Stories from Thursday, December 15, 2005

The City of Lepanto has been blessed with many wonderful citizens, family businesses and enthusiastic volunteers. Mary Ann Deeds stands out as a wonderful woman who donates her time, hard work and much more for her fellow citizens. Her dedication to the community has not been overlooked by her friends, family and neighbors. They worked diligently to elect her as the Lepanto Citizen of the Year...

Several representatives of Marked Tree Youth Sports were at the Marked Tree City Council meeting Monday night to pitch the idea of a temporary one cents sales tax increase to fund a new sports recreation complex and city park. Brad Daniels addressed the council on behalf of MTYS. He presented the council with a set of plans provided by an engineer that outlined the proposed park and recreation center. It would include new ball fields as well as a walking track that surrounds a new playground...

Tribune Sports Staff "It was and exciting game to watch," Coach Joseph Simmons said of EPC's loss to BIC, 98-69 last Friday night at Lepanto. "It was an up tempo game with very little defense." Many people came to see Brooks Taylor and he didn't disappoint as he led the defending state AA champions with 34 points...

Tribune Sports Staff The first half of the Lady Indians-Lady Thunderbirds game last Friday night looked for a time as if home-standing Marked Tree (3-3) was going to have its first full-blown blowout of the year as with 3:23 left in the second period, they enjoyed a 15-point, 27-12 lead. By the end of the contest, though, the Lady Tribe had to hang on for dear life to escape with a 51-47 victory...

Tribune Sports Staff Marked Tree traveled to EPC last Tuesday night for the first of their two neighborhood contests with the Warriors two senior teams overcoming the Indians in their games while the junior high squads split their games. EPC Ladies remain undefeated...

Mary Eleanor Cooley Anderson, 75, of Starkville, Miss. died Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. She was a retired Instructor Emeritus of Communication for Mississippi State University. She was a member of the Episcopal Church Women and Starkville Community Theatre...

Erwin Gilbert Wilday, 83, of Marked Tree died Dec. 9 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a retired factory worker and of the Pentecostal Faith. Survivors include two sisters: Shirley Cantwell of Marked Tree and Irene Sexton of St. John, Ind.; and seven nephews...

Norma Lee Cantrell, 80, of Payneway died Sunday, Dec. 11 at St. Bernard Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was a homemaker and a member of Corners Chapel Baptist Church. Survivors include three daughters; Carolyn Cantrell of Payenway, Brinda Swan of Coldwater, Miss. ...

County Extension Agent -- Staff Chair 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...

Tribune News Staff 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...

Tribune Sports Staff The Indians met a very good Cross County Thunderbird team at Marked Tree Friday night and were unable to overcome second and fourth quarter lulls losing their fourth game of the year against one victory, 71-55. "They hit a lot of shots from outside," Coach Barbara Wilburn said following the game. "and we dug ourselves a hole early."...