Stories from Wednesday, December 19, 2007

The Trumann City Council agreed to meet in special session this week to discuss city insurance coverage and enrollment of the mayor and city clerk/treasurer in a employee retirement program when it met Dec. 11. The council will hold its special session at 6 p.m. Thursday (Dec.20) in the Municipal Courtroom...

The time of year is finally right. The street and parks crews have placed Christmas lights. The police department works day and night, patrolling for Santa and keeping things right. The water department in rain or snow, keep the water flowing with a HO HO HO...

No one is exactly sure where the tradition of the Christmas tree began but the first recorded reference was in Germany dated 1521. As people began to move across Europe, and later to new lands, they took the Christmas tree tradition with them. The tradition apparently came to this country slightly before or during the Revolutionary War but the use of the Yule tree in this country spread slowly until just before the Civil War, when it began to gain popularity...

Movie Gallery in Trumann is sponsoring a community blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 22 with the American Red Cross. Holiday hero t-shirts will be given to all donors. All donors will receive free hot dogs and free rental coupons.

Albert L.D. Browder, 68, of Trumann died Dec. 14 at his residence. He was a retired mechanic for Great Dane Trailers and was of the Pentecostal Faith. Survivors include a loving friend Devona Browder Clairday; three sons, David Browder of Trumann and Jeff Browder of Trumann and Carl Browder of Mountain View; one daughter, Debroah Pratt of Mountain View; three brothers, Paul Browder, Jerry Browder and Eddie Browder, all of Marshall, Mo.; two sisters, Janice Browder and Shirley Meyers of Marshall, Mo.; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.. ...

Geneva C. Farmer, 86, of Trumann, died Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007 at Trumann Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Baldwyn, Miss., and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a retired employee of the Singer Company and of the Assembly of God faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Farmer in 1983; a daughter, Meletta Gardner Putts; and her parents, Daniel L. and Mamie Stacey Whitaker...

Neva LaVerne Hickman, 86, of Jonesboro died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007 at NEA Baptist Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born in Harrisburg and had lived most of her lifetime in the Central Community near Harrisburg before moving to Jonesboro in 2004. She was a housewife and member of the County Line Church of Christ...

Lois Ruth Lorine Adams, 78, of Trumann died Dec. 10, 2007 at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonebsoro. She was born May 21, 1929 in Holcomb, Mo. She was a factory worker and of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elbert Lacy and Bertha Smith; her husband, James Franklin Adams; one son, Harold Marvin Adams; three sisters and two brothers...

Linda Barbara McCoy Stevens, 62, of Trumann, went to be with her savior on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007. She was born in Rector, Ark. March 17, 1945 and lived in Trumann all of her life. She is a member of the Maple Grove Baptist Church in Trumann, a graduate of Trumann High School, Arkansas State University and a retired registered nurse...

"We got off to a good start in the first quarter," said Trumann coach Skip Dulaney of the Wildcats' 73-62 win over the Cardinals (5-12) at Weiner last Thursday night. "We got in trouble in the second quarter, though, from fouling too much." The Cats (3-6, 0-3) were enjoying a comfortable 22-16 lead going into the second period when they suddenly began fouling. ...

This is the time of year most of us enjoy more than any other time. We get to visit with our friends and family. When we think about Christmas we think about gifts, either receiving or giving. There is something I wish for everyone every year all year long and that is safety for each citizen of our wonderful city...

"When searching for poinsettias for holiday décor, look for symmetrical plants with no discolored or damaged foliage," says Jim Robbins, horticulturalist with the Cooperative Extension Service. "Poinsettias should be two and a half times bigger than their pots. For example, a 12-15-inch tall plant looks best in a six-inch container. Avoid cold temperatures and drafts and keep the plants in the sunniest window in the house...

For those who have recently lost a loved one, this will be their first Christmas getting through the holiday without that person. Negotiating a holiday, especially Christmas, without your loved one is hard. No one can tell you how to celebrate in the midst of your grief. There is no right or wrong way to feel. From now on holidays will be different and sadness will be a part of your celebration each year…but the sadness will lessen as the years pass by...

Courtesy of the Modern News Poinsett County Quorum Court justices voted unanimously Monday, Dec. 10 to accept the 2008 budget as presented to them by the finance committee. Finance committee chairperson Johnny Johnson of Trumann presented the budget to the court and told members that the budget had been made without the need to pursue a millage or sales tax increase...

The Poinsett County Sheriff's Deputies, along with probation/parole officers, conducted several probation searches in Poinsett County on Tuesday, December 11 according to Sheriff Larry Mills. Illegal drugs were discovered and several individuals were arrested...

The Trumann School Board accepted a bid for a new school bus and hired a ninth grade English teacher in its regular meeting Monday, Dec. 10. The board unanimously agreed to accept the bid of Diamond State Bus Company for $79,985 for purchase of a 2009 Type CE Conventional 77 passenger capacity school bus. The bus is slated to be delivered before April 15, 2008...

Rachel Brooks of Trumann has been awarded a Dean's Scholarship to attend Williams Baptist College. The scholarship is awarded to incoming WBC students based on their college entrance examination scores. Brooks is a senior at Trumann High School. She is the daughter of Bobby and Regina Brooks of Trumann...

On the first Saturday of every October all of the girls from the Bay High School class of 1960 get together and has a great day of fun, good food and fun talking about, "Oh do you remember the time……." Or they talk about their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

Autumn and Wes Osment of Trumann are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Dalaney Renea Osment. She was born at 1:57 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2007 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was eight pounds and 10.5 inches long. She has one big brother, Drew...

The Calvary Baptist Church, 305 Bell Street in Trumann, will present the play, "The Last Name," at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 23 at the church. The play is presented by the church choir and youth. Bro. Austin Missey and the church congregation invite everyone to share this play with them...

The annual Trumann Community Christmas dinner is set for noon, Tuesday, Dec. 25 at the Old Community House. All Trumann residents are invited to attend. Meal delivery is available. Those needing more information should call Cecilia Parker at 483-6219 or Tamara Jones at 926-0136...

I know I promised part two of my series on religion and politics this week, but since this is our Christmas edition it seems more fitting to talk about who started this whole Christianity thing to begin with. Jesus Christ. Each year at Christmas we think about the birth of Jesus. Many of us attend church plays where cute children portray the story that set the stage for the greatest miracle of all times. But the story starts many hundreds of years earlier...

"This was the best team ball play we've had since I've been here," said coach Vickie Bowers following the Lady Wildcats' 47-33 loss to Westside last Friday night at Trumann. "They got the turnovers in the third quarter and turned it around on us."...