Stories from Thursday, June 28, 2007

Staff wins other top awards The Tri-City Tribune was officially declared the top small weekly newspaper in the state last Saturday at a presentation made by the Arkansas Press Association in Fort Smith. The honor, the sought-after general excellence award, came as part of the 2007 APA Better Editorial Newspaper Contest...

Opinion By DAN BRAWNER Tribune Sports Staff Last week I talked about the new ruling by the Arkansas Activities Association to allow schools in the state to now offer wrestling. Once again, for clarification, this is not Jerry Lawler's form of "wrasslin." It is truly competitive and is one of the most exciting "real" sports that is offered in schools anywhere...

In their first season of play with Little League baseball's Delta League, the EPC Warriors 9-10 year old team won first place in the post-season tournament. They also placed first in the league with a season record of 13-1 and an overall record of 23-5. Delta Little League baseball is made up of teams from Harrisburg, Trumann, Weiner and Lepanto/Tyronza...

Leland Edward Carter, 89, of Heber Springs died Saturday, June 23 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Little Rock. Formerly of Lepanto, he was a pharmacist, a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Church of God in Heber Springs...

Emmitt Norman Nelson, 70, of Lepanto died Saturday, June 16, 2007, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born Feb. 19, 1937, in Cushman, he was a crane operator and of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Nelson and Pearl Nelson; and four brothers, J.H. Nelson, R.V. Nelson, Willie Nelson and Billy Nelson...

She was a Baptist and a Budget Officer with the U.S. Government. Survivors include her husband, Mark L. Herman of San Diego; two sons, David and Mike Herman both of San Diego; one daughter, Terri Lile of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Buri G. Armstrong, Jr. of Midwest City, Okla., Steven Armstrong of Lepanto; parents, Dude and Oma May Armstrong of Lepanto; three grandchildren, Ashley Arnold, Douglas Lile, and Katlan Lile...

Charles M. Baker, 69, of Lepanto died Friday, June 22 in Burlison, Tenn. He was a retired construction worker and was an Air Force veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann Parrish Baker; his parents, Luther Baker and Jewel Courtney as well as three brothers and two sisters...

Several local Vietnam veterans are working hard to raise money for the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall to come to Marked Tree next year and will be having a benefit beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 30 at Cypress Park in Marked Tree. The day's events will include good food, great music and plenty of games for the kids...

The Marked Tree Fire Department took proud passion of their newest piece of equipment---a $242,000 fire truck. "The city paid $12,000.," Mayor Dixon Chandler said. "And we received a $230,000. 955 grant from FEMA for the remainder." The truck has 1000 gallon storage capacity and can pump water at the rate of 1260 gallons per minute. The truck is also air conditioned so firefighters can cool off while fighting a fire...

Tribune Editor Changes to the student handbooks and the personnel policies handbook were main agenda items as members of the Marked Tree School met in regular session Monday, June 18. The board had approved changes to the personnel policy handbook on a first reading last month, with several of the handbook's policies to be on the table for review again in June. One policy was the teacher dress code, which board members had asked the personnel policy committee (PPC) to review last month...

Justin and Robin Tims of Trumann are proud to announce the arrival of their twin girls, Emily Breanna and Elizabeth Ann. The girls were born on June 15, 2007 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Emily weighed five pounds and four ounces and Elizabeth weighed five pounds and 11 ounces...

Kevin and Jannie McIllwain of Harrisburg are proud to announce the birth of their son, Wyatt Lynn McIllwain. Wyatt was born on June 15, 2007 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro weighing eight pounds. He is the grandson of Ron and Teresa Tackett of Crossville, Tenn. and Delmar and Charlotte McIllwain of Fisher. He is the great-grandson of Mrs. Margaret McIllwain of Texas and Cecil Manes of Trumann...

Trumann First Baptist Church will be taking order for the Angel Food Ministries. Orders may be placed at the church from 9 -- 11 a.m., Saturday June 30 and from 12 -- 3 p.m. Sunday, July 1. July's menu includes four pounds of IQF chicken thighs, a 12 inch supreme pizza, two pound banquet lasagna dinner, one pound of chicken breast fajitas, 12 ounces of Philly steak portions, two pounds of popcorn chicken, 16 ounces of smoked sausage, a 10 count of flour tortillas, two pounds of fresh yellow onions, 16 ounces of gourmet bean soup, 24 oz. ...

Rev. Bobby and Regina Brooks of Trumann are proud to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter Andrea Brooks to Charles Pankey, the son of Doug and Lisa Pankey of Trumann. The bride-elect is a 2006 honor graduate of Trumann High School and is currently a junior at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge. ...

Sarah A. Coggins of Cabot has accepted the Robert Harvey Honor Scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Senator Robert Harvey, who died in 2001, established the scholarship through his estate. The Robert Harvey Honor Scholarship Fund in the College of Arts and Science provides a four year full-tuition scholarship for an incoming freshman to attend Vanderbilt each year, with preference given to students from Harvey's home county of Jackson. ...

Thirty-two Arkansas State Police Academy Recruits graduated recently in ceremonies at the Arkansas State Capitol. Graduating from Bay was Gary Ladner, 29, of Bay will be assigned to Troop D in Crittenden County. Trooper Ladner is a graduate of Bay High School...

