Stories from Thursday, March 8, 2007

It is easy to imagine spring on the way with all the beautiful yellow jonquils popping out even though it is still February. (Tribune photo/Carin McClung)

Tribune Sports Staff The East Poinsett County Lady Warriors took a perfect record into the regional tournament at Bergman two weeks ago and suffered their first two-game-losing streak of coach Bobby Lewallen's three-year career at the school. The first was a crushing overtime loss to Marshall, who went on to lose to rival Bergman in the finals. ...

George Harold "Joe" Ford, 63, of Marked Tree died Monday, March 5 at his residence. Born on July 4, 1943 in Tyronza, Ford was a brick mason, served in the Army Reserve and was a member of the Pentecostal faith. Ford was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Watson; his sister, Ruth Ford and his brothers, Charles Ford, Carrell Ford, Kenneth Ford and Don Ford...

Dalton Frasure, 86, of Lepanto died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a member of the Church of Christ and an Army Veteran of WWII. He is preceded in death by his wife Pauline Frasure and one son, Hollie Drexel Frasure...

Michael A. Campbell Sr., 49, of Tyronza passed away Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at NEA Hospital in Jonesboro. Campbell, a self-employed bee keeper, is survived by his wife, Sarah Campbell of Tyronza; one daughter, Jennifer and Danny Rogers of West Helena; two sons Michael A. ...

Guy T. Spears, age 83, of Lepanto died Friday, March 2 at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a member of the Lepanto Church of Christ, a WWII Army veteran and a member of the American Legion. He is survived by his wife, Eunice Spears of Lepanto; two stepchildren, Diane Vickers and Dale Mason, both of Lepanto; two sisters, Kaythern Capps of Marked Tree and Naomi Samson of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one step-granddaughter, Denis McGee and one step-grandson, Jacob Bradley Vickers...

Tribune News Staff The Marked Tree Rotary Club presented the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research with a check for just over $2,000 last Wednesday. The club raised the funds during its annual Peggy Bankston Walk for the Cure, a walk-a-thon held in September in honor of the club's former member who died from breast cancer in 2005...

The Marked Tree High School Band will be holding a clothes and personal items drive this week, through Friday, March 9, for victims of the tornado in Dumas. They will be collecting clothes and personal items such as toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, etc. at the high school band room on Dawson St...

By MARISSA HOLIMAN Tribune News Staff One Marked Tree resident recently discovered that stealing cable comes with a heavy price. She was convicted of cable theft on Feb. 23 in Poinsett County District Court. The resident was found guilty of stealing cable from Ritter Communications and was fined $510...

Tribune News Staff Last Tuesday night the Ritter Crop Services building was the scene of a seminar presented by the USDA Farm Service Agency, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding the allocation of certain farm lands for the use of wildlife habitats. The program discussed the 2002 Farm Bill, which gives farmers various incentives for voluntary conservation of natural resources...

Tribune Sports Staff "We've just been struggling," coach Matt Wright said about the three opening -season losses for the Marked Tree Indians. "Part of our problem has been an inconsistent strike zone. Plus, we're not hitting the ball. We've only had six home runs and all of them have been solo. We've just got no excuse."...

Tribune Sports Staff Marked Tree got its first win of the season against two losses Monday afternoon as the Lady Indians hosted and defeated the Trumann Lady Wildcats, 4-2, in a very even contest. Trumann had runners at second and third with two outs in the top of the seventh, but were unable to bring them in, giving them their second loss of the season...

Tribune Sports Staff Unlike last baseball season, the EPC Warriors have yet to experience the agony of defeat as they took Cross County easily their first game of last week then had to come from behind to defeat Rivercrest and Paragould on Thursday and Friday. And two of those teams were from the higher, 4A and 5A classifications...

Rev. Edward "Ed" Ervin Stout, Sr. was born on Friday, April 13, 1945, son of the late Jim and Flossie Floyd Stout. Rev. Stout died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro at the age of 61. He was born in Weona and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a retired truck driver, an Army Paratrooper and communication specialist of the Vietnam War, prison minister and a deacon of the Landmark Worship Center...

Larry Dewayne Luna, 41, of Harrisburg died Friday, March 2, 2007 at his residence. Born in Trumann, he lived most of his lifetime in Trumann and Northeast Arkansas. Mr. Luna was a factory worker, member of the Union Grove Baptist Church, a talented musician who loved to entertain people performing with several different bands, and had a deep love and devotion for animals...

