Stories from Saturday, July 2, 2011

TRUMANN - Mrs. Ann Carolyn Knight, 81, of Trumann, died Friday night at her home. She was born in Jonesboro and had lived in Trumann since 1955. Mrs. Knight was the Trumann High School counselor's secretary until her retirement in 1993. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Trumann, served as secretary and historian of the Twentieth Century Club and as President of the Century Arts and Civics Club. She and her husband were the first Jaycettes and Jaycees husband wife team. She served as President in 1960, was selected as a Key Jaycette and was Trumann's Woman of the Year in 1962. She was a Girl Scout leader and District Chairman for the Crowley Ridge Girl Scout Council, and was active with the Trumann PTA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Knight; parents, Cecil Kinney and Kate Treece Kinney Richardson, and stepfather, Earl Richardson. Survivors include two daughters, Deborah Norman of Trumann and Elizabeth (Libby) Evans and husband Jim of Atoka, Tenn.; one brother, Don Richardson and wife Jo of Ocean Springs, Miss.; one grandchild, Elizabeth Dye and husband Jason of Jackson, Miss., and two great-grandchildren, Ryan and Blake Dye. A memorial funeral service was Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Trumann. Visitation was Monday evening from 5 until 7 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann. An online guest book can be signed at www.thompsonfuneralhome.net. Memorials can be made to Trumann First Baptist Church or the Trumann Library.

TRUMANN - Mr. Donald Gene Bryant, 49, of Trumann, died Saturday, June 18, 2011, at the family residence. He was born in Keiser, Ark., and had lived his lifetime in Trumann. Mr. Bryant was part owner of B&B Tree Services, was formerly employed by Roach Manufacturing Corp. and was of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and taking care of his family. Mr. Bryant was preceded in death by his father, Don Bryant, and his grandparents. Survivors include one son, Kyle Bryant; his mother, Nelldean Bryant; one brother, Ronald Bryant; two sisters, Pam Phillips and Christy Bloodworth, all of Trumann, and one grandson, Ayden Stotts Bryant. Funeral services were Wednesday afternoon, June 22, at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann with Rev. Bobby Brooks officiating. Burial followed in Pine Hill Cemetery in Jonesboro, Ark. Active pallbearers were Jacob McDaniel, Brandon Hendrix, Josh Kirkland, Bobby Kirkland, Stanley Kirkland and Richard Smith. Visitation was Wednesday, June 22, from 12:30 p.m. until time of service at Thompson Funeral Home. An online guest book can be signed at www.thompsonfuneralhome.net.

TRUMANN - Mrs. Margaret Helen "Peggy" Columbus Gann, 97, of Trumann, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born in McKeesport, Pa., had lived the past 35 years in Trumann and was formerly of California. Mrs. Gann was a registered nurse and member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Walter Piper; second husband, Tyre Woodrow Gann; three sisters, one brother, and her parents, Joseph and Monica Columbus. Survivors include three daughters, Margaret Bradley and husband Avery of Lufkin, Texas, Ruth Ann Osborne and husband Ray of Denver, Colo., and Billie Jean Graves and husband Ronny of San Diego, Calif.; one nephew, W.D. Gann and wife Sharon of Marked Tree, Ark.; five grandchildren, Billie Lou Tipton, Michael, Robert and Jimmy Osborne and Shannon Graves; seven great-grandchildren, Stephen, Rachael, Laura, Shaya, Kyle, Tara and Samantha, and five great-great-grandchildren, Christopher, Jeremiah, Gabriel, Alexander and Margaret. Funeral service was Thursday afternoon, June 16, at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann with Dr. Tad Rogers officiating. Burial was private in Potters Memorial Cemetery in Lepanto, Ark. Visitation was Thursday, June 16, from 12 noon until time of service at Thompson Funeral Home. An online register book can be signed at www.thompsonfuneralhome.net.

