Stories from Wednesday, December 27, 2006

"This is just a big thank you card to those overseas," said Trumann Chief of Police Larry Blagg. "For a couple months I have felt like I needed to do something to say thank you to our military, and I came up with this idea of a large community thank you board. This board is like a big card you pass around the office for someone's birthday."...

Linda Carol Cole, 58, of Harrisburg died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006 in an automobile accident near her home in Harrisburg. She was born July 14, 1948 in Harrisburg, the daughter of Raymond Burgess and Leona James Burgess. She was a lifetime resident of Trumann and Harrisburg and was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Harrisburg where she was a volunteer helper with AWANA. ...

Wilma Lee Adams Hamilton died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006 at Plantation Homes in Trumann at the age of 67. Born on Monday, April 3, 1939, in Elm Grove, she was the the daughter of the late W. H. and Sudie Turner Adams. Mrs. Hamilton. She lived in Bay for the past 40 years. She was a housewife and a member of the Elm Grove Missionary Baptist Church...

Goldie Leffie Short died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006 at the Trumann Health and Rehabilitation Center in Trumann at the age of 87. Born on Saturday, Jan. 11, 1919, in Marked Tree, she was the daughter of the late Wheeler and Nora Miller Short. She lived most of her lifetime in Trumann and was of the Pentecostal faith...

Trumann Medical Clinic was recently presented with an EPSDT Pilot Clinic Award from the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC). The clinic received the award during AFMC's 2006 Medicaid Managed Care Services Educational Conference in Little Rock. ...

This is the first in a four part series reviewing the events of 2006. January 4 The Trumann Chamber of Commerce sought nominations for Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Educator of the Year and Business of the Year. Trent Moody and Caitlyn Brune, THS seniors, spoke to the Trumann Lions Club about the Student Physical Needs Committee. The committee is part of the Trumann Partnership for Helping Keep Youth Safe...

Christopher Michael Wilson, 116 Mallard Cove, was arrested on Dec. 18 by Trumann Police Department Ptl. Jeremy Phillips and charged with aggravated assault, four counts endangering the welfare of a minor first degree, fleeing, DWI 2nd offense, refusal to submit to a BAC, driving on suspended driver's license, criminal mischief 1st degree and disorderly conduct...

Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, approved 68 Arkansas Counties as a natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by extreme drought that began on June 1, 2006. In accordance with Section 321 (a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, the following Counties in Arkansas and Adjacent States are named as a contiguous disaster area: Craighead, Fulton, Green, Izard, Poinsett, and Randolph...

A drop in reception is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28 at the mayor's office on Hwy 463. The drop in is for three city officials who will be leaving office at the end of the year. They are city clerk / treasurer Patsy Bullock, public works director Bill Matthews and Mayor Ronnie Harrison...

The Alzheimer's Support Group will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2 in the conference room at the East Arkansas Agency on Aging, 2205 East Highland, Fountain Square Complex in Jonesboro. For more information contact Jana Poe at 870-930-2235 or 1-800-680-6950...

Rev. and Mrs. Paul E. Hale of Trumann will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30 during a reception at their home, 112 Cypress in Trumann. Paul Hale and the former Virginia Russell were married Dec. 30. 1956, and made their home in Illinois until returning to Trumann in 1995...

Courtesy of the Modern News / Curtis Sanders Julie Sartain of the Poinsett County Health and Human Services office in Harrisburg has been selected as this year's Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services Employee of the Year. Each year the DHHS Board in Little Rock receives nominations from each of 13 divisions in Arkansas. ...

Army Pfc. Travis D. Sandlin has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions. ...

Ritter Communications President Paul Waits is pleased to announce installation and repair technician Willie Brown as this year's recipient of the company's Larry B. Dinkins Eagle Award. A native of Marked Tree, Brown has enthusiastically served Ritter Communications in a number of capacities for more than a decade...

Trumann Chief of Police Larry Blagg was recently invited to take part in a panel discussion geared towards the production and use of meth sponsored by the Criminal Justice Institure of the University of Arkansas systems in Little Rock. Chief Blagg was one of eight panel members.Panel members were made up of sheriffs, chiefs and assistant chiefs. The group discussed new curriculum for classes the CJI will sponsor statewide for law enforcement officers...

Two years ago Healing Hand Community Church of Trumann member Anthony Patterson challenged the church to do an outreach to bless those in need during the holidays. Autumn Hicks, with the help of the ladies ministries of the church, began raising funds and foods...

Poinsett County lost one of its finest Christmas Eve with the death of longtime newspaper publisher Hazel Garvey Freeman. Freeman died at the age of 91 at her home in Harrisburg Sunday. For 50 years Freeman was actively involved in the operation of the Modern News at Harrisburg, a publication that has been owned and operated by the Freeman family since 1888...