Stories from Wednesday, October 26, 2005

The Poinsett County Election Commission met last Friday to finalize plans for the St. Francis Levee District Board election to be held Monday, Nov. 7. The election will be the first contested race for the board since the early 1900's. Because of the lack of precedent for such an election, the election commission had to first decide who was eligible to run for the two seats on the board. ...

Marked Tree is one of four communities in the state chosen to participate in a pilot program called "OURPLAN." The pilot is the result of a partnership between the Arkansas State University Delta Center for Economic Development and the Arkansas Department of Economic Development...

Electing new officers was a top agenda item for the Marked Tree School Board as it met in regular session last Monday night. Members of the board unanimously elected Lee Whitfield as president, Dale Smith as vice president and Josh Gallion as secretary...

Tribune News Staff The replacement of two police cars which had been damaged during a high-speed chase was the primary discussion at the Lepanto City Council meeting held last Tuesday. The chase began in Joiner and ended in Mississippi County. Councilmen heard that one of the cars had already been judged to be totaled while a determination had still yet to be made on the second car...

Tribune Sports Staff It wasn't played to stay alive in the conference championship as the senior high game will be in Marked Tree next week, that had already been decided the week before in a game between Earle and Piggott. Nevertheless, this year's junior high version of the annual battle between the Indians and the Warriors was waged with all the heart and determination of two teams who were playing for all the marbles...

Tribune Sports Staff Going into their game at Carlisle last Friday night, the Indians had lost just one game while the Bisons had won just one game. Logically, Marked Tree should have had no problem coming away with a win. But whether or not they were looking past Carlisle to the Warriors of EPC, the Indians were fortunate to come home with their scalps intact, just edging the central Arkansas team, 8-7...

Velma Bagley Bray, 71, of Manila died Sunday, Oct. 23 at Manila Nursing Home. She was a homemaker and a member of Caraway Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Bray, and one sister. Survivors include two daughters, Karen Jernigan of Collierville, Tenn. ...

Ford Theodore Long, 81, of Lepanto died Saturday, Oct. 22 at St. Bernard Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a farmer and attended the Church of God in Lepanto. He was on the board of commissions of Steven's Square for 28 years. He was preceded in death by one son...

Jesse "J.B." Kelley, 66, of Searcy died Monday, Oct. 17, 2005. Born July 10, 1935 in Romance, he was the son of the late Floyd and Leona Allison Kelley. J.B. was a member of the Masonic lodge and was a business developer. He was preceded in death by one son, J.D. Kelley; one grandson, Deric Kelley and one great granddaughter, Jayde Kelley...

From cokes that only cost six cents and tractors that only cost $8,000, Barton Agri Center employee Arkey Dale has been around long enough to see quite a few changes at the John Deere based business. In fact, he celebrated his 40th anniversary of working for the company, which was formerly Marked Tree Equipment Company, earlier this month...

The Church of God, 911 Balcom Lane, is having an old fashion day on Sunday, Oct. 30. The church asks everyone to dress up as they did in years past and enjoy lunch, singing and fellowship. "Everyone is welcome," said Pastor Dale Walton. "Bring a song and come on over."...

The First Baptist Church Noah's Ark fall festival is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31. All children toddler age to sixth graders are invited to come enjoy an evening of games, good and fun. The church is located at 1301 Hwy 69 West in Trumann...

The Poinsett County Retired Teachers will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the First Baptist Church in the Christian Life Center. Jay Roberts of Morgan Stanley Investment Corp. will inform the teachers on investments in retirement options. All area retired teachers are invited to attend...

The Viva Drive Church of Christ is having a clothes give-away from 8 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 at the church. The church is located at 451 Viva Drive in Trumann. The church asks to please not get clothes for resale.

The Department of Health and Human Services is holding a special meeting for individuals interested in becoming foster parents. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 at the DHHS office in Harrisburg at 406 N. Illinois Street. Free cookies and pie will be served...

Earl Randy Simpson, 55, of Trumann died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2005 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. He was born in Bay and had lived most his lifetime in the Bay and Trumann area. He was a farmer and of the Baptist faith...

