Stories from Thursday, January 15, 2009

Though he has already been in office for nearly two weeks, Poinsett County Judge Charles Nix sat for his initial, and usually most visible task, when he chaired his first Quorum Court meeting Monday night in Harrisburg. As might be expected, his first meeting went smoothly as his and the court's "honeymoon" period began...

Though he has already been in office for nearly two weeks, Poinsett County Judge Charles Nix sat for his initial, and usually most visible task, when he chaired his first Quorum Court meeting Monday night in Harrisburg. As might be expected, his first meeting went smoothly as his and the court's "honeymoon" period began...

In less than a week we will have a new President. It's going to be quite an adjustment. You can't go from eight years of incompetence to suddenly having grown-ups running the country just like that. We'll probably go through some type of withdrawal from the sudden switch. Some people may need rehab...

This month is National Blood Donor Blood Month: Make Life Saving a Habit. The website www.aabb.org says blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. ...

It's that bittersweet time of the year. Christmas is over. New Year's resolutions have been made and many of them have been broken and forgotten already. Life is settling back into the regular routine. But, if you're like me, there's one thing that's slowly nagging at the back of your mind. Tax time is lurking...

Dewanda Ann Grant, 69, of Memphis died Jan. 6, at the Methodist North Hospital in Memphis. She was born on April 25, 1939, in Marked Tree. She was a homemaker and a member of the Pentecostal Faith Church. She is preceded in death by her parents, William Hixon and Ruby Canada...

Billie Cady May of Searcy, formerly of Lepanto, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, at White County Medical Center in Searcy at the age of 90. She was born Jan. 18, 1918, in Atlanta, the daughter of Martin M. Cady and Hattie Mae Seifert Cady. Billie graduated from high school in Shreveport, La., in 1936 and received her bachelor of arts degree from Centenary College on May 22, 1940...

The Lady Rockets built a 20 point lead in the first half Friday night at Turrell then held the Lady Indians at bay to post a 52-32 conference win. Rachel Young led Marked Tree with 15 points before going down with a recurring knee injury. She was the only one in double figures, however, as the Turrell defense held dominance over the visitors...

The short handed Indians experienced their sixth loss of the season against now wins as they traveled to Turrell Friday night, losing to the Rockets 67-26. "We've got seven players and right now we're doing the best we can." Said coach Barbara Wilburn of her team. ...

"We've played real hard the last couple of games." said coach Josh Hill of his EPC Warriors 70-56 effort against Marmaduke Friday night. "There's a couple of things we need to fix defensively, but we continue to get better and better."...

Back for her second game after missing nearly two months with a hand injury, Jordan Madden scored 26 points in just over a half to lead the Lady Warriors to a 68-50 win over Marmaduke last Friday at Lepanto...

After 15 years of service to Farm Service Agency at the Harrisburg Service Center, Peggy Grubbs has decided to retire. In her honor, the county office will host a drop-in from 10 am to 2 pm Wednesday, January 21 at the county office located at 505 Brooks Street in Harrisburg. ...

Several guilty pleas were entered in Poinsett County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Circuit Judge Randy Philhours of Paragould resided over the court. Keith Nitche of Railroad Street in Marked Tree received a 12-month suspended sentence when he pled guilty to possession of an instrument of a crime. He was ordered to pay a $100 fine and $220 in court costs...

Five Poinsett County entities will be recognized at the ninth annual Delta Awards banquet at the Paragould Community Center on Friday, Jan. 30. The awards are presented to recognize tourism achievements in Eastern Arkansas by the Arkansas Delta Byways Association, a non-profit tourism promotion association serving 15 counties of Eastern Arkansas...

The Community Development Institute (CDI) Head Start is now enrolling in the Marked Tree, Lepanto and Tyronza area. Onsite approval will be held from 10 a.m. -- 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27 and Wednesday, Jan. 28 at the center...

The Lepanto Police Department arrested four residents Wednesday, Jan. 7 for manufacturing methamphetamine at 231 North Greenwood Ave. Capt. David Layman, Deputy Chad Henderson, and Deputy Jon P. ...

Whether or not to locate a dog shelter inside city limits was a hot topic of discussion at Monday night's regular meeting of the Marked Tree City Council. Mayor Dixon Chandler proposed the city place a newly constructed 36' x 36' structure to house stray dogs on Division Street...

State Representative Buddy Lovell, of Marked Tree, presented Doris Pounders, president of the Lepanto Area Citizens for Progress Committee (LACPC) with a GIF Community Enhancement Grant check for $7,000 last week for use in completion of the Painted House Museum in Lepanto...

April: April 2 -- Drug dog Tess is earning her keep. Marked Tree Police K-9 Officer Tess is proving to be a valuable asset to the department. Tess helped the state police make an impressive drug bust. Sam Gossage celebrated his 80th birthday on March 7. In baseball, Indians winning streak now stands at six in a row...