Stories from Thursday, August 7, 2008

Summer vacation is almost over for students in the Trumann School District. Classes for students in the local district will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, August 18. Trumann School Superintendent Joe Waleszonia's office has released the following information for students and parents...

two was for the installation of sidewalks, curbs, gutters and driveways, land leveling and installing concrete ramps. ...

Over $21 million in economic stimulus payments are sitting in government coffers because more than 70,000 eligible senior citizens, veterans and others in Arkansas have not filed for their share of government funds, according to information supplied by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)...

The Jonesboro Chapter of the Christian Motorcyclist Association, the Fault-line Riders, will be sponsoring a "Toilet paper run" Saturday, Aug. 9 to benefit God's New Life Mission Bible Training Center in Marked Tree...

Robert "Bobby" Cox, 69, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, July 2 at UAMS in Little Rock. He was born in DeWitt to Clyde Elsworth Cox and Leota Richardson Cox. He was a retired farmer who spent his farming years in Waldenburg. ...

Ressie Mae Moore, 66, of Marked Tree died Wednesday, July 30. Survivors include sons, Willie Thomas Dobbins and Early Dobbins, both of Marked Tree, and Charles Dobbins of Lepanto; daughter, Darlene Dobbins Dunham of East Point, Mich.; sisters, Minnie Moore of Marked Tree, Scottie Sue Moore of Phoenix, Bennie Faye Moore of Detroit and Richard Mae River of Chicago; brothers, Thomas Moore of Boynton Beach, Fla., and John Moore of Marked Tree; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.. ...

Jimmy D. Sipes, Sr., 59, of Ashland, Miss., formerly of Dyess, died Tuesday, July 29, at his residence. He was an Army Veteran and served as a Sergeant in the Vietnam War. Survivors include his wife, Teresa Sipes of the home; one son, Jimmy D. Sipes, II of Dyess; one brother, Arnold Sipes of Dyess and one sister Bonnie Ann Prieto of Dyess...

William Elvis Swan, 49, of Bee Branch, died Sunday, August 3, 2008. He was born February 5, 1959 in Russellville and was a United States Air Force Veteran. He was of the Methodist faith. He is survived by his wife, Sheila Swan of Marked Tree, Arkansas; his parents, Earl Bee and Bonnie Jean (Wright) Swan of Bee Branch; brothers, Hal Swan of Cold Water, Mississippi; Freddy Swan and wife Linda of Lonoke; Richard Swan and wife Rhonda of Conway; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.. ...

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Rye of Marked Tree are proud to announce the birth their son, Randy Scott Rye, II. He was born at 5:07 p.m. Tuesday, June 24 at the North East Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. He weighed 7 pounds and was 20.5 inches long...

My family and I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tenn. On the way there, we stopped in Knoxville, Tenn. to see the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. It is the only facility of its kind dedicated to all levels of women's basketball...

I started getting an idea last week that the best way to use television when you run for President is to make and ad that is so over the top that the three all news channels will show it over and over. You could five it a limited run in say, New York and Los Angeles where CNN, FOX and MSNBC would be sure to see it. Then you just sit back and enjoy all of the free publicity...

One of the most read sections of our newspaper each week is the "Letters to the Editor" section. Personally, it is one of my favorites as well.

When I drive my mind wonders. While I was behind the steering wheel today I started reminiscing about a crazy event that happened a few summers ago… The radio was blaring Mix 106 while I cleaned up my dad's glass shop. ...

Trumann residents should see policemen patrolling on motorcycles throughout the city in the next couple of weeks, according to Trumann Police Chief Larry Blagg. The police department has recently purchased two Johnny Pag Interceptor 300 Police Motorcycles. ...

Poinsett County Clerk Fonda Condra announced Monday that filings for municipal candidates begins Wednesday, Aug. 6 and ends at noon Aug. 26. Candidates must file their petitions with the required number of signatures along with a political practice pledge with the county clerk. Additional information is available at the clerk's office or by calling 578-4410...

