Stories from Thursday, January 22, 2009

Don Cole wanted to send a message to the Chamber of Commerce that Trumann isn't being marketed to prospective new businesses like it should be. And he thought he had the backing of the rest of the city council...

Marked Tree was one of 12 cities in the state to be selected as a 2008 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year Award. Marked Tree Mayor Dixon Chandler accepted the award at a special presentation in Little Rock Friday, Dec. 16...

Close has been the name of the game all season long for the Lady Wildkittens. Trumann entered the game against Gosnell on a three game losing streak having lost each of their last matchups by six or less points, but managed to eke out a 39-36 win against the Junior Lady Pirates...

The second half has not been very kind to the Wildkittens in the past last week. The team has lost three games in a row by six points or fewer. The Kittens were able to break their bad luck spell Saturday and hold on to a 38-35 win against Valley View in a home make-up game...

The Lady Wildcats survived a three pointer at the buzzer to hang on for a 46-45 win against Gosnell. "I wish we'd stop playing all these close ones," coach Matt Dean said. "I'm not going to last the year health-wise." Gosnell led 10-5 after the first quarter and by as many as seven points in the second quarter, but Haley Brewer and Morgan McKenzie helped the Lady Cats chipp away at the lead oustscoring Gosnell 13-11 to trail by only 21-18 at halftime...

Maybe it was the long drive to Gosnell and having to go in to overtime the night before. But whatever it was, the Wildcats looked tired and never seemed to find their legs against Valley View as the Blazers downed Trumann 79-62 in a Saturday make-up game...

With the inauguration being this week, I became curious and interested in inaugurations so I did a little research to locate some of the most memorable and some of the "tread-setters" of the past. The greatest guest list came from George W. ...

It was Hollywood on the line. The caller started off by saying, "You're a hard man to track down." I thought, what is this? A bill collector or something? I searched my brain to think what I might owe that somebody would call me at work...

It's not often that I delve into politics in my column. For one thing, I feel the topic is often beaten to death in other areas of the media so there's not often anything of significance left to say. However, as I write this column, our nation approaches an historic event that I have to acknowledge. Our first African-American president will be sworn into office...

It's a boy for Timothy and Lindsey Church of Trumann. Gavin Wyatt Church was born Wednesday, Jan. 7 at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces. Gavin is the grandson of Sheri Kain and Jimmy Smith of Harrisburg and Trisha and Michael Bowen of Trumann. He is the great-grandson of Elton and Lorien Church of Harrisburg. Gavin has one brother, one year old Hunter...

It's a boy for Mickey and Keechia Muse of Trumann. Lucas Glen Muse was born Wednesday, Dec. 31st at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Lucas is the grandson of Peggy and Bill Biggers, Gaylon and Kim Muse, Mark and Debbie Pratt and the late Wayne Motes. ...

Lyndsey Nichelle Smith Steven and Leslie Smith of Bay are proud to announce the birth of their beautiful daughter, Lyndsey Nichelle Smith. She was born Thursday, Jan. 1 at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces. ...

MacKenzie DeShay Arnold was born Tuesday, Dec. 30 at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces. MacKenzie is the daughter of Sarah Stewart and Justin Arnold of Trumann. She is the granddaughter of Jessie and Sharon Stewart and Greg and Tammy Mungle and the great-granddaughter of Robert and Patricia Rush and Farrell and Joan Timms...

Sibyl Ballard of Trumann was honored at Barnhill's in Jonesboro to celebrate her 90th Birthday on Saturday, Jan. 10. Among those helping her celebrate was her only sister, Mattie Upchurch, along with her son and daughter from California, who she had not seen in 26 years...

The Maple Grove EHC met Monday, Jan. 12 in the church fellowship center with eight members and County Extension Agent Sharon Linder present. A potluck lunch was enjoyed before Mary Johnson called the meeting to order...

Every winter, near the end of marching season, members of high school bands throughout Arkansas begin the audition process to become members of the Arkansas All-Region and All-State bands. In November, Trumann had 16 students earn positions with the All-Region Jazz Bands. ...

Lillian Smith, 86, of Jonesboro died Thursday, Jan.15, 2009. She had lived in Jonesboro most of her life and was of the Baptist belief. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Nona Bowman; husband, Lynn Smith; three Children, Gary Smith, Doug Smith and Kenny Smith and two sisters; Imogene and Louise...

The Poinsett County Sheriff's Office will be hosting a Part Time II/Auxiliary Officer Certification Course beginning AT 6 P.M. Feb. 9. Classes will be each Tuesday and Thursday evening thereafter. The course consists of 114 hours of instructional training of which students must pass with a 70% minimum and show at least 80% proficiency on the firearms range...

Now that colder weather is here, there is a killer lurking in our midst. You can't see it. You can't hear it. It's colorless. It's odorless. You can't taste it. But it has the potential to be deadly if left unchecked...

The Trumann City Council voted 6-4 to stick with USSSA baseball for the upcoming youth baseball season, endorsing the decision of the Parks and Recreation Committee despite divisions among the advisory board over the choice of leagues...

Not a day goes by where Joe Howard doesn't see someone barreling down his tiny residential street driving at least 50 or 60 miles per hour. He's taken down license plate numbers and gotten in his own car to try and find the person to ask them to please slow down...

