Stories from Monday, January 4, 2010

Larry Blagg was tragically taken from his family and his brothers at the Trumann Police Department in January. But those brothers thought it only appropriate to honor his family Monday night by unanimously naming Blagg as the TPD's Officer of the Year...

All people celebrate the New Year with happiness and joy by exchanging gifts and greetings with their friends, but some strange superstitions are followed by many people around the world. Here is a list of some of the strange superstitions followed by people on New Year's Day...

Yvonne Crain, 82, of Brookland, died Friday at her home. Born in Fairfield, Ala. she had lived in Brookland since 1951. A woman of many talents, she loved sewing, gardening, canning and flowers. She loved animals and taking care of her family and was especially proud of the fact that she received her GED when she was in her 60s. ...

Verna Grace Criss was born in Jonesboro Sunday, April 20, 1941 the daughter of the late Dwight Cash Criss Sr., and Flossie Pauline Whitlatch Criss. Criss died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 at the family residence in Trumann, at the age of 68 years 8 months and 3 days. ...

John McSparin, Jr., 87 of Trumann died at the family residence Friday, Dec.25. He was born in Lunsford, Ark on Jan. 27, 1922 and had lived in Trumann for the past 10 years coming from New Madrid, Mo. ...

Joe Lewis Turnbow, 84, of Marked Tree, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away peacefully at home Dec. 27, 2009. He is survived by Betty, his wife of 63 years; daughters, Sherry Phillians of Wynne, Jerrie Woods of Marked Tree; sons-in-law Dan Phillians and Gary Woods; sister, Vernice Cupp of Marked Tree; grandchildren, Mallory Woods and Matthew Woods of Jonesboro, John Phillians and Julie Phillians of Wynne, adopted granddaughter, Rachel Winkle of Marked Tree and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.. ...

An interpretive marker honoring songwriter John L. Handcox (1904-1992) was unveiled Friday at the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, an Arkansas State University Heritage Site, located at 117 Main Street in Tyronza...

There was hope before the game that Jonesboro might not be on their game or that the Wildcats would play miles over their head, or both. Neither occurred, however, as the second seeded Hurricane blew seventh seeded Trumann off the map, 75-25 last Saturday afternoon at the NEA Tournament in Jonesboro...

A complete team effort by the EPC Warriors Monday night punched their ticket to the lower division championship game Wednesday. From Ky Madden to Chaivey Freeman, the whole team contributed to the Warriors' win over Rivercrest Monday night, 70-41. ...

Trumann's and EPC's ladies as well as Weiner's boys fell during last week's play in the NEA Tournament at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro. Lady Blazers 64 Lady Wildcats 56...

My brother and I had quite an ordeal trying to get him home after Christmas. He was supposed to fly from Memphis to Orlando Sunday. However, when he booked his flights over the phone they made a mistake. He flew into Memphis on Christmas Eve, and for some reason that booked his return flight to Orlando on the same day, just a few hours later, instead of for Sunday...

Now that Christmas is an afterthought and the houses grow quite from all the loved one's leaving, 2010 approaches like a subtle sunrise on a cloudy day. You can be sure that all the weight loss pills, work out gear and gyms are spreading their marketing dollars across the early months after New Year. It's in these pending months self-evaluation reaches its peak...

This new year is more than just a new year, it's the end of the first decade of the 21st century. If you follow Time magazine, it was a bad one. It started with a disputed presidential election that lead to our first appointed President, and ended with the worst economic crisis since the Depression. ...

Some five years ago when I started with the Democrat Tribune or the Democrat as it was known then, I wrote a column about a game between Trumann and Marianna. Marianna was ranked #1 in the state at that time, a ranking which they well deserved. The Wildcats, on the other hand, had a 5-10 record. Not exactly an even match and the score turned out appropriately, 90-39 in favor of the Trojans...