Stories from Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Tribune Editor A one-cent sales tax to build a new sports and recreation complex passed in the polls Tuesday with 262 residents voting in favor of the measure and 104 voting against it. A total of 267 people voted for the bond while 107 voted against it...

Cecil Dean Buckner, Jr., 28, of Tyronza died on August 7 at Little Rock. He was a member of the Church of Christ and was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Dean Buckner, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda Buckner of Tyronza; his mother, Jacqueline Coleman of Crawfordsville; his grandmother, Mary Lee Phillips of Crawfordsville; two brothers, Orlando Buckner and Johnaton Buckner of Crawfordsville; two step daughters, Tiffany Hendrix and Alycia Hendrix of Tyronza and one step son, Huey Warren of Tyronza.. ...

Karen Lee Bridger Patin, 40, of Breaux Bridge, LA, formerly of Marked Tree died Monday, August 6. She was preceded in death by her father, William Bridger; her maternal grandparents, Donald and Irene McWhirter and her paternal grandparents, Wylie "Doc" and Gladys Bridger...

The Poinsett County Extension office will hold a wheat production meeting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21 at Betty's Restaurant in Harrisburg. Speakers and topics will include: Dr. Jason Kelley -- wheat varieties and management, Scott Stiles -- economics of wheat production and Trey Reaper -- wheat research and verification program...

Tribune Editor "Where do you start," Bill Craft asked in describing his late wife Carolyn. "She was so many things. She was patient and kind. She loved her kids and grandkids, and she treated everybody fair and equal. People from all walks of life loved her."...

Tribune Editor Tyronza citizens voted 51 to 34 Tuesday to pass a one-cent sales tax. The tax will be the only city sales tax on the books. Due to the construction of I-555, the city lost critical revenue from traffic stops. Now, the city hopes the tax will help combat a serious lack of funding...

A group of area individuals met to discuss the possibility of forming a regional chamber of commerce last Thursday, Aug. 9. The meeting was held at the EPC high school cafeteria and included members from the communities of Dyess, Lepanto, Marked Tree and Tyronza...

Poinsett County Judge Doyle Hillis has issued a burn ban, effective from 12 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14 for Poinsett County. The court order cites a long duration of dry weather with only intermittent and spotty rainfall has created dry and hazardous conditions...

Crittenden Regional Hospital in West Memphis has been added to the network of providers for Baptist Health Services Group (BHSG), which is the network entity of Memphis-based Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the country...

Week of Aug. 20-24 Monday -- cheeseburger, French fries, lettuce and tomato, pork and beans, peaches and milk. Tuesday -- steak fingers, potatoes and gravy, peas and carrots, white bread, pineapple and milk. Wednesday -- mini corn dogs, baked beans, chips, cucumbers, applesauce and milk...

The Poinsett County Extension office will hold a wheat production meeting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21 at Betty's Restaurant in Harrisburg. Speakers and topics will include: Dr. Jason Kelley -- wheat varieties and management, Scott Stiles -- economics of wheat production and Trey Reaper -- wheat research and verification program...

With this being the week of the Poinsett County Fair, it looks like the cool weather we had hoped for is out of the question. The bad part is we still have the hottest part of summer yet to come. Now is the time to use some common sense and be careful if you must be out in the heat. ...

County Extension Agent -- Family & Consumer Sciences Now that your child is going back to school, figuring out where he or she will go after school each day can be a challenge. Children - no matter their age - need some sort of adult supervision after school. Research has shown that when unsupervised after school, children are at a greater risk of becoming involved in crime; abusing alcohol, drugs, and tobacco; and engaging in risky sexual activity...

With an ability to jump 12-18 inches from a standstill, the 1/8" long common cat flea is one of the hardiest pests that our dogs and cats will encounter. An appetite for blood, an uncanny ability to reproduce, and a short life cycle make this parasite difficult to control or eradicate. What's worse, the fleas can carry diseases that can affect our pets and us! How can we help protect our dogs and cats from this annual menace?...

We have been getting some questions about how much and how often do I need to water in this dry, hot weather? It is important to water your lawn thoroughly. By this I mean to wet the soil to a depth of 4 inches or more. If you only wet the top 1 to 2 inches you will encourage shallow root growth. However, if your lawn is located on the ridge be careful only to irrigate as fast as the soil can absorb water without runoff...

In the South we love fried okra, but oven-fried okra is a healthier version, yet still with the same great taste. Visit the local farmers market to purchase okra fresh from the field. Oven-Fried Okra 1 pound fresh okra 1 egg, beaten One-fourth cup buttermilk...

