Stories from Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Lion Jim Yarbrough (left) and Senator Steve Bryles speak after a recent Trumann Lions Club meeting. (Democrat photos/Carin McClung)

Suliman Mohsin, 836 Ellis, was arrested on Jan. 24 and charge with aggravated assault, tampering with physical evidence and possession of marijuana. He was arrested by Sgt. Jonathan Skaggs, Asst. Chief Tony Rusher and Ptl. Jonathan Schmidt. According to reports, officers were dispatched to a local business in reference to a man being stabbed. ...

The tests children take today are not like the tests their parents took as students. Today's benchmark tests are important to your child and to the local school district. But most parents don't understand just how important these tests are, according to Trumann School Superintendent Joe Waleszonia...

State Representative Buddy Lovell of Marked Tree spoke to the Trumann Rotary Club last week about issues being discussed by state legislators and items important to the Trumann area. Lovell, who has just completed one year and three weeks of his first two year term, said he always appreciates the opportunity to come to Trumann...

Members of the 2007 Trumann Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class visited the State Capitol in Little Rock on Jan. 17 visiting with Representative Buddy Lovell and Senator Steve Bryles, meeting with Governor Mike Beebe and also attending committee meetings...

With the purchase of a new metal detector, attending court and meetings just got a bit safer. Police Chief Larry Blagg purchased the new Garrett Magna PD 6500i metal detector entirely with grant money and the help of Office of Emergency Management coordinator Frank Kraft...

Members of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will meet with Trumann residents at 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 4 at the Community House on Poinsett Street to discuss a possible project to list the historic downtown area in the National Register of Historic Places. The AHPP aids communities in an effort to spur rehabilitation of historic commercial buildings...

Jan. 26- Native Loom Weaving Workshop. Come and experience this native tradition handed down for generations. Class will be taught by Genny Sadler, member of the Navajo Nation, who learned the art of loom weaving from her grandmother on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. Cost is $15, and will cover all materials, presentation, instruction, and the showing of Genny's family weaving. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling Mary Anne Parker at (870) 755-2500...

Providence Baptist Church, 904 Swaney, invites everyone to come hear the beautiful music of organist Carmelita Wilson, pianist Regina Brooks and special singing by the choir as well as dynamic preaching of pastor Bobby Brooks. Sunday school begins a 10 a.m. and worship service begins at 11 a.m. each Sunday...

Trumann Fire Chief Rick Winkles recently announce George Duboise as the 2007 Firefighter of the Year. Duboise joined the department in May 2004 as a volunteer firefighter. The term volunteer fits Duboise to a tee. He can be found volunteering on the sidelines of the Trumann Wildcat football field, the scene of a vehicle accident, the front of a burning building and the sands of a foreign country...

Ritter Communications President Paul Waits is pleased to announce Mark Martin as this year's recipient of the company's Larry B. Dinkins Eagle Award. A member of the Ritter team since 2002, Martin has served the company in a number of capacities working up to the position he currently holds, Network Operations Center Technician Tier 3; Network Engineer...

Ocean Dental of Arkansas, PC, part of a multi-state dental practice based in Stillwater, Okla., opened their doors in Jonesboro this month. Ashley Gobble, Director of Office Development with Ocean Dental, said the Jonesboro clinic will be the fourth Ocean Dental clinic in Arkansas...

The Rotary Club of Jonesboro's 24th annual Arkansas Sportshow will be held at the ASU Convocation Center, Feb. 1-3 and presented by the Central Dealerships. The Arkansas Sportshow features over 75,000 square feet of the latest sporting products designed to captivate hunting, fishing and boating enthusiasts of all ages - boats and motors, ATV's fishing equipment, hunting gear, special seminars, attractions, outdoor sporting goods and water sports gear. Highlights include:...

Trumann First Baptist Church Angel Food Ministry menu for February includes: All of these items can be purchased through the Angel Food Ministry for only $30. Special meat boxes are available with the purchase of the regular food box. Orders are due by Sunday, Feb. 3 and will be distributed at the church on Saturday, Feb. 16...

Early voting for the February 5th Presidential Primary Election begins Tuesday January 29th and continues through February 4th. Early voting will be between the hours of 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. weekdays. Early voting is available to all registered voters...

Girl Scout Troops are forming in Trumann. Girls and parents can attend a meeting from 6 to 7 p.m., Feb. 5 at the Trumann Fire Department. Each girl must be accompanied by an adult, complete a registration and pay a $10 membership. Confidential scholarships are available upon request...

Maple Grove Baptist Church is hosting a community wide children's Valentine Festival from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Trumann Recreation Center building at the Sports Complex on Pecan Grove Road. Admission is free and activities will include games, prizes and snacks of sno cones and popcorn...

Poinsett County Clerk Fonda Condra recently announced her plans to seek reelection to the office she has held since 2001. She will be a candidate in the May 20 Democratic Primary. "It has been an honor and privilege to serve in this position," Condra said. "I deeply appreciate the confidence and respect afforded me by the voters of Poinsett County."...

Ernest Marlin "Cooney" Adams, 78, died Friday, Jan. 25, 2008 at the family residence. He was born on Wednesday, April 24, 1929, the son of the late Ernie and Emma Mae Richards Adams. He was born in and a lifetime resident of Trumann, a retired crop duster and a member of the First Baptist Church...

