Stories from Wednesday, October 5, 2005

The Marked Tree Police Department recently completed a course in the safe and proper use of the taser X26 conducted energy weapon. Lt. Wayne Frazier of the Poinsett County Sheriff's office volunteered his time to instruct the officers and dispatchers on the proper aiming and firing techniques; proper loading, reloading and unloading of weapon cartridges; adequate arming, disarming and sparking of the weapon and hitting a target at a distance of eight feet...

Tribune Sports Staff EPC's Junior Warriors fell to 2-3 on the season as they traveled to Piggott to take on the 5-0 Junior Mohawks, coming away with a 14-0 3AA conference loss. "They stopped our running game," coach Brian Weathers said later. "Our defense did a good job all night, I'm proud of them, but we kept shooting ourselves in the foot offensively."...

Tribune Sports Staff "We didn't play very well, but we won," This was the assessment of head coach Waylon Dunn of the Marked Tree Junior Indians' 28-6 over winless Rector last Thursday in Rector. "We fumbled the ball too much," Dunn said of the Indians losing three of four fumbles. "As a matter of fact, we fumbled on our opening possession. And it's just fortunate that we had some kids who are faster then theirs."...

Tribune Sports Staff Sophomore quarterback Brett Hardin passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more while senior Ked Madden snared 11 passes for over 200 yards and two more scores as the EPC Warriors rallied past Walnut Ridge 40-26 in 3AA Conference football action Friday night at Walnut Ridge...

Tribune Sports Staff Both Marked Tree (4-1) and Cross County (3-2) came into Friday night's game with high expectations. The Indians were undefeated at 4-0, ranked as high as 6th in some state AA polls and they were at home. The Thunderbirds were a disappointing 2-2, but were coming off a 46-0 homecoming rout of Piggott which had them flying high with new life in the 3AA. ...

Charlie Coleman Tucker, 73, of Lepanto died Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the VA Medical Center in Memphis. Born at Lepanto, he was a U.S. Army veteran and a retired heating and cooling business owner. He was a member of the Church of God and of the American Legion of Lepanto...

Captain Clyde R. Smith, Jr died Sept. 25, 2005 at his home in Collierville, Tenn. after a lengthy illness. Retired from the United States Navy Reserve, Smith was born July 21, 1923 in Lepanto to parents Mr. and Mrs. Clyde R. Smith. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Bryce Moore Smith; five children, Dr. ...

Helena Boblack, 63, of Marked Tree died Friday, Sept. 9 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was a homemaker and was preceded in death by her parents and one sister. Survivors include her husband, Wasil Boblack; two daughters: Christine Boblack of Marked Tree and Irene Boblack of Alhambra, Calif.; one son: Anthony Boblack of Jonesboro; one grandchild and one great-grandchild...

Frances Catherine McCoy, 77, of Las Vegas died Sunday, Sept. 18, at Nathan Allison Hospice in Las Vegas. Formerly of Marked Tree, she was a teletype operator. Survivors include a sister, Anna Grace Gaddis of Brownsville, Tenn.; and a brother, Walter Marvel of Trumann...

Donald Wayne "Ducky" George, 62, of Harrisburg died Thursday, Sept. 29, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Born at Harrisburg, he was a heavy-equipment operator and a member of Eastside Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Survivors include two sons, Kenny Wayne George of Marked Tree and Perry Alred of Clarksdale; two daughters, Lynn Blagg and Renee Grissom, both of Marked Tree; three brothers, James Edward George of McCook, Ill., Kenneth "Buddy" George of Jonesboro and Robert Allen George of Quanta, Texas; three sisters, Jimmie Lou Garcia of South Bend, Ind., Virginia Kelston of Sikeston, Mo., and Dorris Covelli of Harrisburg; and five grandchildren.. ...

Martha Sue Hutton, 61, of Camden, formerly of Lepanto, died Saturday, Sept. 24 at her residence. She was a sales associate at Wal-Mart. Survivors include a daughter, Nicole Hutton of Camden; and a son, Keary Hutton of Jonesboro. She was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Nancy Bohannan...

The Modern News With the help of the Crowley's Ridge Rural Health Coalition in Greene County, the Poinsett County Wellness Coalition is now offering a medicine assistance program to those who need help with prescription costs. According to Patti Reesor of the Greene County coalition, an Arkansas Delta Rural Development Network (ADRDN) grant and office space in the senior life activity center was secured for the wellness coalition to operate its three-day a week program. ...

"Service above self" is the motto of the Rotary Club, something the Marked Tree chapter takes very seriously. Under the leadership of presidents such as Bill Stanley and Jerry Rushing, the club has begun to get serious about ways it can serve the Tri-City area...

