Stories from Wednesday, January 4, 2006

The Trumann Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for their annual banquet. Each year the Chamber presents several awards as well as announces incoming chamber officers. The Chamber is seeing nominations from the community for Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Educator of the Year and Business of the Year...

Duolph G. Ward, 75, of Flippin died Monday, Jan. 2, 2006 in the Twin Lakes Nursing Center in Flippin. He was born on Jan. 18, 1930 in Trumann to Grover and Margarite Smith Ward. He was a retired service station attendant. He grew up in Trumann and had moved to Yellville 19 years ago...

Helen Lucille Ragsdale, 79, died Dec. 25, 2005, at the family residence in Trumann. She was born on Monday, April 19, 1926, the daughter of the late Edd and Allie Ethel Cartt Richardson. She was born in Trumann and had lived in St. Louis for the past 26 years before moving back to Trumann in 1976. She was retired from McDonald Douglas in St. Louis and of the protestant faith...

Mildred Virginia Waller, 85, of Trumann died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 at the family residence. Mrs. Waller was born in Jonesboro and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a retired factory and café worker and of the Baptist faith. Mrs. Waller was preceded in death by her husband, William Monroe "Bill" Waller; one son, Bobby Lee Purcell; one daughter, Nancy Louise Purcell Thompson; two sisters and was the daughter of the late Rufus and Sylvia Howard Cooper...

Virgil Ray Hopkins, 59, of Trumann died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 at Baptist Health Hospital in Little Rock. He was born in and a lifetime resident of Trumann. He was a maintenance supervisor for Trumann Housing Authority and a member of the First Baptist Church...

Ellis Goff died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro at the age of 75. Ellis Goff was born in Trumann on Thursday, March 27, 1930, the son of the late Thomas and Nelie Nichols Goff. He was a lifetime resident of Truman and a retired farmer...

The Trumann Parks and Recreation is hosting a meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday Jan. 8 at the Trumann Recreational Complex building for the organization of the upcoming baseball season. Parents, coaches and volunteers are urged to attend this meeting. Registration dates, tournament dates and other important information will be presented...

A meeting is planned for the 8th Annual Have-A-Heart Radiothon for the Make A Wish Foundation at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9 at the Triple Fm Radio Group Studios at 314 Union in downtown Jonesboro. This year's event will be from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10. Numerous volunteers are needed for this huge fundraising effort, please RSVP to Christie@triplefm.com or call 870-933-8800 ext 42...

Winter has arrived along with much higher utility bills as a result of the increases in all manner of home energy sources. Crowley's Ridge Development Council's Human Services offices in Northeast Arkansas will begin accepting applications for utility bill payment assistance Jan. 9...

The Poinsett County Single Parent Scholarship Fund (PCSPSF) awarded over $4,000 in scholarships to nine single parent students for the fall semester of 2005 to provide supplemental financial assistance for them to continue their college or vocational degrees. ...

Parker Hannifan Corporation of Trumann announced it would close it doors after 28 years of manufacturing in Trumann. The factory employed approximately 230 employees. Jessica Shuburte, a graduate of Trumann High School, interned at Bay High School in the Art II class taught by Karla Jones...

"We want all students to feel confident to come to school," said Trent Moody, last week while speaking to the Trumann Lions Club. Moody is the Trumann High School Student Council president. He, along with Student Council vice president Caitlyn Brune and THS principal Jim Montgomery, spoke to the Trumann Lions Club over Christmas vacation about a newly formed committee, the Student Physical Needs Committee...

Eddie Lee Hutcheson, 57, of Trumann died Dec. 30, 2005 at his residence of cancer. He was born on July 30, 1948 in Tupelo, Miss. He was a factory worker, a US Marine and a Jehovah Witness. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda Stout Hutcheson of Trumann; his parents, Rose Hutcheson of Tupelo and William Hutcheson of Trumann; three daughters, Samantha Moody, Angela Austin and Claudia Hutcheson, all of Trumann; one son, Danny Hutcheson of Florida; two sisters, Jean Jamison of Tupelo and Carolyn Hazzard of Georgia; one brother, Billy Wayne Hutcheson of Venona, Miss. ...