Stories from Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Ptl. Erik Willbanks was recently named Trumann Police Officer of the Year. This officer of the year award is just one of many changes the Trumann Police Department has seen since the appointment of Larry Blagg as the new Chief of Police. This has included the formation of a Police Booster's Association and the VIPER Squad...

There has been a lot of discussion and many people have questions about the mineral lease process. With this in mind Poinsett County Farm Bureau, Statewide Farmers Risk Management and Poinsett County Cooperative Extension Service have joined efforts to offer a free, informational meeting for the public. This meeting is designed to provide participants with non-biased information that will enable them to make better decisions in relation to mineral leases...

Master Sergeant Billy C. Chaffin, Jr., formerly of Trumann, recently retired from the United States Army after more than 22 years of service to his country. MSG Chaffin has served in numerous positions of increased responsibility including assignments as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, Platoon Sergeant in the 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment then culminating his career as the Department Sergeant Major for the Munitions Training Department, Ordnance Munitions and Electronics Maintenance School, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.. ...

Farmers and landowners in Poinsett County have until Feb. 3, 2006, to submit applications to receive cost-share assistance to implement conservation activities through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Applicants can sign up at the Natural Resources Conservation Service office at 505 Brooks, Harrisburg, AR...

The Trumann Chamber of Commerce recently announced the completion of the cities web site. The site www.trumannchamber.com, is filled with information about local industry, churches, civic organizations, police and fire departments and schools. The home page of the site features a welcome letter from the Mayor Ronnie Harrison...

As Charles was growing up, his dad always made egg nog at Christmas. Now Charles makes the egg nog. The first year we were married we made egg nog Christmas morning, but the crowd had been here the night before. Now we make egg nog on Christmas Eve. The children wanted a recipe, but he did not have one. One year I wrote the ingredients down as he used them. This is now what we go by...

John Tyler Timbs of Trumann has accepted membership in Golden Key International Honour Society and was honored during a recent induction ceremony at Arkansas State University. "It is only fitting that a top academic achiever like John Tyler be recognized by Golden Key," said Alexander D. ...

(Editors note: These Santa letters are from the 1975 Christmas edition of the Trumann Democrat. Be sure to pick up a copy of next week's paper to read this year's letters to Santa.) Dear Santa, If you can will you put my name on your lift. If you are willing to get me a BB gun, pocket calculator, pizza hut, football with pump, and a bike...

The final Quorum Court meeting of the year was somewhat longer than usual as the court went into a 45 minute executive session to address a couple of issues. One of those issues, a raise for Judge Doyle Hillis, was tabled until later. The second item discussed was to reimburse employee Jeanie Carroll of the County Judge's office $4,800 for insurance premiums she had paid for her husband after he had been removed from the insurance rolls...

Charles Cleo Riley, 64, of Trumann died Saturday evening at the family residence. Riley was born in and was a lifetime resident of Trumann, a self-employed backhoe operator, a farmer and a member of Christian Worship Center in Trumann. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Ann Berry Riley in 2005; a brother, Donald E. Riley; and was the son of the late Otto and Irene Baker Riley...