Stories from Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Harrisburg businessman and Modern News Publisher Charles D. Nix said he has decided to seek the office of Poinsett County Judge and will file in the Democratic Preferential Primary. Nix, 60, says he strongly believes that it is time for a new direction in county government in order for it to remain viable and be competitive in northeast Arkansas...

Lauren Jefferies of Trumann, a senior at Trumann High School, has accepted an Academic Merit Award Scholarship to attend Arkansas State University in Jonesboro next fall. During high school her achievements and activities included Future Business Leaders of America, science club, Interact, Spanish club, Who's Who Among American High School Students, Who's Who most studious and yearbook staff...

In my column last week I talked about the separation of church and state, a phrase born not from the constitution but from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to a group of concerned religious leaders who feared a state religion would be imposed. Jefferson, who was very religious and dedicated to his faith, sought not to keep religion from the public arena, but rather to protect one's right to express religion freely in any setting -- public or private. ...

The presents have been opened. Most of the food has been eaten and memories of Christmas, 2007 are just that…memories. I'm always a little disappointed when Christmas is over because all of that preparation and anticipation of the holiday and then the holiday is over so quickly. This year all of my kids weren't able to be home for the holiday. Ann Marie has a new baby born Dec. 11 in Birmingham. Madalyn Bennett Fumi Karaki is my fourth grandchild...

Well here it is; the long awaited final segment on Christmas trees that I promised. Christmas has passed and hopefully you got everything you wanted. Now you're probably in the mood to clean up before going back to work after the holidays so you can make enough money to pay-off the credit card bills for all the gifts the kids just couldn't live without...

If you are a lawn care professional or maybe just interested in trying to have the best lawn in the neighborhood, you may want a copy of three new lawn disease fact sheets. The fact sheets include FSA7558 "Brown Patch of Tall Fescue Lawns," FSA7559 "Rust of Arkansas Turfgrasses" and FSA 7560 "Take-All Root Rot of Warm-Season Turf."...

Arkansas State University in Jonesboro has named 74 students to the 2008 edition of Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges. An ASU nominating committee and the editors of Who's Who directory made the selections. The award is based on academic achievement, university and community service, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success...

One of my favorite singers died last weekend. Dan Fogelberg was just a year younger than I am at 56 and he succumbed to prostate cancer. You may have like his as well, but you may be asking what his death has to do with sports. Well his death doesn't, but his life did...

"We played terrible overall," said a visibly irritated EPC coach Josh Hill of the effort his Junior Warriors had put out in their 46-30 win over the Trumann Wildkittens last Friday in the first round of the Raider Tournament at Nettleton. "Ky (Madden) played a good game, but the rest just goofed around. I think we thought we had it won before we played."...

Osceola shot out to a quick 25-12 lead at Trumann last Tuesday night and never looked back in a 91-73 4A-3 victory. "We got off to a slow start," said coach Skip Dulaney of the game. "I think we were intimidated by their size and speed and quickness. We didn't play aggressively and (Marcus) Wells got into foul trouble in the first half, but he did a good job for us in the second half. He did good inside."...

This past Saturday, my husband, James, and I hosted a small family Christmas party at our house. Our house was packed. In addition to us, my parents, sister, aunt Reba and Walter, uncle Clifford, cousins, Chris and Tina and cousins and Debbie and Anthony were there. Oh and I forgot about our nephew, Garner. He had the best time of all...

The change in city privilege licenses for Trumann businesses goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2008, and bills reflecting the increased amounts for licenses are now being mailed out, according to Trumann City Clerk/Treasurer Marlene Hancock. The new license fees, which have been roughly doubled, are now due on Jan.1 and will be subject to an additional penalty charge after 30 days. ...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission would like to remind hunters in deer zones 1 and 10 that no does may be taken and no deer dogs may be used in those zones during the Christmas Holiday Modern Gun Deer Hunt, Dec. 26-28. This year the AGFC eliminated the need for hunters to draw for special doe tags in deer zones 1 and 10, instead using special "doe days" when any firearms hunter could harvest a doe. ...

Alderman Kenny Walker was honored with a plaque of service from the City of Bay at a recent Bay City Council meeting. He was presented the plaque by Mayor Darrell Kirby for recognition of his 27 years of law enforcement service. The plaque read, "Thank you for protecting our city, keeping our streets safe, keeping a watchful eye over our children when they were out of our sight, for caring and being a friend to our community. God Bless you and all that you do."...

Opposition to the move of George's Liquor Store to the old Francis A.G. Supermarket building on Highway 463 has caused the owner of the liquor store to reconsider moving the downtown landmark at this time. Norman Francis, Jr., owner of both George's Liquor Store and the orange former supermarket building at 309 Highway 463 North, said late Thursday that he had reconsidered...

Over 110 fifth and sixth grade students performed Tuesday, Dec. 18 in the annual Central Elementary School Christmas Program attended by friends and family. A special tribute to five members of the 875th Engineer Battalion of the Arkansas National Guard was included in the program. Central Elementary principal Bobby Benson recalled that last Christmas the school worked to send Christmas packages to the men who had ties to the school...

Meeting in special session Thursday night Dec. 20, the Trumann City Council unanimously voted by voice vote to keep the city's legal, vehicle and property insurance with the Arkansas Public Entities Rick Management Association (APERMA). They also expressed their satisfaction with local insurance agent Dennis Morgan who has overseen the city's insurance needs for the past 25 years...

Trumann Medical Clinic was recently presented with an EPSDT Pilot Clinic Award from the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC). The clinic received the award during AFMC's 2007 Medicaid Managed Care Services Educational Conference, held Thurs., Dec. ...

This is the first in a four part series reviewing the events of 2007. January 3 - Mayor Sheila Walters was sworn in as the first woman mayor in Trumann's history. Walter's was elected mayor after a run off election that ended in a tie vote. The race was eventually decided when Walters drew her own name out of a box at the Poinsett County Courthouse in Harrisburg...

Gary McIllwain, 1277 Hwy 175, was arrested by Asst. Chief Tony Rusher on Dec. 15 and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of controlled substance (crystal meth) with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia...

Don W. Collins, 540 Woodland Circle; Keith Collins, 204 E. Border in Harrisburg; and Christopher Mabe, 513 Douglas, were all arrested by Poinsett County Sheriff Deputy's Jeff Stewart and Bobby New on Dec. 18. All three were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to deliver and over possession of ephedrine...

Osceola opened a 25-12 lead in the first quarter and went on to post a 91-73 victory over Trumann in 4A-3 senior boys' basketball. Roy Pugh sank three 3-pointers to lead Osceola with 26 points. Brandon Jones scored 22 points and Marcus Hollis added 16 for the Seminoles, who led 52-30 at halftime and 67-52 going into the fourth quarter...