Stories from Thursday, December 3, 2009

He had two left arms! Two! This forever epitomizes my life. Growing up all kids loved the Simpsons. The longest standing cartoon sitcom was one of my favorites when I was kid. Bart Simpson was the coolest!...

No matter how you feel about the issue of health reform you have to give Blanche Lincoln credit for not taking the easy way out in her vote for the plan. It would have been much easier and safer for her to vote against the plan. In the end she did what she thought was right, and isn't that what we want her to do?...

We see it on television every Christmas: a movie that continues to be a favorite from generation to generation, "It's a Wonderful Life". The film's setting was reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart's Pennsylvania hometown, where his mother played the organ for their church...

I like to shop as much as the next lady, or at least I used to think so. After a great visit on Thanksgiving, my mom and I decided to do something we hadn't done in literally 15 years. We decided to go shopping on "Black Friday."...

Judy Ann Copping, 58, of Ward, passed away Nov. 22, 2009. She will be missed and remembered always for her smile and compassion and her ability to make life interesting. She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Esta Bennett; four brothers, Paul, Jack, Dale and Ray Bennett; and a nephew whom she loved as a brother, George Bennett...

Thelma Lucille Doty passed away Saturday, Nov. 28. She was pronounced dead at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro after having a heart attack at her home in Trumann. Mrs. Doty lived in pain for many years refusing to give up and leave her children. ...

Sammy "Fat" Hatley, 74, of Marked Tree died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 in Tyronza. A member of First United Methodist Church in Marked Tree, he farmed in Crittenden County for 52 years. He had several farming operations in seven states, but his primary farm was in Arkansas...

Taylor Wayne "Punk City" "Tmac" McPherson, 16 of Trumann died Friday at the Med in Memphis, Tennessee. Taylor was born in Jonesboro, Ark., and was a lifetime resident of Trumann. He was a 10th grader at Trumann High School, played football and basketball and loved hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Trumann...

Betty Jean Walker-Phelps, 77, died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. She was born Dec. 11, 1931, in Marked Tree, the daughter of William and Clinton (Holbrook) Walker, Sr. Betty grew up in Marked Tree, graduating from Marked Tree High School. ...

Clarence Darrel Reese, 87, of Trumann died Wednesday, Nov. 25 at the family residence. He was born Saturday, July 22, 1922, in Pryor, Mo., and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He was a retired service manager for the former Firestone and Goodyear Stores in Trumann, was a veteran of the U.S. ...

Ravin Almer "R.A." Woodard, 81, of Trumann, died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born in Shreveport, La., and had lived most of his lifetime in the Trumann area. Mr. Woodard was an employee of the Singer plant for 28 years and was of the Pentecostal faith. He was the son of the late Clarence Ravin and Mary Veoni McCalister Woodard...

Lepanto's Friends of the Goldsby Library will be having a membership drive starting in the month of January. "We will be sending out letters starting at the beginning of the year for those who want to join," said Patsy McClain...

Poinsett County Sheriff's Office investigators arrested three men on Nov. 20, for their involvement in attempting to manufacturing methamphetamine. Detective Bobby New had been watching the residence of John W. Shaver in Harrisburg due to the report of suspicious activities taking place at the residence. ...

Trumann coaches Greg White and Skip Dulaney are, along with students, still in shock over the death of Taylor Wayne McPhearson, 16, of Trumann. McPhearson, a popular student and promising athlete for the Wildcats, was killed Friday, Nov. 27, while hunting near Jackson, Tenn...

In 2003, Lindsay Ainsworth was 21, moving to Chicago and looking at art schools. During her trip, the 2000 graduate of Trumann High School had an asthma attack and blacked out. She was taken to a hospital and several tests were conducted. The young woman who had played softball in school and in summer leagues most of her life learned she was suffering kidney failure...

If the game being played was basketball, the Harrisburg Hornets could now say they are in the elite-eight in the state. It's football, however, and yet still the Hornets can lay claim to being one of the elite programs in 3A football in Arkansas. They have proved that fact so far with an 11-1 record, a loss to Rivercrest their only blemish. But, now with wins over Jessieville and Camden Harmony Grove, Harrisburg is only three wins away from their first state championship...

The Harrisburg Lady Hornets (3-5) showed plenty of energy against the Corning Lady Bobcats during the first half of their game Monday night according to coach Eric Teague. "They are a very big and disciplined team, but we played and rebounded with them," said Teague. "Unfortunately, we had no energy in the second half. We couldn't buy a shot and they out rebounded us."...

With 32 points and 14 rebounds, Lacy Staten led the Trumann Lady Wildcats to victory over the Weiner Lady Cardinals in first round action at the Pre-Holiday Tournament in Weiner. At 6-feet tall, Staten seemingly towered over girls trying to drive in and score a basket. With impressive ease, Staten swatted away the Cardinals hope-filled shots like a fly...

Led by a group of eighth graders that went undefeated as seventh graders, Head Coach Christy Buchanan is excited about her junior high team's chances this year. "This is the best group of eighth graders, I've ever seen," Buchanan said. Jaden Malone plays post for Buchanan. "She is a strong post player and is really fast," she said...

Senior guard Richie Tharp led the Trumann Wildcats with 30 points in their defeat of the Marked Tree Indians on Nov. 24, 91-69. Trumann Coach Skip Dulaney was pleased with the Wildcats performance in their first game. "I am very pleased," Dulaney said. "I couldn't ask for more. We shot well. Made good shots and our seniors showed good leadership on the floor."...