Stories from Thursday, January 29, 2009

Freezing rain coated the trees and power lines Tuesday causing broken limbs and downed power lines throughout the Tri City area. (Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

Funeral services have been announced for Trumann Police Chief Larry Blagg. The city of Trumann is in mourning following Blagg's sudden death Tuesday night. Blagg was helping clear debris from the ice storm when he was struck by a falling limb. He was taken to NEA Medical Center where they confirmed he was killed instantly...

I was watching D.L. Hughley's show on CNN Sunday night, which you should watch if you aren't already, when he came up with an interesting question to ask. He was interviewing African Americans on the Mall in Washington, D.C. ...

Many parents get their teens a cell phone so they can contact them in case of a breakdown or an emergency. That doesn't mean that they need to use it while actually driving. Did you know that almost 64,000 youths ages 15-20 died in 1994-2003 from cell phone related automobile accidents, which is about 122 a week? According to the Nationwide Insurance National Study, 20% teens send or text while driving. ...

Everywhere you look in the news economists are saying the immediate financial future is bleak. The government is handing out billions of dollars to large corporations who are in trouble. Citibank received a $45 billion bailout, but recently got a scolding call from the White House when the Obama administration heard the group ordered a $50 million private jet with some of their bailout money. ...

Addison Morgan Branch was born Jan. 15 at the St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro. She weighed eight pounds. Her parents are Ben and Deanna Branch of Marked Tree. Branch's grandparents are Michael and Loretta Branch of Tyronza, David and Debbie Smith of Tyronza and Ronnie and Tammie Parrish of Marked Tree. ...

The Poinsett County Sheriff's Office will be hosting a Part Time II/ Auxiliary Officer Certification Course, beginning at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 9. Classes will be each Tuesday and Thursday night thereafter with each class ranging from two to four hours in duration...

Poinsett County Sheriff Larry Mills said he is optimistic about county government this year and is happy to report crime is down overall throughout the county. "We've got a new county judge this year and I think he will do an excellent job," Mill said. "Charles [Nix] is a team player, and I think he will get all the communities on the same page to work with the county."...

Patricia Brown, 59, of Caraway died Friday, Jan. 23, at Baptist Memorial Hospital at Memphis. Born at Monette, Patricia lived awhile in Jackson, Miss., but lived most of her life in Caraway. She was a bookkeeper for Faulkner Tax Service in Caraway and was a member of First Baptist Church of Caraway, where she taught Sunday school and served as Vacation Bible School director...

Mildred Dunigan, 82, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center. She was born June 24, 1926, at Macey to the late James and Margaret Chambers. She retired from Buffalo Island Central School District, where she worked in the cafeteria. She was a member of Black Oak Church of Christ...

Az Elrod, 65, of Etowah died Jan. 20. He was an Osceola school bus driver, a member of the Army and of Pentecostal faith. Elrod had one sister proceeded in death, Geraldine Sims and one brother, Tony Elrod...

Johnnie Lou Pike, 68, of Lepanto died Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, at Jonesboro. Born Thursday, January 23, 1941 in Lepanto to the late Johnny Guy Nash and Lucille Carson Nash, she was a member of Eastside Baptist Church in Osceola and attended Calvary Baptist Church in Lepanto...

Jerry "Nick" Don Sutherland, 69, of Tyronza died at his residence on Jan. 24. He was a retired gin operator. He is survived by his wife, Dorothea Sutherland; five daughters, Janet Rhodes of Lakeland , Fla. ...

Gregory D. Tribble of Marked Tree received a six year prison sentence for aggravated assault and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Circuit Judge Randy Philhours handed down the sentence after Tribble, 28, pled guilty to the charges...

Cheryl Gibson, 61, of Marked Tree was charged with felony theft of property and 11 counts of forgery in the second degree following her arrest Thursday, Jan. 15 by the Marked Tree Police Department. Gibson allegedly forged $30,000 in checks...

October: Oct. 1--Fallen soldiers honored at Wall ceremony. Over 50,000 names are engraved in its shiny surface and millions of lives were touched by their sacrifice; Veterans receive hero's welcome at long last at the Marked Tree Homecoming parade...

