Stories from Wednesday, June 6, 2007

As the first mournful notes of Taps echoed across the rolling meadows of Memorial Park Cemetery in Jonesboro Monday afternoon, the realization that Sgt. Erich Scott Smallwood had come to his final resting place finally hit home. Not even the 21-gun salute, executed moments before the lone bugler began to play, could elicit the emotion which the far-too-familiar tune did...

Rusty and Theresa Jones of Trumann are proud to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter Lindsay Camille Jones to Daniel Seth Miller, the son of Rev. Darrel and DeeDee Miller of Trumann. The bride-elect is a 2003 graduate of Trumann High School and is currently attending Arkansas State University as a senior working to obtain a bachelor of science degree in digital media and design. ...

The planning committee for the class of 1997's ten year reunion has set their next meeting for Tuesday, June 12 at Couch's in Trumann. The group may be contacted at 870-483-3068 or trumannwildcat1997@yahoo.com...

The Melton Avenue Church of Christ, 301 Melton Avenue, is sponsoring "Hear the Gospel" June 10 -- 13. The messages will be preached by Harville Knight. "Do I Really Love the Church" will be presented at 10:45 a.m. on June 10 and will be continued at 5 p.m. June 10...

There will be a three night revival at the Revival Center in Trumann Thursday, June 7 through Saturday, June 9. The revival will start at 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday and at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Bro. Dub Holt will be preaching and everyone is welcome...

Calvary Baptist Church, 304 Bell Street, is having Vacation Bible School at 6:30 p.m., June 11 -- 14. The event will end Thursday night with a fun filled candy carnival. The VBS and carnival are free to all who have registered to attend. The carnival will consist of fun games, hot dogs and cokes...

A's and B's 5th grade -- Alexandria Ballard, Rebba Bitner, Ashlei Blankenship, Haley Bratton, Hailey Chaffin, Kali Conaway, Christian Cook, Calin Cox, Kenneth Crist, Alicia Dyer, Mark Hinds, Amanda Hood, Megan McGowan, Jessie Montgomery, Emily Muntz, Bhumiben Patel, April Payton, Krystal Reed, Jerrica Rodgers, Haillie Russell, Keiron Sims, Taylor Stacy, Gabriel Urrabazo, Shania Weaver, Matthew Wilson and Artie Winningham...

Sgt. Erich Scott Smallwood died Saturday, May 26, 2007 near Balad, Iraq at the age of 23. Born Sunday, May 20, 1984 in Blytheville, he lived most of his lifetime in the Trumann and Jonesboro area. He was a lifeguard at the Trumann Country Club and of the Baptist faith...

Alan Marple, 43, of Harrisburg died Sunday, June 3, 2007 at the St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Aug. 10, 1963 in Blythe, Calif., the son of Andy Marple and Barbara Ferguson Marple. Marple was a heavy equipment operator and carpenter. He married Laura Qualls in 1981 and they enjoyed 26 years together. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, drawing, riding three wheelers and horses...

Norma Fecher, 58, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, May 30 at her home. She had lived in Jonesboro for a short while, having lived most of her life in the Truman and Marked Tree areas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy Fecher; her parents, Mitchell and Helen Scott Busby; a brother, Larry Busby; and a niece, Charlotte Ward...

Judith Dianne "Judye" Presley, 55, of Trumann died Sunday, May 27, 2007, at the family residence in Trumann. Born in Jonesboro, she had lived in Trumann her all her life and was a medical technician, a graduate of Arkansas State University and a member of the First General Baptist Church in Trumann...

Wilma Irene Davies died Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro at the age of 52 years. Born in Trumann Friday, March 18, 1955, she was the daughter of the late Robert L. and Wilma Elnora Kirby Whitlow. She was born in and a lifetime resident of Trumann, a homemaker and a 1973 graduate of Trumann High School...

Cleo and Katherine Davis of Trumann will celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary on June 5. The couple was married June 5, 1954. They have four children, Jr. Davis who died May 12, 2007, Donnie Davis of Weona, Connie Davis of Trumann and Bobby Davis of Trumann; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren...

