Stories from Thursday, February 21, 2008

Poinsett County Quorum Court justices are once again at odds with Poinsett County Judge Doyle Hillis. "I'm not sure how this got put on our agenda, but we are not going to hear from this lady," Judge Hillis told the court Monday night in reference to Susan Criner, the Senteney Road resident that has addressed the court on two previous occasions about the hazardous condition of Senteney Road...

Directing all children's programs at Maple Grove Baptist Church is almost a full-time job, but the new director, who's been on the job for six months, has added the duties to an already full life. Amanda Walton is a busy mother of three, a full-time dental hygienist and has recently taken on the duties of children's team leader at Maple Grove...

I hear all the time, I don't look my age. For my job I go to different schools and I can't tell you how many times I have had teachers tell me to get back to class, ask for my hall pass or question what I am doing roaming the halls. If we go somewhere to eat that serves alcohol, I am always carded...

It always amazes me how we as humans can become so emotionally attached to non-living things. My husband Josh and I bought a new car over the weekend. As excited as Josh was about having a new car, he was really sad about trading in "old faithful."...

There are weeks when I have many ideas about what I want to write about in my column. There are other weeks that I seem to draw a blank. This week is one of those weeks. Many people have told me they enjoy it when I write about Trumann's history. I enjoy that, too, but those columns require time to do some research paging through the old volumes of the Trumann Democrat. Some weeks, I simply run out of time to do the research...

It may seem a little early to be thinking about gardening, especially with the cold weather we've had of late. But as the old saying goes in Arkansas if you don't like the weather, just wait it will change. It is time to be making plans for your gardens this spring as the time to start planting will be here before you know it. If we can get a few days without rain, the garden spots will begin to take shape...

We have filed a few complaints in the past several weeks regarding the theft of purses. The thefts have taken place at different retailers. The theft happens within seconds and you may not discover for several minutes you are a victim. The technique the thieves are using is to first spot someone busy and not paying attention to their purse and see if the purse is going to be an easy pick...

Free Microsoft computer classes continue from 6 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday at the THS computer lab. Computer users will learn how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. In March, classes will be held in Quicken and how to create resumes. A class for buying and selling on Ebay will also be offered. Scrapbooking and boater's education classes are scheduled in early March. Boater's education classes will allow participants to gain certification from Arkansas Game and Fish...

The Trumann Senior Life Center invites all area seniors to join the members for exercise. The center has a well equipped exercise room and offer daily walking and PACE classes. All activities are free of charge to anyone 60 and older. The center is located at 351 Campbell in Trumann. Anyone with questions call site director, Cindy Marshall or activity coordinator, Merideth Brooks at 483-2122...

Jesse Robert Ferguson, 70, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born on Friday, December 3, 1937, son of the late Jesse and Lula Jackson Ferguson in Des Arc. He lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a farmer, musician who loved to sing and play his guitar and was of the Pentecostal faith...

Thomas Carter Sr., 75, of Lepanto died Feb. 11, 2008 in Trumann. He was born May 22, 1932 in Athens, Ala. He was a retired carpenter and served in the Navy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emeroy Carter and Lossie Gatlin; three sisters, Mable Harris, Flora Mae Hall and Opal Roach and three brothers, Columbus Carter, Rufus Carter and Douglas Carter...

Anyone who walked into the Jonesboro Bowling Center Friday morning expecting a relative quiet establishment with possibly some senior ladies having their weekly league competition was sadly disappointed. In fact the atmosphere in the JBC was more like a high school basketball game. And that was understandable because the 4A-5A state tournament was being held there...

Carolyn Wages of Marked Tree recently announced her candidacy for Poinsett County Treasurer. Wages is a lifetime resident of Marked Tree. She and her husband Jerry have two sons, Michael and Richie, and two grandsons, Taylor and Ryan. Wages is very active in her community. ...

The annual Miss Wildcat beauty pageant is this Saturday. The pageant will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the high school auditorium. The pageant is sponsored by the Trumann Chamber of Commerce. Organizers prefer registration to be completed before the day of the pageant, but will accept registrations at the door...