The members of Maple Grove Baptist Church have been willing workers on foreign and American mission fields through the years, according to Ronnie Dye, worship leader/outreach minister at the church. The church, however, has been searching for a way to make a difference in the community of Trumann...

Over $21 million in economic stimulus payments is sitting in government coffers because more than 70,000 eligible senior citizens, veterans and others in Arkansas have not filed for their share of government funds, according to information supplied by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)...

Larry E. Henderson recently announced that he will seek an eighth term on the Trumann City Council as alderman in Ward 2, Position One. Henderson currently serves as chairman of the council's budget and finance committee as well as on the Trumann Police and Fire Committee...

Gary Holmes of Trumann recently announced he is a candidate for Trumann School Board. Holmes is a lifelong resident of Trumann and a 1989 graduate of Trumann High School. He currently has two sons enrolled in the Trumann Public School system...

The Trumann Housing Authority is proud to announce the winners of the Yard of the Month contest for the month of June, 2008. The winners are First Place is Ovada Phillips at 204 Cherry Drive; Second Place is Hazel Riley at 272 Eastside Gardens and Third Place is Sharon Woods at 220 Birch Avenue...

Poinsett County Fair Board has selected new directors for this year's Miss Poinsett County Fair Queen Pageant and a $500 scholarship to the Queen winner of the Miss Division is just one of several changes made to this year's pageant...

Since I've been writing so much lately about the one cent sales tax coming up for a vote on Sept. 9, I thought I'd devote my column this week to giving you some information about it. This will be a new tax, however, it will not make you pay more sales tax than you do today. ...

One of the most read sections of our newspaper each week is the "Letters to the Editor" section. Personally, it is one of my favorites as well.

This back to school season will be a whole new experience for me. First I will be walking through the doors of a school, not as a student or a reporter, but as a teacher. It is as exciting a thought as it is nerve wracking. ...

Poinsett County Clerk Fonda Condra announced Monday that filings for municipal candidates begins Wednesday, Aug. 6 and ends at noon Aug. 26. Candidates must file their petitions with the required number of signatures along with a political practice pledge with the county clerk. Additional information is available at the clerk's office or by calling 578-4410...

A member of the freshman class Williams Baptist College will be welcoming in September will a new baseball recruit from Trumann. Utility player, Austin Carter inked a letter of intent to play for WBC Tuesday morning...

Burl Thomas Knight, of Trumann died Thursday morning at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 63. He was born on June 29, 1945 in Trumann, Ark., and had lived his lifetime there. A farmer, Knight was preceded in death by his parents, Burl Alexander and Wilma Mae Bradley Knight, two brothers, James Earl Knight and Douglas Knight, two sisters, Mary Lawson and Wilma Jean Bennett...

Earlene Vida (Lowtharp) Sims, 76, formerly of Hot Springs, died Tuesday night in Tulsa, Okla. She was born Feb. 19, 1932, in Bono, to Gordon and Louanna (Bowman) Lowtharp. A lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority and a Protestant, she was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Imogean Owen and Geneva Pennington...

Talmage "Rickie" Hill, age 59, of Wynne passed away Sunday. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eloise Hill and Radie Hill and granddaughter, Taylor Hill. Mr. Hill was the animal control officer for the city of Wynne. He was honored in 2005 and 2006 as employee of the year. He was a member of the Full Gospel Tabernacle of Trumann...

Odis Odell Jones of Myrtle, Miss., was born on Saturday, October 1, 1921, son on the late John and Mary Vanderhyden Jones. Jones died Sunday, July 27, 2008 at Golden Living Nursing Home in Ripley, Miss., at the age of 86 years 9 months and 26 days. ...

Randy Gilpin, 48 of Trumann died Thursday, July 31, 2008, at St. Bernard's Medical Center. He had lived in Trumann for 13 years moving from Pocahontas. He was of the Baptist belief, loved to fish and was preceded in death by his father, W. A. Gilpin...

Well, Monday the new battles began throughout the country for supremacy in both college and high school football. On the somewhat local scene, the Hogs have a new coach, ASU has a new name, the Indians, Warriors and Wildcats have enough new faces to require a program...