Stories from Thursday, November 20, 2008

Governor Mike Beebe was in Marked Tree Monday, Nov. 17 to present city leaders with a plaque officially certifying the city as an Arkansas Community of Excellence (ACE.) The ceremony took place at Arkansas State University Technical Center in Marked Tree where Mayor Dixon Chandler and State Representative Buddy Lovell were on hand to accept the certificate from the governor...

Edna Goff has been getting a flu shot every year for the past five years. And since she began taking the precaution the 80 year-old hasn't gotten sick. "When I got older I thought I needed something," Goff said. "I haven't had the flu in three or four years………only a cold."...

Judy Ellen Burns Brister, 60, of Lepanto died Monday, Nov. 17 at ST. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born Feb. 27, 1948, in Luxora, she was a factory worker and a member of the Lepanto Revival Center...

The Marked Tree Fire Department is hosting "A Rockin' Christmas" parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 in downtown Marked Tree. Everyone is invited to enter the parade by picking up a participation form at Linda's Flowers in Marked Tree or at the Marked Tree Delta Area Museum. ...

The Lepanto Lamp City Red Hatters met at the Cowboy Grill in Caraway for their October meeting. Mary Ann Deeds and Patricia Hendrix hosted the meeting which 17 members attended. Pictured are, from left: Front - Carolyn Parks, Kathleen Fires, Judy Blocker, Brenda Worsham, Martha Sue Ford and Georgia Carson. ...

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Nick D. Bacon was the keynote speaker at special assemblies held in his honor at Riverside Jr. High, in Caraway and BIC High Sr. High, in Monette, on Friday, Nov. 14...

Area residents looking for a fun day to spend with the family before Christmas that doesn't include frenzied shoppers at the mall are invited to spend the day in Tyronza and find the answers to their holiday dilemmas. The town will be the setting for four separate Christmas events on Saturday, Dec. 6 that will keep the family happy and busy for hours...

Last year, the Strong Bulldogs knocked the Indians from the playoffs with a second round win at Marked Tree. Well, it's déjà vu all over again as the Indians will meet the Bulldogs, again, in the second round of the 2A playoffs, again, this Friday night thanks to a 40-26 first round victory over Clarendon at Marked Tree last Friday night...

Kenneth W. Gilmore, 46, of 429 Powell Street in Lepanto was arrested late Friday Night in Jonesboro. At approximately 11:30 p.m. Jonesboro Police Department pulled Gilmore over on Bridge Street for not having a license plate. Arresting officer Ptl Nathan Coleman also learned that Gilmore was driving with a suspended license and is a level four sex offender...

Horatio Coach Paul Ernest looked at game film of the East Poinsett County running backs and knew they were a shifty pair. But seeing the duo on film and trying to stop them in a game proved to be far different matters, as the Warrior tandem of Byron Ford and Dustin Beatty ran over, through and around the Lions Friday night at Lepanto. ...

Baylor Lady's Basketball head coach Kim Mulkey took her Lady Bears to a national championship in 2005. This season so far her team is 2-0 including a win over #2 Stanford recently. From this, anyone can tell she is familiar with winning teams and winning players...

You may have missed the really big news out of the election because of all of the hoopla over the first president from Illinois since 1860, but it came from California. That state passed a law banning gay marriage...

My mother is an avid "Woman's World," "All You" and "First" magazine reader. Her favorite columns include the ones about smart solutions, home remedies, recipes and frugal tips. She also swears by Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz...

Every year right after Halloween you hear the same old mumbling and grumbling from all the Scrooges. "It's too early for Christmas!" "It seems that Christmas comes earlier every year." "What happened to Thanksgiving?"...

My mother is an avid "Woman's World," "All You" and "First" magazine reader. Her favorite columns include the ones about smart solutions, home remedies, recipes and frugal tips. She also swears by Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz...

Every year right after Halloween you hear the same old mumbling and grumbling from all the Scrooges. "It's too early for Christmas!" "It seems that Christmas comes earlier every year." "What happened to Thanksgiving?"...

Has anybody noticed gas prices lately? I filled up my gas tank this week and paid about $1.82 a gallon. A month ago, when gas prices were hovering close to $4 it would have cost me about $76 to fill up my gas tank...

Earl "J.R." Junior Haynes, 71, died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 at the family residence. He was born in Savannah, Tenn., and had lived in Trumann for the past ten years and was formerly of Florida. ...

Chad Wayne Phillips, son of Charles Lindle and Marsha S. Milligan Phillips, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 at the family residence at the age of 38. He was born in Jonesboro and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. ...

Saleen Olivia Stinson, two, of Harrisburg passed away Friday, Nov. 14 at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Baby Saleen was born in Jonesboro and was lifetime resident of Harrisburg. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Joan "Corky" Hill and Herman Presley...

Eugene Vest, of Wynne, formerly of Greenfield, departed this life Saturday, at the Cross Ridge Hospital in Wynne, at the ago of 86. He was born Feb. 27, 1922, the son of J.O. and Lucy Vest. He was a retired farmer and trapper, a U.S. Army veteran and had served in the Civilian Conservation Corp. He was a member of the First Assembly of God...

Turnovers have cost the Wildcats all season long. During the final game of the season against Newport the Cats miscues led to 14 points for the Greyhounds. Trumann suffered a similar fate last Friday, committing six turnovers which led to 21 points for the Stuttgart as the Ricebirds handed Trumann a 42-14 loss and an early exit in the first round of the 4A playoffs...

The Poinsett County EHC clubs celebrated October with programs on native trees and flowers in your landscape and wild edibles. Each EHC club met during their meetings to share about their favorite landscaping scene. ...

Residents looking for holiday decorating ideas may want to check out this year's line up of homes which will be featured in the Trumann Poinsettia Club annual Christmas Tour of Homes. The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7 and features three homes which will throw their doors open to the public to showcase their holiday decorations...

BRINKLEY - The settlement of the American West began in a swamp in eastern Arkansas about 20 miles southeast of Brinkley off of Hwy. 49 just north of Marvell. It was here in 1815 where two surveying lines crossed to mark the initial point from which all future surveys of the Louisiana Purchase would originate...

Poinsett County residents are overweight, don't eat right or exercise regularly, lack access to health care and are generally in fair to poor health, according to the results of a county-wide health survey...

"Crime will only be as bad as communities will tolerate" -- Roy Nash, North Carolina Sheriff. Several Trumann High School students volunteered their evening Thursday, Nov. 13 to help host a program called Meth 360 or Poinsett County Partners in Health Coalition. ...

Alphonzo Vincent Jr, 37, of Jonesboro, was arrested Nov. 12 and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, speeding and driving on a suspended license...

Jared Weston and Donnie Walters wanted to bring a little drama to Trumann. The kind of drama found on a stage, that is. The two Arkansas State University theatre majors held auditions this weekend in Trumann for an upcoming performance of A Christmas Carol to be held at the Trumann High School Auditorium December 19 to 21...

Voters will head to the polls next Tuesday to decide four runoff races for Trumann City Council races. Polls will be open to all registered voters in wards 1,2,3 and 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 at the Old Community Center in Trumann...