Stories from Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Several local races were decided at Tuesday's polls with a run off set for the county judge race. In the race for county judge, Charles Nix won the most votes with 1,298 votes. Steve Jernigan received 1,035 votes and incumbent Doyle Hillis received 946 votes. Nix and Jernigan will face off in a run off set for June 10...

Frances Whitlow, 79, died Friday, May 16. 2008. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and of the Rotary Club in Marked Tree. She worked as a Vice-President of Tellers at the Marked Tree Bank...

Walter Mae "Mimi" Martin, 92, of Lepanto died at her residence Friday, May 16, 2008. She was born July 4, 1915, at Millington, Tenn., and was of the Baptist faith. Martin was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Martin; one daughter, Wanda Martin; three half brothers, Cal Finchum, Carl Finchum and Hodge Finchum; and one grandson, Wayne Rice...

Daisy Ruffin Johnson, 87, of Lepanto died Monday, May 12, 2008 at her residence. She was born June 17, 1920 in Tunica, Miss. She was a homemaker and a member of the Lepanto Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents, Pete Ruffin and Ella Mae Bolden...

Virginia Orie Groves, 86, of Osceola died Sunday, May 18, 2008. She was born November 16, 1921 in Tomato. She was a homemaker, a member of the New Bethel Church of Lord Jesus Christ and a life-time resident of Mississippi County...

Patty Lea Dunham, 50, of Proctor, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008 in Memphis. Born in Selmer, Tenn. in 1958, she was employed in retail sales and was of the Baptist faith. She leaves her husband Ricky Dunham; two sons, Brad and Brennen Bryant, and a daughter, Brandy Bryant all of Proctor; her parents, Baxter and Doris Barnett Qualls; a brother, Phillip Qualls of Memphis; and a sister Paula Qualls of Southhaven, Miss.. ...

Robert Boxley of Marked Tree participated in a recent 13-day national study tour to Louisiana and Washington, D.C. Boxle is a member of the LeadAR Class 13. LeadAR is a two-year leadership development program to train emerging rural leaders. It is sponsored by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service...

Kenneth and Delois Cox, of Hot Springs, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception hosted by their children, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, June 1 at Hot Springs Baptist Church. The couple was married on May 31, 1958 at Hernando, Miss. ...

On April 24 and April 25, 16 seniors from the Marked Tree Senior Life Center traveled to Jonesboro to compete in the East Arkansas Senior Olympics at the ASU Convocation Center. There were over 50 events that were held over the two days, with over 500 participants from all over the south. ...

I know everyone's been bellyaching and complaining a lot lately about gas prices, and up to this point I've pretty much kept pretty quiet about the whole thing. It's probably a bad attitude, but I've kind of thought it's just one of those things that everyone hates but no one can really do anything about...

Do you know everyone who has your child's cell phone number? Have you ever talked to your child about inappropriate messages? I was inspired to write this story when watching an NBC News Channel recently that had a report on spam cell text messages. I also looked around at just how many children and teenagers have cell phones...

The Tyronza Farmers Market is scheduled to open Thursday, June 12 and vendors are needed to fill the market with fresh produce. The market will be open ever Thursday from 4 -- 8 p.m. through Oct. 30...

On April 30, Judy's Snack House and the Allure Hair Studio in Lepanto was burglarized. There was money taken from both businesses and the back doors were damaged at both locations. Following an investigation by the Lepanto Police Department, Curtis Pilgrim of 320 Berney St. ...

Three Rivers Nursing Center in Marked Tree celebrated National Nursing Home last week with a variety of activities. National Nursing Home Week began on Mother's Day, May 11 and continued through May 17. ...

The Tyronza City Council met in regular session Tuesday night, May 13 with a short agenda of only one item. "Today I made a trip to Helena to take a look at a sweet potato processing plant," said Mayor Marion Bearden. "I didn't want to say anything about it until I got some more information and was a able to tour the plant."...

Thrilled EPC seniors stepped onto the East Poinsett County High School football field as students for the last time Friday night. The teens officially graduated with ceremonies of pomp and circumstance. Class valedictorian was Matt Smith and salutatorian was Stephanie Steakly. ...

Several local races were decided at Tuesday's polls with a run off set for the county judge race. In the race for county judge, Charles Nix won the most votes with 1,298 votes. Steve Jernigan received 1,035 votes and incumbent Doyle Hillis received 946 votes. Nix and Jernigan will face off in a run off set for June 10...

Trumann Chief of Police Larry Blagg has not released any further information on the shooting death of Dorman Ray Cooper, 26. He did say Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ron Hunter has asked the department not to release further information on the case to the media...

The 2008 Stars and Stripes Festival was a great success as people from all around crowded the streets of Tyronza last Saturday to enjoy a day of fun, food and great music. The weather was perfect for the all day event with temperatures in the shade comfortable for adults and the sun shining brightly for children enjoying the water slide and water games...