Stories from Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Herbert Blalock, 78, of Jonesboro died August 9, at his home after a brave battle against lung cancer. He was born in 1930 and raised in Bay, graduating from Bay High School. He continued to live and farm in Bay until he left in 1951 to serve his country as a sergeant in the Korean War. After returning home, he continued farming until 1970 when he began a career in real estate development...

Herbert Blalock, 78, of Jonesboro died August 9, at his home after a brave battle against lung cancer. He was born in 1930 and raised in Bay, graduating from Bay High School. He continued to live and farm in Bay until he left in 1951 to serve his country as a sergeant in the Korean War. After returning home, he continued farming until 1970 when he began a career in real estate development...

Grace Bonds Glasgow, 85, of Trumann died Monday, August 11, 2008 at the family residence. She was born in Iuka, Miss., and had lived for over 40 years in the Trumann area. Glasgow was a retired government employee, a former employee of Parker Hannifin and a member of the Maple Grove Baptist Church. ...

Gerthie Faye Mack, 79, of Trumann, died Friday, August 8, 2008 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born in Walnut, Miss., and had lived in Trumann since 1965. She was formerly of Marked Tree, a housewife and of the Pentecostal faith...

Linnie Rose Robertson, 81, of Trumann, died Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at the family residence. She was born in and ad been a lifetime resident of Trumann. A homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church, she was a member of the Eastern Star for many years and served as worthy Matron...

Jay Paul Woods announced his candidacy for the Trumann City Council Ward 5, Position 1 seat. Woods says he believes in the potential of Trumann. "This is a great city that can be even greater," he said. "With our location between Jonesboro and Memphis situated on the future I-555, we have the opportunity to grow, not only in population from people moving from Jonesboro, but also to attract citizens moving to this area for work in Memphis and Jonesboro...

"I am asking voters to give me one more term," said Hargrove who has served three terms in the position. Hargrove, who lives at 800 Tom Lane, has been a resident of Ward 2 for 27 years and is a member of First General Baptist Church in Trumann. If re-elected, Hargrove promises he will work with the City Council, the mayor and all city departments...

Ten candidates have filed for seats on the Trumann City Council, according to the Poinsett County Clerk's office. As of Tuesday morning, candidates had filed for nine of the ten seats on the council. Each of Trumann's five wards has two seats for representation on the council. Filing for the seats began at noon on Aug. 6 and ends at noon Aug. 26...

The Arkansas State Police Marijuana Eradication Unit, aided by the Arkansas National Guard, was in Poinsett County last Thursday in their continuing efforts to find large amounts of marijuana growing. Also aided by the Poinsett County Sheriff's Department, the unit covered the entire county by air and ground, according to Poinsett County Sheriff Larry Mills, and did not find any marijuana growing...

The Trumann Chamber of Commerce announced that the 2008 Wild Duck Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27. This will be the 26th year for the local festival which was first started by the Trumann Jaycees in 1982 to replace the Singer Company annual barbecue. The event has grown to offer a carnival midway, booths for crafts and food vendors and various competitions and entertainment...

Trumann High School Assistant Principal Kevin Beaumont has announced changes to the Trumann High School student handbook for the 2008-09 school year. "We want students and parents to be aware of these changes when classes start next week," Beaumont said. "Because the changes will be enforced when classes begin."...

Charles Cooper refers to himself as the old/new preacher. He has recently returned to Trumann's First United Methodist Church as pastor for the second time in his career. "Becky and I were here from 1987 until 1990," he said. "We loved it and our older daughter was born while we were here. I welcomed the chance to return here and work again with the members of this church."...

After six and a half years it is hard to believe this is my last column for the Trumann Democrat. I feel like there is still so much of my story left to tell, but alas, all things must come to an end...

Trumann City Councilman Rick Atkins wants the residents of Trumann to know how important the passage of a 1 percent city-wide sales and use tax is on September 9. "In the past few years the sales tax we've collected through similar bond issues has paid for a new sports complex, a new fire station, and two new fire trucks," Atkins said. "And that is just a short list of what this kind of tax has provided for the city."...