Glenda Faye Booker, 51, of Trumann died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005 at the family residence in Trumann of natural causes. She was born in Dyersburg, Tenn. and had lived most her life in Trumann. She was a supervisor assistant for Parker Hannifin Corp. in Trumann and a member of the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in Trumann...

Hershel Lee "Rip" Walker, 71, of Bay died Wednesday, Oct. 19 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Myette and was a 1951 graduate of Bay High School. He lived in Ponca City, Ok. before moving back to Bay in 1986. He was a computer systems specialist and a truck owner / operator...

Tammy Linda Sue Goodwin, 46, of Trumann died Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes. She was born in and a lifetime resident of Trumann. She was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by two sisters; two brothers; and her parents, Arthur David and Elizabeth Pauline WilLcockon Goodwin...

The Trumann Schools Wildcat annual will be available for sale until Oct. 27. Annuals are $26.75 each and have several options available. Those interested in purchasing an annual may see Tammy Holt at the high school or visit any school office to pick up a form...

A workshop designed to educate individuals with Medicare about choices in the new Medicare prescription drug plan is set for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the Trumann Community Center. The presentation is free, but it is requested those who plan to attend pre-register by calling 1-800-224-6330...

Reba Vuncannon's Cedar Park Elementary first grade class have been discussing the fall season in class. The students made fall flip books using the dictionary to check their spelling. They also made a favorite season tally chart. The students did a writing and art lesson, making scarecrows and speech bubbles...

Robin Sims was put on time pay for $210 for driving on suspended or revoked driver's license. Joshua L. Holmes was put on time pay for $210 for driving on suspended or revoked driver's license and $280 for failure to appear on a written summons. Jeremy Brewer was put on time pay for $210 for driving on suspended or revoked driver's license, $210 for no proof of liability insurance and $135 for disregard stop sign / traffic signal...

The Poinsett County Election Commission met last Friday to finalize plans for the St. Francis Levee District Board election to be held Monday, Nov. 7. The election will be the first contested race for the board since the early 1900's. Because of the lack of precedent for such an election, the election commission had to first decide who was eligible to run for the two seats on the board. ...

The city of Trumann generated $125,000 from a $.01 sales tax increase for the Police to upgrade facilities and purchase much needed tactical equipment, Police Chief Larry Blagg told the Trumann Rotary Club Thursday. "We have been working since I became chief to upgrade and properly outfit our patrolman here in the city," Blagg said. "This has included the revenue from the tax, city budget allocations, some grants I have written and some donations."...

City Councilman Scotty Jones has spent a year getting to know the ins and outs of the Trumann City Council, something he hopes will help him better serve people who need him. "I think it is trying at times," Jones said, "but you have to step back at times and ask yourself what it is you are trying to do in this position. For me it is to help as many of the people in my ward as I can to get answers and responses from government."...

The city of Trumann has begun work on a new $211,000 water park for Trumann youth that features a large splash pad and water fixtures. "The splash pad concept is something many cities are going to in order to limit liability and costs," said Sharon Turman, Trumann director of parks and recreation...

For Trumann residents the first weekend in November means one thing, barbeque. The Trumann Lions Club has held their annual barbeque for nearly three decades, this is the 29th year. This year's barbeque is set for noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 in the Cedar Park Elementary Cafeteria on Cedar Street off Hwy 469 in Trumann...

The Trumann Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Miss Poinsettia Christmas Pageant at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Trumann High School auditorium. Each participant needs to pick up their number and leave a photograph for most photogenic, if entering that portion, at the scheduled registration time on the pageant day...

The Trumann Area Fine Arts Council's annual November Music / Art Fest meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the First Baptist Church in Trumann. The church is located on Hwy 69. Music will include choral selections and a barbershop quartet featuring students of Dale Miller from the Arkansas State University Music Department and Mr. and Mrs. Jules Martin of Trumann will present piano / organ duet selections...

The first Nina Trenthem Memorial golf tournament was Sept. 17 at the Trumann Country Club. Helen Chaffin, Joanne Burgess, Doris Adams and the Trumann Country Club Ladies Association organized the tournament. The tournament is set to be an annual event...