Faced with concerns from customers about the decision to stop mailing second notices, Trumann Water Department will implement courtesy calls to customers before disconnecting water service. "We're catching a lot of flak about not sending out second notices," said Water Works manager Scotty Jones. ...

William Loyd "Willie" Brown, 64, of Trumann died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center. Born at Lepanto, he lived in Trumann for the past 28 years and was formerly of Buttonwillow, Calif. He was a truck driver, an auto repair technician and a Protestant...

Freda Jane Sims Cooper,53, died at her Blytheville home Friday, Jan. 16 of natural causes. Born at Lepanto on July 22, 1955 to Arvil and Ruby Sims. She was a graduate of Rivercrest High School and recently retired from the offices of United Way in...

Wanda Deeds, 76, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. She was born May 26, 1932 in Heber Springs to the late Guy and Lucy Brady. She was a checker for American Greetings and a member of the Little River Baptist Church...

Hollis Lorene Russell, 85, of Marked Tree died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 at Crittendon Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. She was born in Atkins, AR to Wade and Zettie Duvall on May 2, 1923. She was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, three sisters, her husband Thomas Russell and one son, William L. Russell...

Dorothy Wages, 89, of Marked Tree died Jan. 13 in Jonesboro. She was a homemaker and a member of the Sneed Street Baptist Church in Marked Tree. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Wages; one son, Billy Ray and there grandsons...

If history is a good indicator of the future, and it usually is, the Obama Presidency should be eventful, and maybe successful. This is the fourth election in which a new President was elected at a time in which almost everybody was ready for the sitting President to leave office and the country was facing a great crisis. In those past cases the new Presidents were able to overcome those crises...

With the inauguration being this week, I became curious and interested in inaugurations so I did a little research to locate some of the most memorable and some of the "tread-setters" of the past. The greatest guest list came from George W. ...

It's not often that I delve into politics in my column. For one thing, I feel the topic is often beaten to death in other areas of the media so there's not often anything of significance left to say. However, as I write this column, our nation approaches an historic event that I have to acknowledge. Our first African-American president will be sworn into office...

Dorothy Wages, 89, of Marked Tree died Jan. 13 in Jonesboro. She was a homemaker and a member of the Sneed Street Baptist Church in Marked Tree. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Wages; one son, Billy Ray and there grandsons...

Aiden Andrew McGuire turns 5 years old on Jan. 25. He is the son of Aleastrice McGuire of Marked Tree. McGuire is the grandson of Lisa McGuire of Marked Tree and Elliot McGuire of Danville, Ill. He is the great grandson of Rosie Lee Foxx of Marked Tree. ...

John Lynn Cole Robinson, age two, is proud to announce the birth of his new baby brother, Luke Evan Robinson. Luke was born at 2:18 p.m. on Jan. 12 weighing eight pounds and five ounces and was 20 inches long. ...

Beau Alan Price, son of Alan and Lane Price of Fort Smith, was born Nov.19, 2008, at St. Edwards Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith. He weighed six pounds, 12 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Kevin and Jill Barrows of Berryville, and John and Lesa Tedford of Charleston. ...

Amy and Brad Glover of Marked Tree are proud to announce the birth of their son, Charles Jacob Marshall Glover. He was born Dec. 27, 2008 at the St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro. Grandparents are Charles and Jeanne Glover of Tyronza and Victoria Bonds of Jonesboro. ...

Inez Mitchell of Marked Tree wishes to announce the engagement and upcoming wedding of her daughter, Tina Louise Mitchell to Larry DaShaun Crockett, son of Larry and Kim Crockett of Marked Tree. The bride-elect is a 2000 graduate of Marked Tree High School and is currently a senior at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro majoring in interdisciplinary studies with emphasis in elementary education, social work and sociology. ...

Miss Kimberley Brooke Holland and Justin Lee Patterson exchanged wedding vows at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 6 on Halcyon Beach, near Castries, the capital of St. Lucia. The bride is the daughter of George Edd and Peggy Holland of Monette. She is the granddaughter of the late George and Edna Holland of Monette, and Leona Whitley and the late Lawrence Whitley of Black Oak...

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Tucker of Marked Tree and Mr. and Mrs. David Tacker of the Black Oak community are pleased to announce the upcoming wedding of their daughter Amy Michelle Tacker to Tracy Griffin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Buron Griffin, Jr., of Helena...

EPC swept the Indians four games to none as the Warriors and Lady Warriors traveled to Marked Tree last Friday for the second set of games on the year. EPC won the first set of games relatively easily when they played in early December in Lepanto. This time, however, three of the four games were much more competitive with the two junior high games going down to the wire...

(Editor's note: This is part three of a four part series reviewing headlines from 2008) July: July 2 -- On July 7 ASU Technical Center in Marked Tree will honor two retiring administrators Keith Steele, Assistant Vice Chancellor, and Laura Walton, Director; Legion Hut, courthouse receive restoration grants. ...

Marked Tree community leaders and business owners met with officials from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHHP) last Tuesday to discuss making the city's downtown area a commercial historic district. Areas of Frisco Street and Elm Street are eligible for nomination for the program which works to aid communities in rehabilitating and preserving historic commercial buildings...

After nearly 10 years, the mystery of what happened to Marked Tree resident Patsy Baker may be solved soon. Missing since June 1999, Baker's case has never been officially closed according to Marked Tree detective Jeremy Bond...