Stories from Thursday, July 24, 2008

There are many facts and figures to consider when discussing benchmark test scores, but for Marked Tree High School, one simple sentence sums up their excitement: The best geometry scores in the state. I think I yelled when I found out, said Annesa Thompson, MTHS principal...

In an abbreviated meeting Monday night, July 14, the Poinsett County Quorum Court quickly address three issues, the main one of which was generated by a question from Justice Johnny Johnson. "How far off are we on our (budget) balance?" asked Johnson of outgoing Judge Doyle Hillis...

Nearly 30 people gathered at the public meeting held Monday night primarily concerning the anticipated new park in Marked Tree. Miki Willoughby hosted the event with occasional commentary by mayor Dixon Chandler. Chandler announced he had learned earlier in the day that Marked Tree would indeed receive the full $225,000 grant for the parks awarded by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Recreation. ...

UPAR CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Sammy Criswell, a mechanic with the 1123rd Transportation Company, has been in the Arkansas National Guard and the same unit since joining the military Aug. 14, 1976. His middle son, Staff. Sgt. Jeffery Criswell, who is also a mechanic, joined the 1123rd Trans. Co. in 1997 after graduating from high school, and they have made quite the team ever since...

The Southern Tenant Farmers Museum in Tyronza is in the process of creating an exhibit to honor the late Dr. L. H. McDaniel. The staff is currently asking anyone with pictures of the McDaniels, their home, family, baseball team, and any other aspect of their life to contact the museum. ...

Densel Eugene Roy, 86, of Marked Tree died Saturday, July 19. Roy was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a veteran of the United States Air Force and World War II. He was the owner of J.H. Roy and Son Construction Company and farms...

One of the big debates of the upcoming election is socialized medicine, or "free health care for all." On the surface, this sounds like an amazing and wonderful thing. No more expensive medicine to buy at the pharmacy? No more worrying about how you will pay that $2,500 deductible if you do happen to get a major illness, if you're even lucky enough to have insurance...

What is the first thing that you notice about a driver's license? The picture? The restrictions? Of course, those are some of the obvious choices, but now, I think the first thing I notice about licenses is, is the driver an organ donor?...

One thing's for sure, you'd better not spell it "Mark Tree" if you want to survive these parts. I've seen countless signs bolster a misspelled representation of this local community. Maybe it's those darn Yankees attempting to decipher all this southern dialect because most people around here say it so fast and furious a northerner doesn't stand a chance of interpretation...

Students should be attending classes in the new Trumann High School by January of 2009, according to Trumann School Superintendent Joe Waleszonia. "Our goal is to get moved into the building over Christmas break of 2008," he said. "And, hopefully, our students will be in classes there in January."...

The approval of a 1 percent citywide sales tax on Sept. 9 to pay for water and sewer repairs and improvements and street improvements is very important to the city of Trumann. Repairs to equipment used by Trumann Water Works for pumping water and disposing of sewer waste can be postponed no longer, according to Mayor Sheila Walters...

The Trumann Chamber of Commerce is cooperation with WalMart is offering Trumann residents the opportunity to recycle old newspapers, paperback books, magazines and old phone books from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 26. Residents can drop off the above named paper items at the Trumann WalMart...

In an abbreviated meeting Monday night, the Poinsett County Quorum Court quickly address three issues, the main one of which was generated by a question from Justice Johnny Johnson. "How far off are we on our (budget) balance?" asked Johnson of outgoing Judge Doyle Hillis...

Alvin Eugene Davis, 91, of East Prairie, Mo., formerly of Trumann, died at 5:55 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008 in the Missouri Delta Medical Center. Born Sept. 18, 1916 in Manila, to the late James Abner and Mamie Mary Elizabeth Smith Davis, he had lived in Mississippi County since 1966 moving from Trumann. ...

E.C. Dunman, Jr., 75, of Flint, Mich. died Friday, July 11 at Genesys Regional Medical Center in Flint. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 15, at Riegel Funeral Home in Flushing, Mich. Pastor Jerry Stoner officiated at the service. Burial was at Meadow View Cemetery in Davison, Mich...

Faye Ann Smith Faye Ann Smith, 95, of Marion died Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Willowbend At Marion. She was born in Marked Tree and had lived in Marion for the past 5 years. She was formerly a resident of the Freer Community near A former sales clerk for Guy's Discount Center in Trumann, she was a member of the Avondale Missionary Baptist Church in West Memphis...

Florence Loretta Ryan, 83, of Jonesboro, died Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at the Jonesboro Healthcare Center in Jonesboro. She was born in Trumann and had lived in Trumann/Jonesboro area most of her life. She was a housewife and member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Ryan was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and three sisters...

Leslie Franklin Sliter, 86, of Trumann died Sunday, July 6, 2008 at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in Arkansas, he had lived for the past 30 years in Trumann. He was a retired farmer and of the protestant faith. Sliter was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel Thomas and Lilly Mae Warren Sliter...

I'm not surprised by much anymore, but something happened Monday that shocked me. Those who read my column will remember me writing about Leah having a bead removed from her left ear and then on the follow up visit to the doctor asking me what I thought the doctor would find in there that time...

As most of you know by now, I am a cat person. And I have too many cats. I'm still trying to get rid of six kittens I've raised in the house and finding them homes is not going too well. I can't find good cat people to take them and the Humane Society in Jonesboro says it is full-up when it comes to kittens...

One of the big debates of the upcoming election is socialized medicine, or "free health care for all." On the surface, this sounds like an amazing and wonderful thing. No more expensive medicine to buy at the pharmacy? No more worrying about how you will pay that $2,500 deductible if you do happen to get a major illness, if you're even lucky enough to have insurance...

Margaret Kelley and Robert Heard of Trumann are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Sabara, to Bryan Bowers of Jonesboro. He is the son of Linda Miller of Conway and David Bowers of Jonesboro...

Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor announced Monday, July 21 that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved funds for construction of an I-555 access road in Poinsett County. The Senate appropriated $2 million dollars for construction of an access road along the...

The East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging is participating in a Senior Farmer's 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...

I know it's still early, but with a new season coming up when we will be looking at a new coach and (likely) a whole new look to the Razorbacks, I can't help but go ahead an make my early season predictions...