Stories from Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Trumann boys attend fishing derby...

Trumann Firefighters Todd Short and Tony Blackwood recently completed training courses at the Arkansas Fire Academy at Southern Arkansas University in Camden. Short, 34, completed six weeks of rookie school. He passed courses in the Firefighter One and Firefighter Two battery of classes. He also passed a driver-operator class...

Aimee Nelson, 1304 Industrial #6, was arrested on May 27 by Sgt. Erik Willbanks and Det. Jerry Foster. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts endangering the welfare of a minor...

Trena George, 519 Plaza, was arrested on May 29 by Asst. Chief Tony Rusher and charged with possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to reports, Asst. Rusher conducted a search on George's residence and a substance believed to be methamphetamine was found along with items used to ingest methamphetamine...

The Trumann Police Department made a substantial drug seizure Tuesday, June 3. TPD Chief Larry Blagg reports the department executed a search warrant at approximately 6:30 a.m., Tuesday morning at 544 Paschal, the residence of Renee Tackett and Derek Bushong...

Poinsett county clerk Fonda Condra announced June 18 is the first day candidates can begin circulating petitions for the Tuesday, Sept. 16 school election. Petitions must contain 20 signatures of registered voters from candidate's zone or district...

A public auction for the sale of tax delinquent land in Poinsett County is set for 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 18 in the Craighead Room at the Holiday Inn in Jonesboro, according to Mark Wilcox, Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m...

"Sometimes after a difficult call, or witnessing a tragedy, we just need someone outside the department to talk to," said Trumann Police Department Chief Larry Blagg. He was speaking on one of the many reason the department added a chaplain and associate chaplain to the department...

The Trumann Lions Club place flags out during the following holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Robert E. Lee / Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day...

A memorial brick for the Trumann American Legion Memorial Park would be a great father's day gift for those father's who are veterans. At the park there are two small walls with bricks reading the names of veterans. Bricks can be bought in honor of or in memory of a soldier...

The staff of Lake Poinsett State Park invites the community to join them as they celebrate the Arkansas State Parks 75th anniversary and Lake Poinsett's 45th anniversary! The event will be held from 2 to 8 p.m., Saturday June 14. There will be live music, games, interpretive programs and cake for everyone...

Family reunions really aren't that bad. Really. Mine aren't anyway. But I am just lucky enough to be part of a crazy and eccentric family. Whenever multiple members of my family are gathered in one spot, hilarity usually ensues. And my recent Rouse family reunion was no exception...

I honestly didn't do that much driving even before the gas prices started to rise. I try to do less driving nowadays. I sincerely doubt that we'll ever see gas prices go below $3 a gallon again. Now that the gas companies know we'll pay it, they aren't going to lower the price...

Rev. Horace Presley "H.P" Brooks, 87, of Marked Tree went home to be with his Lord surrounded by his family at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro June 8, 2008. He was born in Athens, Ala., and had lived in northeast Arkansas most of his life. ...

Mary Elizabeth Thomas, 69, of Trumann, died Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the family residence in Trumann. She was born in Benton and had lived in Trumann for the past fifteen years moving from Jonesboro...

Thelma G. Graves Brinkley, 66, of Bremerton, Wa, formerly of Truamnn died Oct. 25, 2007. She was born to Jesse and Myra Glisson Graves of Plant City, Fla. on July 22, 1941. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, James R. Brinkley, Sr. of Trumann; brothers, Theodore Adams and William "Bennie" Graves and sister, Shirlene Graves Eakins...

If you haven't been to our website recently, you may be surprised to find it has a new look and feel complete with many new features. We're very excited about the changes which include "blogs" from community members and officials and a special "speak out" section...

Irene Tyler, 86, of Lepanto died Saturday, June 6, 2008 at her residence. Tyler was a member of the First Baptist Church in Lepanto. She was preceded in death by her husband, Odis Tyler; two brothers, Billy Powell and Bluford Powell; a sister, Clytee Grinder; and the untimely death of two precious grandsons; Waylon Benton and Jon Tyler...

Freddie Lee Moore, 60, of Marked Tree died May 30. Freddie was an Army veteran and member of Mount Zion Steel Bridge Baptist Church. Survivors include his father, James Moore; sons, Freddie Lee Moore Jr. and Shawn Moore; daughters, Sherry Holliman, Josephine Montgomery and Tanika Moore; sisters, Gloria Overton, Elaine McNutt, Sandra Person and Rochelle Moore; and 11 grandchildren...

Karon Faye McGuire, 60, of Tyronza died Thursday, May 29, 2008, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born IN Dyess, she was of the Baptist faith and was preceded in death by her parents and one brother...

Billy Joe Green, 68, of Joiner died June 8, 2008 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born May 26, 1940 in Moulton, Ala. to parents Hazel Conley Green and James Henry Green. A retired farmer, he was a resident of Joiner for over 40 years and was of the Baptist Faith...

Vera Marcella McCay Farmer, 85, of Jonesboro died Monday at St. Bernard's Medical Center. She was born in Tyronza into the family of Joseph H. and Edna M. Jones. She was a retired bookkeeper from Kohn Bray Butane Company. She attended Arkansas State University at the age of 52. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Marked Tree and Church of God of Prophecy in Jonesboro...

James "J.E." Edward Conley, Jr., 80, of Luxora died June 7, 2008 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Born Feb. 13, 1928 in Little Rock, he was the former mayor and police chief of Luxora. He was retired from the Navy, a veteran and a member of the Gospel Temple in Luxora...

Eugene Brown, 57, of Earle died Tuesday, June 3. Eugene was retired from Entergy, a Navy veteran and a member of First Baptist Church. Survivors include his mother, Arma Brown of Earle; daughters, Tamara Brown of Jonesboro, Tracey Brown of Orange, Texas, Myhalia Brown and Corsica Brown, both of Earle, and Sharon Brown and Barbara Brown, both of Norfolk, Va.; sisters, Sara Joplin of Lepanto, Sharon Blake of Chicago, Jeanna Addison of Raleigh, Tenn., Janet White of Marion, Verna Brown of Los Angeles and Janet Mason of Cedar Hills, Texas; brothers, Jack Brown of Marked Tree, Bobby Brown of Memphis, Ricky Brown of Kansas City, Mo., and Billy Brown of Racine, Wis.; and 12 grandchildren.. ...

Barbara and Danny Adams of Marked Tree are working to located all Poinsett County veterans along with their relatives and friends. The Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall will be coming to Marked Tree In September, and the Adams want to compile a list of veterans to honor. The veterans will be listed and photos submitted will be displayed at the event...

Mr. and Mrs. James Loudermilk wish to announce the marriage of their daughter Kathy Holt of Marion to Tony Tidwell of Hungry Horse, Montana, son of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Tidwell of Marion...

Two years of hard work has finally paid off for the city of Marked Tree. The city has completed the requirements for certification as an Arkansas Community of Excellence (ACE). Marked Tree's certification came as part of the "Our Plan" program, a pilot program developed through Arkansas State University which an outline of the process and a guide for the city to follow through the steps in becoming ACE certified.. ...

Clayton Ivyjoe Roach, 13 months old, is proud to announce the birth of his brother, Gage Lee Roach. Gage was born May 28, 2008 and weighed seven pounds and 15 ounces. Roach is the son of Genia Grissom and Joseph Roach of Payneway. ...

Ella Alissa Sue Eaton was born May 29, 2008. She weighed seven pounds, eight ounces and was 19 inches long. She is the daughter of Mary and Johnny Eaton of Marked Tree. Her grandparents are Debra Ward of Marked Tree and Ella Joyce Sheffiel of Leithfield, Ky. ...

Rob Jennings, former coach at Marked Tree High School, did not get his request granted by Governor Mike Beebe last week to reduce his six year prison sentence. Jennings' six year sentence stems in the Arkansas Department of Corrections comes from when he plead guilty to four counts of second degree violation of a minor. He is serving the sentence concurrently with an eight year federal sentence that was also handed down in 2005...

(Editor's note: This is the last part of a series about the Battle of Lepanto, which took place in 1571 off the cost of Greece) On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 the free world changed drastically. Osama Bin Laden made sure of that with four jet planes he sent out to attack the financial, military and executive centers of the United States...

Mike Cameron of Associated Engineers in Jonesboro updated aldermen on the progress of plans for the news sports and recreation complex at the regular meeting of the Marked Tree City Council Monday night. Cameron said he estimates the project, as it is currently planned, will cost approximately $2.6 million. Funding for the project will come from the $2 million bond financed by a sales tax voters passed last year along with the $317,500 in grant fund the city expects to receive this year...

When residents on Union Street first smelled smoke Monday morning, many were worried that one of their neighbors had once again been the victim of arson. While fire fighters from Marked Tree and Tyronza fought the blaze at 208 Union Street, neighbors gathered in their yards to watch as rescue workers doused the house with water until well past noon...

Father's Day is this Sunday, June 15. It is a day to honor and commemorate all fathers and grandfathers. Once again, as I did for Mother's Day, I would like to quote Erma Bombeck. She wrote an equally wonderful poem about fathers...