The 2007 recipient of the Meridith Jayne Conatser Memorial Scholarship is Rebekah Rose Lehman of Rea Valley. Rebekah has a grade point average of 3.25 and plans to attend the College of the Ozarks in Missouri where she will study agriculture with an emphasis in animal science...

The University of Central Arkansas today announced the names of 1,429 students -- including one from Harrisburg -- who qualified for the undergraduate Dean's List based on their academic performance during the 2007 Spring semester. "The impressive number of UCA students qualifying for the Dean's List is an indication of the high level of academic commitment and achievement at UCA," said UCA President Lu Hardin. ...

CONWAY, ARK. -- The University of Central Arkansas today announced the names of 1,429 students -- including two from Trumann -- who qualified for the undergraduate Dean's List based on their academic performance during the 2007 Spring semester. "The impressive number of UCA students qualifying for the Dean's List is an indication of the high level of academic commitment and achievement at UCA," said UCA President Lu Hardin. ...

First Baptist Church of Trumann invites children four years old through sixth grade to "Galilee By-The-Sea" Vacation Bible School on Monday, July 9 through Friday, July 13. VBS will be held from 6 -- 8:30 p.m. each night. This year the church is transforming the Christian Life Center into a seaside village in Galilee!...

The Trumann High School class of 1967 is planning their 40 year class reunion. The reunion is set for 6 p.m., Friday, June 29 at the Old Community House. All classmates, teachers and friends are invited to stop by and visit. The group will then meet at 8 p.m., on Saturday, June 30 at the High School Cafeteria. Classmates, teachers and friends are encouraged to attend this as well...

ASU Technical Center in Marked Tree and Jonesboro announce the 2006-2007 graduates from Trumann and Bay. Certificates were awarded in the following areas: From Trumann - Phlebotomy - Jerika Collins, Joyce Deason, Kevin Mitchell, Shelley Moye and Samantha Parker...

Brett Witcher started his job in May as full-time youth minister at First Baptist Church in Trumann. The job is not new to Witcher. He has served as part-time youth minister for the congregation since March, 2005. A native of Walnut Ridge and a graduate of Walnut Ridge High School, Witcher, 23, recently graduated from Williams Baptist College in May with a degree in Christian Ministries. Growing up in the Baptist Church, he attended Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge...

Felicia Diane Jones is a 2007 graduate of Bartlett High School in Bartlett Tenn. She was among the 649 member graduating class. She was involved in APC club against drugs, varsity soccer, where she was captain for four years, Business Professionals of America, keyboarding club, FCA, National Honor Society and National Honor Society of America...

Maple Grove Baptist Church will be having a concert featuring local talent on at 5 p.m., July 7 at the church located at 13509 Maple Grove Lane. The concert is free, and the church invites everyone to come and hear some great music. Also, the church is taking orders for Boston Butts that will be sold at 9 a.m. July 7. The Boston Butts can be purchased for $25, and the deadline to order one is noon Thursday, July 5. Please contact the church at 483-7990 to purchase one...

If you ask anybody in town about Dr. Irwin Gould, you get the same response. Everyone has a humorous quote about "Doc" or "Gould" as his friends call him. Known for his keen sense of humor, "Doc," 82, has always loved a good joke. With a twinkle in his eye, he has a million one liners about old times, current events and life. Conversations are full of quips and his humorous take on life...

It seems that a move by some local residents to remove Trumann Mayor Sheila Walters from office only five months into her first year as mayor has been derailed. The group of local citizens, who began their campaign last week, had based their petition for removal on Arkansas Municipal Code14-48-114, which applies to removing a mayor from office in cities with a city administrator form of government, which Trumann does not have...

When I hear the name Erich Smallwood, a smile comes to my face. That is the way that he would have wanted me to remember him. The great life he lived rather than how the lord took him from us. I met Erich in June of 2006. I didn't know many Soldiers in the unit, and seeing as how Erich knew everyone, he took it upon himself to introduce himself to me. ...

Democrat office manager and reporter Carin McClung won four first place awards for her outstanding work as a reporter, photographer and graphic designer. The awards came as part of the 2007 Better Editorial Newspaper Contest sponsored by the Arkansas Press Association...

On Saturday, May 12, 2007, letter carriers in Arkansas collected more than 195,000 pounds of food. The Trumann Post Office collected 970 pounds of food. The food was donated to the Maple Grove Baptist Church and McCormick Baptist Church food banks. As carriers delivered the mail they also collected non-perishable food items donated by postal customers. ...

Roy Gene Schrieber, 329 Cross Apt. C, was arrested on June 21 by Ptl. Glen Smith and charged with possession of a controlled substance, meth, with intent to deliver, possession of controlled substance, marijuana and possession of pills, hydrocodone...

The Paralyzers are the first 12-and-under fast-pitch softball team Trumann has ever had to qualify for the state tournament, which will be held at Cabot this weekend. After going undefeated 12-0 during the regular season, the Paralyzers enter the state tournament, which begins Friday, with an 0-2 district playoff record. ...