ray; two brothers: Ronald Ray and Michael Ray; and a grandson, Weylon Baker. Survivors include his wife, Ann Parrish Ray; two sons: Johnny Baker and wife Amy of Mountain View and David Ray and wife Crystal of Pleasant Grove; two daughters: Valerie Brown and husband Kevin and Beckie Ray, all of Mountain View; two brothers: Richey Ray of Salem and Jerry Ray of Milan, Tenn.; one sister: Linda Stidem of Martin, Tenn.; two sisters: Linda Stidem of Martin, Tenn. ...

Virginia Louise Plunk, 76, of Marked Tree died Friday, Aug. 26. Born in Black Oak on Feb. 2, 1929, Plunk was a retired factory worker and affiliated with the Church of God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jacob Thomas Plunk; her mother, Nola; and her father, Jessee Penter...

LaVerne G. Smith, 78, of Marked Tree died Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Saint Bernard Hospital in Jonesboro. Smith was born on May 3, 1927 in Good Hope, Miss., to parents Jim Gibbs and Henrietta Smith Gibbs. Formerly of Clarksdale, Miss., she was a retired school teacher for Clarksdale Baptist Church...

Bettye Jean Weems Hill, 77, died Tuesday, Aug. 23. Born in Lepanto on March 21, 1928, Hill was the daughter of Mary Symantha and Oscar Weems of Lepanto. They preceded her in death. After graduating from Lepanto High School, Hill attended Southwestern University in Memphis, Tenn. for one year and attended Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas for two years...

Blytheville Courier News If someone said, "I saw an outdoor toilet today, and I thought about you," would you consider that a compliment? Well, Nan Snider of Monette does. She has been collecting outhouse stories and photos for more than 20 years but said her husband, Alvis, doesn't find the humor in her fascination with outhouses...

Charles W. "Chuck" Bell, Jr., 58 of Jonesboro died Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005 at the NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. He was born in Malden, Mo. and had lived most his life in Trumann before moving to Jonesboro. He was a tile setter, a singer and song writer, veteran of the US Army serving in the Vietnam War and of the Methodist faith...

Paul Spurgeon "Sonny" Thompson, III, 71, of Jonesboro died Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. He was born in Jonesboro and had lived most his life in Trumann before moving to Jonesboro six years ago. Thompson was a funeral director and embalmer for over 50 years for the family owned Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann, was retired Poinsett County Coroner after 36 years of service, member of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, past president of the Northeast Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, past president of the Memorial Insurance Company of America, veteran of the US Army having served in the Korean War, past president of the Trumann Lions Club, retired member of the Trumann Volunteer Fire Department and member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann.. ...

Kerry Verlon Cook, 47, of Trumann died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005 at the Baptist East Hospital in Memphis of natural causes. A lifetime resident of Trumann, he as a truck driver and member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann. Cook was preceded in death by one sister, Robben Cathleen Cook in 1954...

Garry Lee Holden, 63 of Lake City died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005 at his home. He owned and operated Garry's Automotive Supplies for many years until retiring. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lake City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Tommie Holden...

Jimmy Buffington, 44, of Trumann died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005 in Jonesboro. Born in Newport, he enjoyed cooking, sports, music and spending time with his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Leslie Eugene Buffington and one sister, Angela Parnell...

Wesley Dale Morton, 52, of Harrisburg died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in South Bend, Ind., he was a machine operator for Parker Hannifin in Trumann for the past six years. He was a US Marine Corps. veteran, serving in Vietnam. He loved to hunt and fish. He also liked computers and working on cars...

County Clerk Fonda Condra recently announced that early voting for the annual school elections will begin Tuesday, Sept. 5 at the clerks' office during regular business hours of 8:30 a.m.. to 4:3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Voting will continue through Monday, Sept. 19...

The Trumann Class of 1995 will have a reunion planning meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the H&R Block office next to Sav-A-Lot. The class has still not located all its members. Those not located are Detrick Booker, David Brown, Tanya Brown, Danny Byram, Jason Cash, Trey Collett, Frankie Driebholz, Kevin Ford, Kristy Hisaw, Terry Langston, Brooke Lyle, Rosemarie McKellar, Mary Ellen Melton, Shannon Moody, Brian Murrell, Joanne Prunty, Crystal Russell, Tony Russell, Terra Short, Kenny Spaulding, Timothy Spray, David Steele, Amanda Stubbs, Jonathan Taber, Mary Terry, Carla Tresserra, Jill Vinson, Angela Wagley, Josephine Watson.. ...

Over 60 people enjoyed a day of gospel singing and fun and games to raise money for local cancer survivor Naomi Collins on Saturday. An event planned by family and friends sought to help raise money for a second operation Collins needs not covered by Medicare...

A commodity distribution for Poinsett County residents is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept.r 7 at the Trumann Recreational Complex on Pecan Grove Road; the Marked Tree Fire Station, 102 Liberty, Marked Tree; and Weiner City Hall, 123 East Second Street...

Entry forms are now being accepted for the Wild Duck Festival Chili Cook-off. The cook off is set for Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Trumann Sports Complex. It will be one of the many fun activities of the annual Duck Fest. The entry fee is $25, and each entrant must make three gallons of chili. All ingredients may be chopped before the event and meat may be browned before arrival on site, but all other cooking must be done on site...

Edward Hargrove, "Shorty" to his friends, has worked hard to meet the needs of the people who elected him to the Trumann City Council. "Way I see it people elected me to get things done," Hargrove said. "I make it my business to get what they ask done."...

Jerry T. Sims, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Trumann, announced the election of Barry E. Wood to the Board of Directors. Wood attended four years at Arkansas Tech in Russellville, majoring in business. He is the co-owner and general manager of Wood Ford Sales, Inc. in Trumann and owner of McCann Game Calls, Inc...

As a young girl growing up in the Ozarks, Jerry Robinson would try to memorize scenes so she could paint them later in life. She always had the desire to paint. The only things holding her back was not having the supplies and the knowledge needed to use them...

Winfred A. White, 67, of Bay died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Benton and was a carpenter and a mason. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elbert and Norene White and two brothers, Jimmy White and Leon White...