Brian and Megan Meredith are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Avery Grave Meredith. Avery was born at 6:08 p.m., on Aug. 2, 2007 at the NEA Women's Center in Jonesboro. She weighed five pounds and 12 ounces. She is the granddaughter of Kevin and Teresa Meredith, Larra Walker and Brent Heilman. She is the great-granddaughter of Edgar and Betty Meredith, Veaetta Hammett, Irma Bingham and Marvin and Karen Heilman...

Lorene Mae Haynes, 83, of Jonesboro died Monday, August 6, 2007, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Saturday, Nov. 17, 1923 in Sturkie and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann before moving to Jonesboro five years ago. She was retired from the Singer Company and a member of the First Christian Church in Trumann...

Marvin Lee Pippinger, 83 of Trumann, died Thursday at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Harrisburg and had lived most of his lifetime in the Trumann area. He was a former employee of the McCormick Gin, Singer Company, City of Trumann and Trumann Schools. He lived a long life and will be missed dearly by the people who got a chance to know him...

County Officials across the state gathered in Hot Springs, at the Hot Spring Convention Center August 7 -10, for the Annual Association of Arkansas Counties Convention. The agenda for the meeting ranged from informative workshops for all elective county office, to speakers discussing topics including the 2007 Arkansas General Assembly...

"Where do you start," Bill Craft asked in describing his late wife Carolyn. "She was so many things. She was patient and kind. She loved her kids and grandkids, and she treated everybody fair and equal. People from all walks of life loved her." Carolyn Craft, 63, of Marked Tree died Sunday, August 5, 2007, at St. Bernard Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Her death came only nine short days after learning she had four malignant brain tumors...

Joshua and Patricia Owens of Trumann are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Madison Cierra Owens. Madison was born at 10:49 a.m. Aug. 8, 2007 at the NEA Women's Medical Center in Jonesboro. She weighed six pounds and 13 ounces. She has an older sibling, Payton...

In a relatively quiet and brief meeting Monday night, the Poinsett County Quorum Court went uneventfully through it's scheduled agenda before the nagging question of Judge Doyle Hillis' pending lawsuit once again came to the forefront. "Before we close, I just wonder if you could give some information about what's going on with it," said Justice Mary Ann Arnold after a motion had been made to adjourn...

Poinsett County Judge Doyle Hillis has issued a burn ban, effective from 12 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14 for Poinsett County. The court order cites a long duration of dry weather with only intermittent and spotty rainfall has created dry and hazardous conditions...

The long summer stretch is drawing to a close for students in the Trumann School District. Classes will begin at 8 a.m., Monday, Aug. 20 for students. Registration for students new to the district is from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. ...

J.T. Smallwood, brother of Erich Smallwood who was recently killed in Iraq, was injured over the weekend in an automobile accident. He is a patient in the MED in Memphis where he was airlifted. Smallwood's condition has been upgraded to stable. He suffered broken facial bones and had bleeding in his brain. He was improving Monday afternoon...

Three Trumann residents were arrested on Aug. 6 and charged with first degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Jimmy Dye and Connie Dye, 421 Olive Street, and Vickie Cash, 400 North Ozark, were all arrested by Det. Jonathan Skaggs on Aug. 6. According to police reports, the suspects were arrested after Det. ...

Baldwin Piano has been in Trumann for over 30 year building pianos for the United States market. Most know that. Baldwin is also one of the oldest piano manufacturers in the country. Most are aware of that snippet of information, too. Many also know that D.H. Baldwin, a former music teacher, opened his first store in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1862...

(Editors note: This overview of Trumann was taken from a book produced by the Trumann Chamber of Commerce in the 1960's. It featured several aerial photos including statistics regarding the city.) Trumann is located in the Gulf Coastal Plains area of Arkansas and is situated at an elevation of 220 feet. In 1962 the population was over 5,000...

Two incumbents on the Trumann School Board face opposition in their re-election bids. Trumann residents will vote on Sept. 18 to fill two positions on the local board. Jeff Jones is the incumbent for Position 1 on the board. He was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Jimmy Everhart. Two other opponents will face him on the ballot. They are Molly Halsey and Lester Parker...

Lester Parker of Trumann is announcing his candidacy for the Trumann School Board, Position 1. The election will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 18 with polls open at the Trumann Community House. Parker says he is entering the race because education is important to Trumann and its residents...

Former McCormick School students have fond memories of their time attending the farming community's school. The school operated on a split school session so children old enough could help bring in the cotton crop. School would open in early July for its summer session. ...

The Trumann senior high cheerleaders are having a car wash at 9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 18 in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The cheerleaders are trying to raise money to buy an inflatable run thru with fog machine for football games. All donations will be accepted for this purpose. Come out and support the Wildcat cheerleaders...

The next soccer sign-up for ages three to 12 is Tuesday, Aug. 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Trumann Fire Station. To qualify, players must have turned three by July 31. The sign-up fee is $35.00 and discounts are available for multiple siblings...