Stories from Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Trumann Police Department made two arrests last week involving men accused of rape and incest. The cases, which were both bound over to circuit court with April 25 court appearance dates, are unrelated. Wayne Porter, 536 West Main, was arrested on Feb. 4 by Det. Sgt. Jonathan Skaggs and Sgt. Willbanks and charged with rape and incest...

If there's one thing the people of Trumann and Northeast Arkansas are known for, it's their ability to come together in times of tragedy. Last week community members reached into their hearts -- and their pockets -- to help victims of last week's tornados. Trumann residents came through with over three truckloads of supplies...

The top senior high band students from across the state had to work extra hard this year to try out for the All-State bands. The winter weather at the end of January forced the postponement of the All-State Jazz tryouts and those students had to travel to Russellville for the delayed tryouts on Feb. 5, the day of the tornados...

The Arkansas Anthology is a collection of literary works written by Arkansas students and their teachers. The writings are judged, selected, and published annually by the Arkansas Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (ACTELA), a non-profit professional organization for English teachers...

Stamp Out Smoking (SOS), the media and public relations campaign for the Arkansas Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (TPCP), announced recently the 2008 "SOS Clean Air Avengers" essay contest. This contest will give Arkansas students in grades 2-9 the opportunity to submit an essay about a "hero" in their lives who maintains a healthy and smoke-free lifestyle. ...

They're finally here! Girl Scout Cookies will be delivered to local towns the week of Feb. 11. Those who have placed an order should look for the Girl Scouts in Lepanto, Marked Tree, Tyronza, Truman and Bay to deliver them over the next couple of weeks...

The Department of Music at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro will present the Symphonic Winds in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. This concert is free and open to the public...

The Department of Music at Arkansas State University will present the Concert Choir in their Winter Concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17 in Fowler Center's Riceland Hall, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. The concert is free and open to the public. To celebrate Black History Month, Dr. ...

Crowley's Ridge Development Council (CRDC) Inc., has begun accepting applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Applications will be taken from: For more information call 870-578-9252. The following information is needed to apply: a current copy of utility bill, social security numbers and dates of birth for all who household members 18 years of age or older, proof of income for the previous month, if not employed and are not receiving good stamps a printout from the employment office must be obtained showing no funds received for the previous month.. ...

Just over 20,000 volunteers picked up more than 4.7 million pounds of litter during the fall 2007 Great Arkansas Cleanup (GAC). The fall campaign, promoted annually by Keep Arkansas Beautiful (KAB), involved 190 local events in 51 Arkansas counties. ...

Valentine's Day is well known across the country as a day of romance and love. February 14th is associated annually with gifts, flowers, and candy, but what are the roots of this romantic holiday? According to www.historycalendar.com, Valentine's Days history is centered on a catholic bishop named St. ...

Prince Dodson and Amanda Hill of Trumann are proud to announce the birth of their son, Prince Kywan Dodson. He was born Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 weighing eight pounds and seven ounces. Prince has a big sister, Alexis Clark and a big brother, Jason Clark, Jr...

I received a package of material this week in the mail from Jo Lady Wornat of Pearl River, Louisiana. She had forwarded several historical articles about the Lady family to me. One of the articles was about Miss Gladys Chumbler of Trumann. Anyone who has lived in Trumann for very many years knows Gladys Chumbler. ...

Looking for something to do in your spare time? Are your house plants looking a little under the weather? Actively growing house plants require occasional repotting. This occurs very rarely with some slower growing plants, more frequently with others. Foliage plants require repotting when their roots have filled the pot and are growing out the bottom of the pot...

Dear Editor: We are building a new $16 million high school. Local parents pay taxes. We currently have no basketball program in the senior high girl's team under the leadership we have now. We have not won any conference game under this system in two years...

Brent Henderson of Trumann announced recently he will seek re-election to the district 7 seat on the Poinsett County Quorum Court. Henderson will soon finish his first term in office. Henderson, a lifelong resident of Poinsett County, is a Trumann area farmer. He and his wife, Ami, make their home in Trumann with their two sons, Rives, seven, and Garner, four. They are expecting their third son in April...

Name: Jed Whitt Parent/Guardian's Name: Jenny Lindley Homeroom Teacher: Ms. Martin Grade: 5th What is your favorite thing about going to school and why? Learning so I can make good grades. What do want to do when you grow up? An architect If you could be anyone in the world, who would you be and why? The president so I could make things better...

Name: Calin Cox Parent/Guardian's Name: Dawn and Kevin Cox Homeroom Teacher: Ms. Teague Grade: 6th What is your favorite thing about going to school and why? My favorite thing about school is that I can come and improve my knowledge and I can get a better future...

