Stories from Thursday, February 28, 2008

A federal fugitive was captured in a Trumann motel room earlier this month with 46 pounds of marijuana and over $5,500 in cash. The 46-year-old fugitive, Robert G. Britton, , formerly of Memphis, was captured at the Days Inn motel in Trumann on Feb. 17...

Trumann Police Chief Larry Blagg is proud of the positive numbers showing up in a year-end report for the local department. "The employees of this department give 100% each and every day to make this a better place to live," he said. "I am proud of each and every one of them."...

The City of Trumann generously received two donations from Centurytel recently. Billy Watson, a Centurytel representative, presented Mayor Shiela Walters with two checks, one for $900 to the City of Trumann and one for $500 to the Trumann Fire Department...

One of my very favorite things in the whole world to do is sleep late. During the week, I never want to get out of bed, morning just comes way too soon and on the weekends I am always up super early. I just can't get my body into synch with what I want to do. This past weekend my husband, James, was out of town, and I planned to seize the opportunity to lounge in bed Sunday morning...

Sometimes life gets so hectic that you long for just a day, a full 24 hours, to enjoy without any commitments or responsibilities. It is even sweeter when it has been unnecessarily long since your last such occasion. This past Saturday was what I like to call a perfect Saturday. My best friend Kim and I invented the concept when we were in college. A perfect Saturday includes a number of requirements. I've included the important below, in no certain order...

Looking back into the newspaper files of the Trumann Democrat, there are so many stories of events happening in the town of Trumann, of families and of school events through the years. There are many stories of athletic exploits throughout the years, too. High school sports were much more important to the town in the days before television. Attending the local games was a preferred form of entertainment in town...

Although February is not a big gardening month, there are some tasks that can keep you ahead of the game and get you out of the house at the same time. Pay attention to greening up in your lawn this month. Most likely that means winter weeds are starting to establish themselves. Use of a 2, 4-D weed killer at this time will stop the weeds before they can become large, bloom and set seeds...

After reading the Jonesboro Sun story in Monday's paper about the arrest and drug raid at Day's Inn here in Trumann, I wondered, "Where were our Trumann Policemen?" I have heard that they were not informed about this raid. Now I am not knowledgeable on law, so I guess it was legal and such. But I think it would have been right to inform a city's Police Force that other officers would be in their town...

When we give directions, many of us go to great detail to help people find their way. Does this remind you of anyone? There's nothing to it! Turn left at the gas station. Watch for the big pothole in the road and turn left just past it. Look for the blue building and turn right Count three driveways. Then take the fourth...

Trumann, you did it again! Once again the Trumann community stepped forward and showed us your hearts and your compassion for your fellow man. Friday, Feb. 15 at the roadblock at 69 and 463, the Make-A-Wish volunteers collected $5,999.26. It takes $5,000 for one wish so that means that we have the money to grant at least one wish in the Trumann area. ...

Mr. Theo O'Neal Austin, Sr., 90, died peacefully while surrounded by his family on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008 at the family residence. He was born on Monday, June 4, 1917, son of the late James Robert and Dora Dalton Sandfur Austin. He was born in Newark and had lived in the Trumann area most of his lifetime. ...

Mr. Robert Edward (Douger) Kendal, 81,l died Thursday, February 21, 2008 at Woodbriar Nursing Center in Harrisburg. He was born on Monday, February 14, 1927, son of the late Elsworth and Ruby D. Armstrong Kendall. He was born in Murfreesboro and had lived in Trumann for the past 46 years and was formerly of Marked Tree. He was a retired factory worker and member of the Melton Avenue Church of Christ...

Buddie Lewis Wallace, 69, of Blytheville, died Feb. 18, 2008 at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. He was born in Sikeston, Mo. and had lived in Paragould for 13 years. He retired from Wal-Mart as a manager after 37 years, was in the Nation Guard, of the Baptist Church, was a former member of the Lions Club, Kiwanas Paragould Pilot Association and J.T. Dive Scuba Association in the Blytheville area for 15 years...

St. Bernards Sports Medicine will host a free baseball conference for parents and coaches on Saturday, Feb. 23. The day-long program will feature physicians, physical therapists and local high school coaches giving expert advice on baseball injury prevention and season preparation...

Judge Larry Boling of Jonesboro has filed for re-election as circuit judge for Division 10 of the Second Judicial Circuit. Judge Boling filed for re-election under the Alternate Ballot Access method which requires a minimum of 2,000 signatures of registered voters from the Second Judicial Circuit...

The East Arkansas Area Agency is participating in a Senior's Farmer Market Nutrition Program. The purpose of the Farmer's Market Program is to improve the nutrition of the elderly and to increase the consumption of Arkansas produce. Seniors age 60 and above whose income does not exceed 185 percent of poverty guidelines are eligible for coupons totally $50. The coupons can be redeemed with eligible farmer's markets who sell fruit and vegetables grown in Arkansas...