County Clerk Fonda Condra announced last week that the filing period opens at noon, March 3 for party candidates running for office in the preferential primary election and for the nonpartisan judicial candidates paying filing fees. Filing ends at noon March 10. Phyllis Sutton will accept filing fees for the Democratic Party at 406 Market St. in Harrisburg beginning at noon on the 3rd and week days from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. ending at noon on March 10...

Tara Elizabeth Hooker of Trumann and Tony Dale Story of Jonesboro will exchange wedding vows at 2 p.m. March 15, 2008 at Central Missionary Baptist Church in Trumann. A reception hosted by the bride's parents will follow the ceremony at the Old Community House. All family and friends are invited to attend the ceremony and reception...

Mark and Becky Fagan of Trumann are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Brooke Nicole McCammon to Michael McWayne, the son of Gerald and Patti McWayne of Trumann. The bride-elect is a 2003 graduate of Trumann High School. She attended Arkansas State University and is employed at Life Strategies Counseling...

Together with their parents, Amanda LeAnn Price and Jamey Carter, both of Trumann are pleased to announce their engagement and upcoming nuptials. The bride-elect is the daughter of Neal and Margaret Price of Cord. She is the granddaughter of Mary Southard of Batesville...

Barry Collins and Jenniffer Martin, both of Paragould, exchanged wedding vows at 5 p.m., Feb. 5, 2008 in Trumann. Best man was Ethan Estrada and witness was Clifton C. Davis. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Shirley K. Davis.

The Maple Grove EHC met Feb. 10 in the church fellowship center with six members and one visitor, Sharon Linder present. A pot luck lunch was enjoyed before Mary Johnson, club president, called the meeting to order. Carnell Henley, Doris Henley, Mary Johnson, Dorothy Lafarlett, Janice McDoniel, Lorene Sadler and Sharon Linder answered the roll call, "what shape do you think you are?"...

Caring Spouses of Northeast Arkansas (NEA) is a newly forming support program now being offered by the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support Program. Recently, Caring Spouses of NEA was granted the opportunity to form a local chapter of the nationwide Well Spouse Association (WSA) organization located in Freehold, New Jersey. ...

Name: Seth Berryhill Parent/Guardian's Name: Melanie and Michael Tabor Homeroom Teacher: Ms. Ragsdale Grade: 6th What is your favorite thing about going to school and why? Meeting my friends. What do want to do when you grow up? A surgeon to help people...

Name: Ashley Wilcox Parent/Guardian's Name: Tim and Christy Short Homeroom Teacher: Ms. Tyler Grade: 5th What is your favorite thing about going to school and why? Science because you get to do different experiments. What do want to do when you grow up? I want to be a famous singer...

The Trumann First Baptist Church invites the Trumann Community to attend their annual Wild Game Dinner. The dinner is at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 1 in the church's Christian Life Center. This is a family event, so adults and children of all ages are welcomed to attend. ...

Delton Dobbins, 612 N. Ozark, was arrested on Feb. 11 by Ptl. Corey Overstreet and charged with aggravated assault. According to reports, Dobbins got into an argument with his ex wife and she got into her car and left. Dobbins chased after her in his vehicle and reportedly rammed her car several times. The department also received several complaints of the suspect driving reckless around town and in residential areas...

Mayor Sheila Walters of Trumann gave her state of the city address as mandated by state law at the Feb. 12 city council meeting as mandated by law. Following is the text of her speech. According to Act 14-43-504 (D) The mayor shall at the second regular meeting of the council each year, and at other times as she deems expedient, report to the council the municipal affairs of the city and recommend such measures to it as she may deem advisable...

A flag football league is forming in the area, especially in Poinsett and Craighead counties. There will be twenty players to a team for the 8-on-8 style play. Games will be played in Trumann near the high school baseball field. The entry fee is $400.00 per team, but individuals are encouraged to apply and be assigned a team...

Arkansas State University's athletic nickname and mascot, "Indians" and the Indian Family, will be officially retired in a halftime ceremony of the men's basketball game between ASU and Louisiana-Monroe Thursday, Feb. 28, at the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro...