Stories from Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Danny Sabastian Lawrence Dowdy was born July 1, 2008. He weighed 7 pounds, 0.5 ounces and was 20 ½ inches long. His parents are Jonathan and Latisha Dowdy of Paragould. Dowdy's grandparents are Patricia and the late Danny Lawrence of Marked Tree and William and Lois Dowdy of Jonesboro. ...

I've been thinking lately about what it takes to be a good journalist, newspaper editor and manager. It seems easy to spout off the usual like a passion for writing and a natural curiosity. Of course, the same can be said of any ambitious kindergartner first learning the alphabet and given a box of crayons...

I discovered it creeping up on me. I could feel the wind carried from its presence brush against my body. And it freaked me out when I peered out the window and found it staring me down with its evil smirk. I know this smirk. I have seen it before. Thirty's peeking into my window...

My thought for the day: "You are like a bunch of evil snakes, so how can you say anything good? Your words show what is in your hearts. Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts. ...

Jeanne Glover of Tyronza announced today that she has filed her petition to run for re-election to the Zone 5 seat on the East Poinsett County School District Board of Directors. The EPC Board is composed of seven members, and two of the seven represent EPC patrons from the Tyronza area...

The parents of Melissa Elena Dabney announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of their daughter to Justin Lee Armstrong. The bride-elect is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Carol Dabney of Marked Tree...

The First Baptist Church of Marked Tree recently held its annual vacation Bible school. This year's theme was Aloha! Living God's Unspeakable Truth on Outrigger Island...

Jennifer Lynn Ross and Jason Shane Webb were wed in a double ring ceremony on the sands of Orange Beach, Ala. Monday, May 19. The white sands and blue water made for a beautiful setting. The bride wore an ivory, floor length silk gown along with a single orchid behind her ear. She carried a bouquet of orchids, roses and lilies. The groom wore a casual white shirt and khaki pants...

Kimberly Tyler of Lepanto, daughter of David & Tammy Tyler, has lost 100 plus pounds. With the help of Dr. William McAlexander, ( Dr. Mac) of Jonesboro Surgical Associates, Kimberly had the lap-band weight loss procedure in April 2007. Since her surgery she has lost 100 plus pounds, dropped seven sizes and gained better control of her overall health...

The Classes of 1988 and 1993 will meet for their 20 and 15 year reunions respectively Saturday, August 2. The event will be held at Three Rivers Country Club from 6:30 p.m. until dawn. The cost is $15 per person at the door and covers food and non-alcoholic beverages. ...

Sarah Moore Roy, 80, of Marked Tree died Sunday, July 13, 2008. Mrs. Roy was a member of United Methodist Church and a former teacher. Survivors include her husband, Densel Roy of Marked Tree; two daughters, Denise...

Dawson Lee Brown, three months, of Tyronza died July 11 at the Children's Hospital in Little Rock. He was born April 9, 2008 at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro. Survivors are his mother, Leandrea Brown of Tyronza; grandparents, Ricky and Joyce Brown of Tyronza; great grandmother, Betty Buckner of Trumann; two uncles, Kevin Brown of Tyronza and Hunter Pipes of Tyronza...

Everette Jones, Jr., 68, of Lepanto died July 12 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a member of the Church of God and was retired from American Greetings. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lucy Jones...

Harriet Elouise Cox, 91, of McCrory died Tuesday in McCrory. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Pitt Dickerson and Erna M. Sparks Dickerson; husband Purl D. Cox; daughter, Medora E. Goff; brothers, Eastman and Kaylor Dickerson; and sister Patsy Ingram...

LOST CANE -- Justin Cory Veach, 32, of the Lost Cane Community near Manila died Thursday, July 10, at Great River Medical Center at Blytheville. Born at Blytheville, he had been a lifelong resident of Lost Cane. He was valedictorian of the 1994 graduating class of Manila High School and later attended Arkansas State University...

The EPC School Board met in its regular monthly meeting Monday, July 14 at Lepanto. A highlight of the meeting came when superintendent Micky Pierce announced that the 2007-2008 ending financial balance of $1.6 million was $200,000. higher than the 2006-2007 school year ending financials of $1.4 million...

Former Dyess coach Jimmy Allen, 78, of Conway, was the guest of honor at a special tribute held in his honor, Friday evening, July 4, to kick of the annual Dyess Days celebration. Leo and Lillian Allen, moved to Dyess Colony when their young son Jimmy was only five years old. Set up as a resettlement location for impoverished farmers and to pump life into the states which were hardest hit by the Great Depression, Dyess Colony helped the family start over...

The Tri-City Tribune was honored Saturday by the Arkansas Press Association with a first place award for agriculture and business coverage among small weekly newspapers in the state. Tribune editor Samantha Martin was on hand in Little Rock to accept the award for the paper...

Since Leah and Campbell joined our family, the question James and I get asked most is, "How is everyone settling in?" The kids have been settled at home since the day we brought them home. James and I have been the ones who have had to make the most adjustment. ...

I've written here in recent months that I am not a morning person. I've also told you that I am a terrible pack rat and a procrastinator. I've also probably told you how I detest Mondays. Of course, Mondays are bad for most people. But, they are especially bad for us here at the Democrat because Mondays are deadline days. Deadline days are always crazy -- no matter what day they come on...

Ross Holt, 21, of Holland, Mich. died Friday, July 11 at his home. Born May 21, 1987 in Holland, he graduated from Holland Christian High School in 2005. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Harvey Beelen and Mace Holt, and an uncle, Warren Beelen...

The Trumann Fine Arts Council will sponsor a celebrity dinner at the First Baptist Church Christian Life Center, at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 24. Tickets are $12.50 per person and can be purchased at the Trumann Chamber of Commerce office or by contacting one of the event's celebrity waiters...

George Ford has a wonderful memory for a man who just celebrated his 99th birthday. He remembers the day he first came to Trumann. It was Christmas Eve1924. "We got off the train downtown at the depot," he says. "There was about eight inches of snow on the ground. We went out to my cousin's house outside of Trumann."...

Leslie Henry, 51, of 17130 Lilies Lane and Nicholas Meeks,52, of 25898 Roden Road, both in Trumann face charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; possession or use of drug paraphernalia to plant, grow, etc.; possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use and possession of controlled substance-"marijuana."...

The city of Trumann receives many complaints each year about dilapidated houses and buildings that are in disrepair. Many local residents question why more isn't done to fix the problem. Trumann Code Enforcement Officer Gary Anderson knows the answer to that question...

The Trumann City Council unanimously approved scheduling of a Sept. 9 election to put the question of a 1 percent city-wide sales and use tax before the citizens of Trumann at its July meeting. The new tax, if passed, will not increase the sales tax currently being paid in Trumann, if all issues on the ballot are approved. Passage of this tax, according to discussion at the council meeting, is a necessity...

I've been thinking lately about what it takes to be a good journalist, newspaper editor and manager. It seems easy to spout off the usual like a passion for writing and a natural curiosity. Of course, the same can be said of any ambitious kindergartner first learning the alphabet and given a box of crayons...

Members of the Trumann Lions Club heard a presentation recently on the Bank of Trumann's new online banking service. Bank loan officer Zac Inboden gave the local club an overview of the new service. "When we were designing our online service, we had two main goals," Inboden said. "We wanted to make the service simple and we wanted to make the site secure. I believe we succeeded at both."...

The Trumann Democrat was honored Saturday by the Arkansas Press Association with a first place award for community coverage among small weekly newspapers in the state. Democrat editor Samantha Martin was on hand in Little Rock to accept the award for the paper...