The THS Class of 1988 needs help locating the following classmates: Matt Addison, Serrina Dickens, Sarina Brinkley, Kris Campbell, Jerry Cunningham, Thad Fike, Anthony Gluff, Timmy Rutherford, Dennis Smullin, Susie Teague, James Martin and Sharon Goldsbury...

James Oliver Cook, 81, of Trumann died Mon., Feb. 4, 2008 at his residence. He was a member of Corner's Chapel Baptist Church for 49 years, active in Nailbenders for 18 years and Lay Renewal Ministry for 23 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, V.L. and Lillie Mae Cook; granddaughter, Jennifer Shempert; and son-in-law, Dale Shempert...

Northeast Arkansas's own bagpipe and drum band has a new home. The First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro has graciously opened their doors to provide this growing band with a permanent home following the loss of the ASU National Guard Armory after a change of ownership...

Randy Clark and Ashley Hill of Trumann are proud to announce the birth of their son, Aden Blane Clark. He was born Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 weighing seven pounds and five ounces. He has a big brother, Randy Clark, Jr. His grandparents are Suzanne Bowen of Trumann, Timothy Hill of Mississippi, Brenda Moody of Trumann and Bobby Clark of Trumann. His great-grandparents are Mary V. Haygood of Truman and the late Ford Haygood of Trumann...

There will be a revival at First Assembly of God in Trumann Sunday, Feb. 17 through Wednesday, Feb. 20. Evangelists will be Dean and Peggy Caldwell. Service times will be at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday and at 7 p.m. nightly Monday through Friday. Everyone is invited to attend. The church is located at the corner of Wiliow and Flossie Drive...

Danny Adams, organizer of the efforts to bring the moving Vietnam memorial wall to Marked Tree this September, is trying to locate family members of veterans listed on the wall with Poinsett County ties. He needs information from the family of the following veterans:...

Charles Montgomery celebrated his 86th birthday a few days ago. His family gathered to celebrate the occasion. There were no big surprises. He'd received the big surprise several days earlier when he was named Citizen of the Year at the annual Chamber of Commerce awards banquet...

Voting ballots were delayed being tallied due to severe storm conditions that passed through Trumann last Tuesday. Poll officials Donnie Taylor and Dub Rodden waited out the storm until around 8:30 p.m. to leave for the courthouse, but on their way were forced to pull over and seek shelter with the Bart Benson family in their storm cellar while transporting the ballots. They finally made their way to the courthouse when the storms passed...

Jennifer Lively and James Jones will exchange wedding vows at 5 p.m., Saturday, April 19 in Gulf Shores, Ala. The bride-elect is the daughter of James and Joyce Lively of Rochelle, Ill.. Miss Lively is a 2002 graduate of Sycamore High School in Sycamore, Ill. and a 2004 graduate of Kishwaukee Community College in Malta, Ill. where she received an associate's degree in early childhood education...

Former judge Ray Spruell of Jonesboro is running for circuit judge, specifically Division 11 of the Second Judicial Circuit. Previously Brent Davis announced he was running for Division 3 and Cindy Thyer had announced she is seeking Division 4. The election for these separate judicial vacancies will be in May...

Jeff Jones with Centurytel told customers the Centurytel internet was out Tuesday afternoon until late evening due to the severe storms in the area. He reported a fiber optic outage near Gassville shut the system down temporarily. For more information call Jones at 479-968-0154...

Douglas Butler, 112 Jennifer, was arrested on Feb. 1 by Asst. Chief Tony Rusher and Sgt. Erik Willbanks and charged with possession of controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence...

Each and every family has their own special recipes or holiday traditions, mine is no different. Like many others my grandmother Joyce keeps many important family sentiments, photos and other miscellaneous memories, which others may see as scribbled children's drawings or worthless documents, but to us are very precious in her family bible...

The East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging is seeking recruits for its certified volunteer ombudsman program. The volunteer ombudsman would visit area nursing home residents for two to four hours per week and act as an advocate for the residents. Free training is provided by the agency. Interested persons may contact Frankie Riga, volunteer program developer by calling 930-2235 or by e-mail at friga@eaaaa.org...

A nutrition, health and safety fair has been set for 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., Feb. 18 at the safe room and gym at Cedar Park Elementary School. There will be free health screenings including cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), height, weight, blood pressure, glucose and vision...

Free Microsoft computer classes continue from 6 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday at the Trumann High School computer lab. Computer users will learn how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Classes will include Quicken as the course continues. In March, participants interested in using Ebay to buy and sell merchandise will have an opportunity to attend free classes on buying and selling on Ebay...

Shirley Ann Ward, 63, died Feb. 4, 2007 in Jonesboro. She was born in Florence, Ala, and was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Smith and Maudie Strickland; two brothers, Dick Smith and Samp Smith and a sister, Minnie Brown...