Stories from Thursday, August 23, 2007

Tribune News Staff At the regular monthly meeting of the Tyronza city council, Gary Masters addressed the council about the formation of a tri-city chamber of commerce, and the council discussed changes in insurance for a couple of the city's employees...

The ASA Fall Ball Youth Softball Classic will be held at the Trumann Sports Complex Saturday, Sept. 8. The tournament will include 8U coaches pitch, 8U machine pitch as well as 10 U, 12U and 14U fast pitch. Deadline for entries is Tuesday, Sept. 4. Those wishing more information can call Garry Turman at 243-3903 or 972-0566, or Sharron Turman at 243-1919...

Tribune Sports Staff Swifton native and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee George Kell will be guest lay speaker at the Marked Tree Methodist Church Sunday, Sept. 2. Born Aug. 23, 1922, Kell was considered during the late '40s and early '50s to be the best third baseman in the American League...

Nella Rue Watts, 81, died August 16, 2007 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law after an extended illness. Watts was a dedicated housewife who married Douglas Charles Watts on April 11, 1943, in Mississippi. They moved to Arkansas after Douglas returned from his overseas military service and finally settled in Memphis in 1953. ...

Manuel Enrique Morales, 35, of Lepanto died Saturday, August 18 at his residence. Survivors include his wife, Esmeralda Morales of the home; one daughter, Claudia Elizabeth Morales; two sons, Manuel E. Morales, Jr. and Erick Alejandro Morales; one brother, Carlos Morales of Mission, Tex.; and two sisters, Monica Morales and Viviana Morales, both of Mission...

Nina Pearl "Peggy" Gillespie, 72, of Snow Lake, departed this life on August 16, 2007, at 1:45 p.m. She fought cancer with her grateful spirit; she never complained or shed a tear. She was more concerned with everyone else's well being, instead of her own, until the end. Her love, strength and courage will live on in our hearts forever...

Paul B. Bryan, 83, of Lepanto, died Saturday, August 18, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a member of Lepanto First Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Golda Bryan. Survivors include one daughter: Betty Talley of Bedford, Tex.; two sons, Jerry Bryan of Tampa, Fla., Gary Bryan of Lepanto; one brother, Charles M. Bryan of Lepanto, eight grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren and three great great grandchildren...

Seth Wallace Whited, 18, of Monette died Friday Aug. 10, 2007. Born at Jonesboro Aug. 25, 1988, he was a farmer and was attending Arkansas Northeastern College, pursuing a physical therapy degree. He was a member of Monette First Baptist Church, where he was active in the youth program. He was an avid outdoor hunter, fisherman and water sportsman...

Division I, ages 4-6, Division II, ages 7-11, and Division III, ages 12-15. Coaches and refs needed. Please call 358-4429 for any further questions.

Tribune Editor As students returned to school this week, teachers and administrators alike are mulling over the benchmark scores from last year and planning ways to improve the scores even more this year. The Arkansas Benchmark Examination is the state's criterion-referenced test, which means that students are tested against the state's curriculum frameworks. Students' scores are grouped into four performance levels: advanced, proficient, basic and below basic...

The last soccer sign-up for ages three to 12 is Tuesday, Aug. 28 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...