The Tri-City area mourned the loss of a well-known business owner and beloved friend last week when Johnny Coleman Rye Sr. died a the age of 84. Rye died Thursday, Jan. 22 at his home in Marked Tree...

Jordan Madden once again led the Lady Warriors effort as she dropped in 25 points in EPC's 79-53 home victory against Rector last Thursday night at Lepanto. Playing only three quarters, Madden also added 10 rebounds to notch an almost routine double-double on the night while shooting 100% of her field goals...

Jordan Madden once again led the Lady Warriors effort as she dropped in 25 points in EPC's 79-53 home victory against Rector last Thursday night at Lepanto. Playing only three quarters, Madden also added 10 rebounds to notch an almost routine double-double on the night while shooting 100% of her field goals...

The Warriors played the Warriors when EPC traveled to Westside Saturday night. Along with that, two of the state's top college prospects showcased their game before a crowd which included Razorback coach John Pelphrey. EPC's Ky Madden came out on top of the sophomore match up with Westside's Hunter Mickelson as did the EPC Warriors, winning 59-55...

The Warriors had their hands full Friday as they traveled to Rector to take on the Cougars and barely escaped with their lives in a 73-69 win. The first period was a dead heat, 13-all as the two teams jockeyed for an edge and the first break...

Last Friday I did something which I have been wanting to do ever since I moved here. I went to Memphis and saw a Grizzlies game. You would think I get enough basketball during the week with all of the high school games I have to keep up with -- and it's been pretty busy lately - but I still wanted to go...

Everywhere you look in the news economists are saying the immediate financial future is bleak. The government is handing out billions of dollars to large corporations who are in trouble. Citibank received a $45 billion bailout, but recently got a scolding call from the White House when the Obama administration heard the group ordered a $50 million private jet with some of their bailout money. ...

Many parents get their teens a cell phone so they can contact them in case of a breakdown or an emergency. That doesn't mean that they need to use it while actually driving. Did you know that almost 64,000 youths ages 15-20 died in 1994-2003 from cell phone related automobile accidents, which is about 122 a week? According to the Nationwide Insurance National Study, 20% teens send or text while driving. ...

Newly released statistics show Trumann saw a nearly three percent decrease in crime in 2008 compared to the previous year. The city also experienced a nearly 30 percent drop in drug violations, the figures show. Trumann Police Chief Larry Blagg said the city continues to battle methamphetamine but is seeing a big decline in the number of labs...

The city of Trumann has received a check for repairs at the Sports Complex. Mayor Sheila Walters told the Trumann Rotary Club at its Jan. 22 meeting that their insurance carrier issued the city a check for $26,000. "The city just got the check yesterday," Walters said. "The insurance has done well on that."...

Mayor Sheila Walters has readied a list of potential infrastructure projects which the city might be eligible to receive funding for if Congress approves President Obama's proposed federal stimulus package...

Newly released statistics show Trumann saw a nearly three percent decrease in crime in 2008 compared to the previous year. The city also experienced a nearly 30 percent drop in drug violations, the figures show...

Teachers at Cedar Park Elementary School are excited about a new after school tutoring program which they believe will boost reading and math skills. The school held its first Camp Wildcat session this week for students in the second through sixth grades...

Sometimes a team just has your number. That's the way it has been all season long for the Wildcats, who beat Highland for the fourth time this season 55-38 on Jan. 23. "We haven't really blown them out," Dulaney said. "This is the most we have beaten them by. ...

The last time the Wildkittens went to Highland they got blown out by about 15 points. Marty Vallance was much happier with the results this time out. This time around the team did a much better job of rebounding, hitting free throws and staying out of foul trouble...

Emilee Grace Carpenter was born Jan. 15 at the St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro. She weighed six pounds and four ounces. Her parents are Jennifer and Jimmy Carpenter of Marked Tree. Carpenter's grandparents are Linda Kirby of Marked Tree and Sue and Jimmy Carpenter of Payneway. She was welcomed home by her siblings Garret, eight years old; Jayla, seven years old; and Dallas, three years old...