The year 1947 had many exciting events including the president being Harry Trumann, the Yankees winning the World Series, the 20th annual Academy Awards best song being, "Zip A Dee Doo Dah" and Guy Henderson and Flossie Roberts getting married. The couples' children, Larry Henderson, Patti Talbot, Sharron McDaniel, along with Hatchiecoon Hunt Club member John Stuckey, honored them with a 60th wedding anniversary at the club on Thursday, May 24...

Sarah Whitton of Trumann, a senior at Trumann High School, has accepted a University Honors Scholarship to attend Arkansas State University in Jonesboro next fall. During high school her achievements and activities included being valedictorian and annual staff editor...

The Trumann Police Department reports there have been at least four incidents of a Trumann business receiving a counterfeit $100 bill recently. The bills received have been $5 bills washed with a bleach substance to remove the ink and then reprinted as a $100. The watermark and security strip is not removed so the identification marks are still in place. The TPD recommends all businesses and individuals check the security features on each and every $100 bill before accepting it as payment...

Poinsett County Circuit Clerk Claudia Matthew released the following names of Trumann residents drawn as prospective petit jurors for the June session of Poinsett County Court Criminal Division. Judge David Burnett of Osceola will be presiding. Jurors should call the clerks office at 578-4420 after 5 p.m., on Sunday June 10 to hear a recorded message verifying the date and time they should report for jury duty...

Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, approved 58 Arkansas Counties as a natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by extreme low temperatures and a hard, late season freeze that occurred on April 7 and April 8. Poinsett County is one of the approved counties...

A new summer remediation school continues at Trumann High School through June 29. Sessions are held from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Students entering the seventh grade this fall at Trumann High School have only one elective class to select. However, many students are required to attend remediation classes, which takes away from seventh grade students their only elective class...

A commodity distribution is set for Poinsett County on Thursday June 14. The distribution of food will begin at 9 a.m. at the Marked Tree Fire Station, Trumann Recreation Complex and Weiner City Hall. According to Judy Becker, USDA Coordinator for the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, persons receiving the USDA food must reside in the county in which the distribution is taking place. Recipients must also meet the income guidelines that have been set for the emergency food assistance program...

Air Force Airman first Class Jamie L. Batten has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. 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...

Gary and Joyce Hogan of Cherry Valley recently celebrated their 25th year of wedded bliss in the picturesque resort town of Black Hawk, Colo. Black Hawk was founded in the early 1800's as a silver mining town. The town was nearly a ghost town until recently when gaming became legal. It is now filled with small gaming facilities in old historic buildings...

Ms. Teague/Ms. Bagwell classes Reading -- first place - Luke Griffin, second place - Gabby Giddings, third place - Cameron Jones and most improved - Dillin Vincent. PE -- first place - Cameron Jones, second place - Hannah Walters, third place - Jacob Brumley and most improved - Savannah Kemp...

5th grade -- Ashlei Blankenship, Tiffany Clem, Lee Corbin, Kenneth Crist, Quinn Crites, Hillary Halsey, Jacob Hammers, Mark Hinds, Desaray Holmes, Jacob Mincy, April Payton, Dalton Reed, Krystal Reed and Gabriel Urrabazo. 6th grade -- Kaleb Capps, Timothy Collins, Scarlett Davis, Braddie Eads, Kelly Guthrie, Sarah Halfacre, Clay Harp, Kail Harris, Macy Hicks, Skylar Jones, Tiakya Jones, Jazmin Martinez, Nathan Maxwell, Kevin Meadows, Deven Parrish, Kristen Renshaw, Ezekiel Sanders, Morgan Taylor, Courtney Toddy, Tinity Tyler, Gerikay Watts and April Whitman.. ...

Kayse Craig of Trumann a senior at Trumann High School has accepted an Academic Merit Award Scholarship to attend Arkansas State University in Jonesboro next fall. She plans to major in physical therapy. Her parents are Larry and Hazel Craig of Trumann...

Logan Sheets of Trumann was among the Harding University students included on the school's Dean's List for grades achieved during the spring semester. Sheets is a junior majoring in psychology. To make the Dean's list a student must be carrying 12 or more hours and have an average scholarship level of 3.65 minimum...

Mary Dean Barker, 86, of Bay died Thursday, May 24, 2007 at Craighead County Nursing Center in Jonesboro. She was born in Guntersville, Ala., and she had lived most of her lifetime in the Bay area. She was a homemaker and member of the First Baptist Church in Bay...