"The time has come," said Poinsett County Treasurer Lonene Edwards. After 48 years of service in county government, Edwards said this week that she will not seek another term, even though she announced earlier that she would run. "I guess it's just hard to give up something that has been a part of your life that long," she said...

Poinsett 1st Deputy Clerk Tammie Stanford, 39, of Harrisburg, announced this week her candidacy for Poinsett County Treasurer in the May 20, Democratic Primary. The position is currently held by Lonene Edwards, who announced that she would retire at the end of the year...

The Trumann School Board voted unanimously to re-employ the schools ten administrative positions for the 2008-09 school year at its regular February meeting. Administrative staff included are: Trumann High School Principal Jim Montgomery; THS Assistant Principals Kevin Beaumont and Don Smith; Cedar Park Principal Cindy Wright; Cedar Park Assistant Principal Paula Barnhill; Central Elementary Principal Bobby Benson; District Administrator for Curriculum and Instruction Karleen Sheets; Federal Programs and Professional Development Administrator Al Fisher; Special Education Coordinator Teresa Hendrix and Supervisor of Maintenance and Transportation Curtis Green.. ...

The 13th annual COPS for Kids Easter Egg hunt is set for Saturday, March 8. The hunt will take place in Cedar Park, across from Cedar Park Elementary. Games and other events will begin at 10 a.m. with the hunt starting at noon. The rain out date is set for the following Saturday...

In February of 1963, life was busy as usual in Trumann. Forty-five years ago, Trumann was thriving and growing. Local restaurants were holding "Coffee Days" February 1-11 in Trumann raising funds for the March of Dimes. Neil Whitlatch was chairman of the local fundraiser...

The Coach Thad Williams Memorial Scholarship for Children of cancer patients was established to continue his legacy of love for children. Thad Williams was a longtime coach and teacher in West Memphis. Through the help of his family, friends, former students and athletes in donating funds to this scholarship, it is a pleasure to award the Coach Thad Williams Memorial Scholarship for the spring of 2008 to Laura Beth Henderson, the daughter of Mrs. ...

Sigma Alpha Lambda is proud to announce Nicole Michelle Dixon Stahl of Trumann recently was recognized as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda, National Leadership and Honors Organization at the Arkansas State University. Sigma Alpha Lambda is a national leadership and honors organization dedicated to promoting and rewarding academic achievement and providing members with opportunities for community service, personal development and lifelong professional fulfillment...

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a Trumann man has been sentenced to life in prison on charges of leading a methamphetamine ring in northeast Arkansas. A news release Thursday from the U.S. attorney's office at Little Rock said 37-year-old John Pascal Soward had pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and weapons charges. U.S. District Judge James Moody handed down a life sentence for drug trafficking charges as well as a concurrent term of 10 years for firearms offenses...

Name: Sydney Chambers Parent/Guardian's Name: Bo and Diane Chambers Homeroom Teacher: Ms. Yawn Grade: 5th What is your favorite thing about going to school and why? My favorite thing about school would be writing because I love to write. What do want to do when you grow up? I would like to be a photographer for nonfiction books...

Name: Christian Cook Parent/Guardian's Name: Gene and Shonda Cook Homeroom Teacher: Ms. Roberts Grade: 6th What is your favorite thing about going to school and why? I like to learn and be around my friends. What do want to do when you grow up? I want to be a professional football player of Nascar driver...

At the mature age of 100 years, Dr. G. C. Simpson, Sr., preaches the gospel and ministers to his congregations. Dr. Simpson, Sr. has been the pastor of the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Gilmore on the first and third Sundays of the month for over 60 years, celebrating the years of service in a grand fashion on August 5, 2007...

God's New Life Mission Bible Training Center in Marked Tree will be hosting a pancake breakfast and open house March 1 in an effort to raise funds for its center and help those in need. God's New Life MBTC, a branch of Mission Teens, Inc., is a non-profit, non-denominational organization with a Christ centered residential discipleship program for people of all backgrounds with histories of drug, alcohol and emotional problems. ...

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...

Christina Tackett, 601 Hwy 463 North, was arrested on Feb. 14 by Ptl. Jonathan Schmidt and charged with possession of controlled substance (meth) and possession of a controlled substance (xanax). According to police reports she was stopped for a traffic violation and consent to search her vehicle was received. During the search the controlled substances were found...

Brandon Byram, a Florida State University track athlete with local ties, recently qualified for the NCAA National Championships in March. Byram and three of his Florida State teammates will compete in the 4x4 relay. Recently, Florida State traveled to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to compete in the annual Tyson Invitational. Byram, a 19-year-old freshman at FSU, and his teammates placed third in the 4x4 relay championships...