In Biblical times, tax collectors were despised in part because a good portion of the money they collected went directly into their pockets. In the Beatles song, "Taxman," part of the lyrics went, "One for you 19 for me," signifying a 95% tax rate...

The 23rd annual Trumann Wild Festival officially begins at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7 with the opening of vendor booths. One of the most anticipated events at the festival is the Variety Show sponsored by the Trumann Area Fine Arts Council, Inc. There are still spots available so all musicians, singing groups, bands and those with talent need are invited to enter...

The duck was taped under the stands at the Little League Park across from Cedar Park Elementary.

Trumann Junior High and Senior High School will celebrate homecoming this week. TJHS will start activities at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7 with their pep rally and presentation of the junior high queen in the high school gym. The football game against Gosnell begins at 7 p.m. that night and the homecoming presentation will be during halftime...

Jimmy Keith Johnson, 50, of Memphis, formerly of Harrisburg, died Monday, Sept. 26, 3005, at his home. He was born in Jonesboro to RBW Johnson and Wilmuth Peevey Johnson.. He was a heavy equipment operator and member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Harrisburg. He was a veteran having served in the US Air Forces...

Frances Catherine McCoy, 77, of Las Vegas died Sunday, Sept. 18, at Nathan Allison Hospice in Las Vegas. Formerly of Marked Tree, she was a teletype operator. Survivors include a sister, Anna Grace Gaddis of Brownsville, Tenn.; and a brother, Walter Marvel of Trumann...

Casey Cravens, 103 Oakdale, was arrested on Sept. 28 for forgery and theft. He was arrested by PFC Jonathan Skaggs. He was given a bond of $2,500. Demetrus Seashay Shelly, 216 Virginia St. Apt. 2, was arrested on Sept. 29 for delivery of a controlled substance (meth) and tampering with evidence. He was arrested by Ptl. Kevin Holt...

The Trumann Lions Club is selling tickets for their annual Little Red Wagon give-a-way. The tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. The wagon is piled high with over $800 of merchandise from local business in it. To purchase tickets one may contact any Lions Club member or stop by the Trumann Democrat office...

A revival featuring The Jackson's from Nashville, Tenn. will be at the Church of God, 911 Balcolm Lane in Trumann. Services will start at 7 p.m. nightly, Oct. 5 -- 9. Everyone is welcome to the singing, preaching and to hear the word of God.

The Trumann High School Band is selling their annual band calendars. The calendar features a picture of the band. Persons who purchase a calendar can have birthdays and anniversaries listed in the calendar. Anyone interested in purchasing a calendar may contact Pam Duboise at 483-6557, Ann Karnes at 483-7735 or Becky Goza at 483-5303...

The Trumann High School Student Council has pitched in to help the victims of the recent hurricanes. Council members saw an ad in the Jonesboro Sun requesting donations and decided to help. The council collected supplies, money, clothes, hygiene products, baby products and many other items to help local refugees. They spent many hours sorting clothes into sizes...

With the help of the Crowley's Ridge Rural Health Coalition in Greene County, the Poinsett County Wellness Coalition is now offering a medicine assistance program to those who need help with prescription costs. According to Patti Reesor of the Greene County coalition, an Arkansas Delta Rural Development Network (ADRDN) grant and office space in the senior life activity center was secured for the wellness coalition to operate its three-day a week program. ...

In Biblical times, tax collectors were despised in part because a good portion of the money they collected went directly into their pockets. In the Beatles song, "Taxman," part of the lyrics went, "One for you 19 for me," signifying a 95% tax rate...

Poinsett County Circuit Clerk, Claudia Matthews, releases the following names as prospective petit jurors for the October 2005 session of Poinsett County Circuit Court Civil Division. Judge John Fogleman of Marion will be presiding. Jurors are instructed to report to the Poinsett County Courthouse in Harrisburg on at 9:15 a.m. ...

Those who watch KAIT-8 any Thursday night have seen Northeast Arkansas's own professional fisherman, Troy Gibson. A member of the Bass Master's Tournament Circuit, Gibson stopped in for lunch with the Trumann Rotary to talk fishing, fish logic and what makes a great fishing pole...

The official grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration for the City of Trumann Skateboard Park will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8. The park is located on the corner of Cedar and Magnolia Streets and features state of the art Skatewave modular skate park system equipment...

Mary Frances Broadaway, 56, of Mena, formerly of Jonesboro, died Monday, Sept. 26, 2005 at Spark's Hospital in Fort Smith. Born in Trumann she had lived in Mena for the past seven months and formerly lived in Jonesboro for 42 years. She was a former certified nurse's aid at the Area Agency on Aging and was a member of Calvary United Pentecostal Church...