Stories from Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Miss Poinsettia Queen is Leslie Griffin. She was also names most beautiful, most photogenic, most personality and best dressed. She is the daughter of Janice and Greg Griffin of Waldenburg. First alternate is Jerri Willis. She is the daughter of Rhonda Willis of Trumann. ...

Donna Lee Neal, 48, of Harrisburg died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005 at Harrisburg. She was born on May 31, 1957 in Jonesboro to Donald and Jeanette Chisenhall Lee. She was a third grade teacher at Earl Public School and a member of the Greenfield Baptist Church in Harrisburg...

Bill Witt, 74, of Harrisburg died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 at his residence. He was born on July 24, 1931 in Nettleton, Miss., the son of Lucian A. Witt and Lilla Mae Beard Witt. He was a lifetime resident of Harrisburg and was of the Baptist faith. He was a farmer, welder, former Phillips 66 gas station owner and had worked in the maintenance department at Poinsett State Park for ten years. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking and small carpentry jobs...

County Clerk Fonda Condra announced early voting is underway for the special election scheduled for Dec. 13 for the issuance of State of Arkansas Federal Highway Grant Anticipation and Tax Revenue Bonds and the Issuance of State of Arkansas Higher Education General Obligation bonds...

Rob Rash, CEO and chief engineer for the St. Francis Levee District, and Robert Williams, secretary/treasurer of the district, recently visited with the Trumann Rotary and addressed many of the questions taxpayers had in relation to the recent increases...

Landowners in Arkansas with qualifying properties are being encouraged to consider applying for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). This is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their property. Arkansas is currently ranked second in the nation in enrolled Wetlands Reserve Program acres. This equals approximately 190,000 active acres enrolled in the program since 1995...

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality proposes to revise the state Water Quality Management Plan (208 Plan) by adding six new wastewater dischargers to the plan; increasing the design flow and changing the effluent limits for three current wastewater dischargers; changing the effluent limits for two facilities; and moving an outfall location for one facility. The ADEQ will accept written public comments on the proposals until Dec. 12, 2005...

Checkerboard Antiques hosted its annual Christmas Open House this weekend. The store was packed with shoppers getting their Christmas lists in order. It was beautifully decorated with several themed Christmas trees. They included an outdoor tree, a chef's tree, a children's whimsical tree, a traditional tree and several other themed trees...

With Christmas fast approaching, the stores are packed with consumers racing to buy presents for friends, family and coworkers. The holiday spirit is in the air as families put up their Christmas decorations and traditional tree. Soon there will be parties and the annual exchange of gifts in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ...

Editor's note -- This is the last in a four part series featuring the four homes on this year's Trumann Poinsettia Christmas Tour of Homes) By CARIN MCCLUNG, Democrat News Staff The spirit of the season is overflowing in the home of Quentin and Betty Fletcher, 1235 Hwy 69 West in Trumann...

James Edward Hicks, 2259 Hwy 75 N. in Marked Tree, was arrested by the Trumann Police Department on Nov. 15. He was arrested by Ptl. Dale Parker. He was charged with over possession of pseudo ephedrine and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture, both felonies...

The Christmas season officially begins in Trumann at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4 with the annual Christmas parade. Bill Cook, has been selected as Grand Marshall. This is a great family event where children will get to see Santa in the parade and enjoy candy thrown by parade participants...

Democrat News Staff Imagine life without cell phones, computers, television, motion pictures, air conditioning or immunizations. Imagine life without all the things people take for granted. In 1901, these luxuries had yet to be invented and life was much simpler than it is now. According to Carrie Bell Freeman Taylor of Trumann, in just the last 32 years Trumann has changed considerably. She remembers a time when there were no paved roads anywhere, just gravel...

Virginia Lee Yancey, 75, of Harrisburg died Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 at her home. She was born March 24, 1930 in Smithville, to Arthur and Willie Mae Banks. She was a homemaker and member of the New Covenant Church in Harrisburg. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Anthony Yancey; five brothers, JB Banks, Leonard Banks, Billy Banks, Vernon Banks and Milt Banks and one granddaughter, Rebecca Nichols...