Charles W. Qualls, 85, died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, at the family residence. He was born on Tuesday, October 10, 1922, the son of the late Ernest and Mattie Sue Glover Qualls. He was born in Humboldt, Tenn., and had lived most of his lifetime in Poinsett County. He was a retired employee of the General Electric Company, veteran of the U.S. Army and World War II and a member of the Harrisburg V.F.W...

Clifford Marie Biggers, 78, of Little Rock died Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the Parkview Rehab Nursing Center in Little Rock. She was born on Wednesday, January 22, 1930, daughter of the late R. C. and Vola Sartin Morgan. She was born in Wynne and had lived in Little Rock for the past three years and was formerly of Payneway. She was a retired factory worker and member of the Church of Christ in Marked Tree...

Dorothy L. Allen, 85, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro following a lengthy illness. She was born on Sunday, March 19, 1922, daughter of the late Willie and Novella Conatser Pepper. She was born in Lepanto, and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. ...

Maggie Loretta Toler Moore, 85, died Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born on Monday, October 9, 1922, daughter of the late Thomas Monroe and Mary Lou Burns Toler. She was born in Paragould and had lived in Trumann most of her lifetime before moving to Jonesboro four years ago...

"The first half was one of our best games all year," said Dulaney of the loss at Osceola last Tuesday night. "We had great intensity and team work for a half." Trumann in fact held the lead for most of the first half winning the opening quarter by one 16-15 before going in at the half down by two, 35-33...

Do you work in an after school program or do you take care of children in your home? If so, Poinsett County Cooperative Extension Service can provide you with helpful classes. The Cooperative Extension's Arkansas 4-H after school provider classes will give you the hands-on tools to enhance the quality of your school-age program. ...

Two private pesticide applicator training meetings will be held in Poinsett County during the month of February. By attending one of these meetings commercial agricultural producers can receive a license to purchase a 5 year Restricted Use Pesticide license. ...

The Trumann Democrat announced the opening of a new roller rink in its Friday, April 25, 1947 edition and I imagined there were a lot of exited Trumann residents, both young and old. Gardner's Rainbow Roller Rink had opened Saturday, April 19. The newspaper announced that Trumann now boasted one of the South's largest skating rinks on Highway 63...

Early voting is underway for Arkansas' Presidential Primary and will continue through Monday, Feb. 4, at the Poinsett County Courthouse. Voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, the day of the Presidential Primary Election...

After six years of marriage I can legally call myself a McClung. I finally made the trip to the social security office and made it official. Honestly the time just got away from me. That is why I didn't change it sooner. A month after we got married we moved and I changed jobs in the same week and my whole schedule was upside down, and I just didn't think about it...

State Representative Buddy Lovell announced this week that he will seek re-election for a second term to the Arkansas House of Representatives serving District # 56, Poinsett County. Representative Lovell was elected in 2006 for a two year term, serving during 2007-2008...

Claudia Mathews announced she will seek her seventh term as Poinsett County circuit clerk. "It has been a privilege to serve the people here in Poinsett County, and I hope you will continue to support me," she said. Mathews started working for Barbara Eastin in 1991 as a Deputy Clerk. ...

"I believe my real world experience coupled with my vast courtroom experience makes me uniquely qualified for this position," said Randy Philhours, Deputy Prosecutor for Greene County, as he announced his candidacy for the Division 11 Seat on the Second Judicial Circuit Court, at a Tuesday press conference in Paragould...

Governor Mike Beebe, along with members of the Arkansas 529 Committee and the Aspiring Scholars Advisory Committee, today announced a new college savings' program, the Aspiring Scholars Matching Grant. This new program makes matching funds available for working families who wish to invest in their children's future by investing in Arkansas's 529 plan...

Week of Feb. 4 -- 8 Monday -- vegetable beef soup, cheese toast, pickles, toss salad, diced pears and milk. Tuesday -- roast turkey, potatoes and gravy, buttered carrots, cranberry sauce, wheat bread, diced peaches and milk. Wednesday -- cheeseburger, French fries, lettuce and tomato, pork and beans, pickles, pineapple and milk...

The President's List and Dean's List for the Fall 2007 semester at Black River Technical College has been announced. The two lists recognize local full-time students who have achieved the highest grade point average. The Dean's List includes students who have earned a compiled grade point average of 3.5 --3.99. Students from Trumann making the Dean's list are: Jackqueline Nichols, Hanathan Schmidt and Kimberly Sims...

The Northeast Arkansas Legal Support Professionals will present a $600 scholarship to an eligible graduating high school senior or qualifying college student. Although it is not mandatory that applicants pursue a career in the legal field, special consideration-will be given to those applicants...

Next Tuesday, Feb. 5, is Super Tuesday. No, sports fans, that's not some sort of after super bowl celebration. Super Tuesday is your chance to get out and vote for who you want to be president. Let me explain. According to wikipedia, Super Tuesday commonly refers to the Tuesday in early February or March of a presidential election year when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party's presidential candidates are officially nominated. ...

For a few brief moments in the first two minutes of the Lady Wildcats' contest with Highland last Thursday night, Trumann looked as if they might make a game of it. With the Lady Rebels enjoying a quick 4-0 lead, Morgan McKenzie went in toward the basket and was fouled...