Mrs. Mary Opal Davis was born on Monday, March 12, 1928, daughter of the late Henry and Edith Smith. Mrs. Davis died Tuesday, Feb. 27 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, at the age of 78. Born in Waterloo, Ala., she had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a homemaker and former employee of Guy's Discount for many years. Mrs. Davis was a volunteer for Campbell Civic Center Meals on Wheels and a member of the First United Methodist Church...

The Harrisburg Middle School will present the Miss Shamrock Pageant at 3 p.m., Saturday, March 17 in the Harrisburg High School Cafeteria. Age divisions start at six months and go through 19 years. There will be a queen and two alternates in each division. For more information contact Karli Saracini at 870-578-2410...

Upcoming programs for the Trumann Lions Club include: The Trumann Lions Club meets at noon each Wednesday. To become a member of for more information contact Carin McClung at 870-483-6317...

The annual Shady Grove school reunion is set for Saturday, April 14 at the Old Community House in Trumann. Activities will begin at 3 p.m. and dinner at 5p.m. Food will be provided and those attending may bring their favorite dish. After dinner a blue grass / gospel concert will be performed by Highway 31 Band. All former students, teachers, their families and friends are invited to attend...

The Great Arkansas Cleanup at Lake Poinsett State Park is set for Saturday, March 24. The staff at Lake Poinsett State Park invites the public to take an active role in the stewardship of public lands. Lake Poinsett State Park is hosting its Annual Spring Cleanup on March 24. ...

Virdie Young, 215 Dogwood, was arrested on Feb. 27 by Det. Jonathan Skaggs, Asst. Chief Tony Rusher, Ptl. Paul Keith and Ptl. Gary Henry. She was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. According to reports a search warrant was served on the residence and what is alleged to be marijuana was found in the residence...

The Trumann senior Life Center, 351 Campbell Street, is hosting How I do Diabetes, a free educational seminar about type 2 diabetes, provided by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. According to the American Diabetes Association nearly 21 million Americans habe diabetes and between 90 and 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Over six million people with diabetes, don't even know they have it...

United Way of Northeast Arkansas has announced that it will be accepting applications for One-time Grants and also for membership to the United Way of Northeast Arkansas which serves Clay, Craighead, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Poinsett and Randolph counties...

The Poinsett County Sheriff's office released the following arrests: David Goodman, 30894 Hatchiecoon Road, was arrested on Feb. 27 and charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to reports the sheriff's office and the Trumann Police Department conducted a consent to search the residence at 30894 Hatchiecoon Road. ...

Bro. Don Simpson, current president of the Trumann Ministerial Alliance spoke to the Trumann Lions Club recently. He informed the group the alliance is simply the joining of area pastors to help people. "It is so nice to help people," he said. "God's for everyone."...

Air Force Airman Jonathan P. Tacker has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Tex. During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations...

The Poinsett County Single Parent Scholarship Fund (PCSPSF) awarded $1,833 in scholarships to four single parent students who were selected for the first time. In addition, 11 returning students were awarded a total $5,500 for the spring semester of 2007 to provide supplemental financial assistance for them to continue their college or vocational degrees...

Northeast Arkansas utility customers may find help if they've received a shutoff notice and qualify for assistance from Crowley's Ridge Development Council, Inc. Through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (commonly referred to as LIHEAP) winter crisis campaign, qualified applicants may receive assistance in paying their utility bills before those services are terminated due to lack of payment.?...

When the temperature and hemlines start rising people have one thing on their minds, getting their bodies tanned. Southern Tans, a newly opened tanning salon in Trumann is providing not only tans, but a tanning education. Owners, Penny and Patience Cole, want their clients to understand the process of tanning, and how to build and maintain a bronzed glow. Penny's husband and Patience's dad, Don Cole, is also helping them run the business...

Roy "Bo" Roger Johnson, 37, of Trumann died, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007 at his residence of liver failure. He was born, Oct. 21, 1969 in Florence, Ala. He was a painter and of the Baptist faith. He is survived by his parents, Earl Smith of Trumann; his mother, Mary Smith of Trumann; step-father, Clarence Smith of Trumann; two brothers, Frank J. Smith and Clarence Smith, both of Trumann...