LEPANTO - Estylee Inez Pilgrim, 93, of Lepanto, died Monday, June 20, 2011, in Three Rivers Nursing Center at Marked Tree. She was a homemaker and a member of West Ridge Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earnest Ray Pilgrim, and two sons. Survivors include four daughters, Betty Rogers, Shirley Rogers, Paulette Stovall (Jerry) and Joyce Gatlin (Mack), all of Lepanto; a brother, James Anl of Indianapolis, Ind.; 23 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grandchildren. Visitation was from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday in Murphy Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Huey Meherg officiating. Burial is in Potter Memorial Cemetery.

Pizza USA and Chinese, dine-in and take out Chinese food and pizza buffet, has reopened in Trumann. To celebrate, members of the Chamber of Commerce, Trumann mayor Shelia Walters, police and fire stations and other community members held a ribbon cutting. "We have made many improvements," said Richard Li, owner of Pizza USA and Chinese. "We have had many changes, with new designs. "We have the best Chinese food in the area, with salads, desserts and ice cream. We also have American favorites like fried catfish, fried okra and pizza." The restaurant hours are Sunday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Pizza USA and Chinese is located at 537 Hwy. 463 South and can be reached at (870) 483-1333.

Kids got their hands dirty at ASU Technical Center in Marked Tree. Twenty kids aged 7 to 11 spent last week learning and working on projects at this year's Exploration Camp. Thursday morning, they were outside with power drills constructing corn toss games under the supervision and guidance of Bill Stanley. Camp co-leader Allison King said the game was made of recycled wood and that the kids would take them home so they could play with their families. Stanley also helped the kids make stick horses earlier in the week and models of the Gemini Capsule and the Space Shuttle Endeavor, the first and last space capsules, which the kids decorated. Later in the day, the kids painted scenery for a skit they presented Friday for their families to show them what they had learned during the week of camp. "They've had a really great time this year," camp co-leader Paula Morgan said. The theme for this year's Exploration Camp was Toy Story, and many of the activities and projects had themes related to Toy Story, such as space, horses, cowboys, dinosaurs and toys. In addition to woodworking projects, the kids made kaleidoscopes, learned about the life cycle of a star, made vests and sheriff stars like Woody's from Toy Story, and had a stick horse rodeo.

The staff at Lake Poinsett State Park invites all to join in 4th of July weekend fun. There are still campsites available and there will be activities for kids of all ages. On Saturday, July 2, from 11 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., Lake Poinsett will offer an experience for children and adults alike called, "Things that make you go Ewwwwww!" Snakes and spiders make a lot of people say "Ewwwwwwww!" They think they are slimy or scary, but that's not really the case. Join an interpreter at the campfire ring in the campground for an up close view of a Speckled King Snake and Chocolate Tarantula and learn a bit more about these interesting creatures. There will then be a Kid's Campfire Cooking class July 2 from 6 until 7 p.m. Join Lake Poinsett State Park employees at the campfire ring in the campground to make some treats. Children will learn to make treats like popcorn on a stick and honey bear's delight. The cost is $2 per person and all ages are welcome to attend. Looking for a fun way to cool off? On Sunday, July 3, at 2 p.m., join the staff at the Visitor Center for a sweet, cool, ice cream treat that you get to make yourself. The cost is $1 per person. Lake Poinsett State Park is one of the 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The 135-acre park offers camping, a boat launch ramp, a standard pavilion, picnic sites, restrooms and bathhouse on 640-acre Lake Poinsett. Along with the visitor center and gift shop, the park offers two nature trails and year-round interpretive programs. For more information about the yard sale or any other park events, contact the park at (870) 578-2064 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.

The Lepanto City Council amended ordinance 258, which lists rules organizations soliciting donations at intersections, something the council discussed at last month's meeting. The purpose of the amendment is to prevent fraudulent organizations from soliciting donations in town. Under the new ordinance, only charitable organizations may solicit donations after obtaining a permit from the city clerk and publishing an announcement in the newspaper. Groups must have a local sponsor if they are from out of town, must wear reflective vests, and may only solicit during the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Violators are subject to a fine of at least $25. In old business, the council heard a request from Dewena Brimingham asking for a section of Russell Street to be declared abandoned by the city. Russell Street dead-ends in front of the river. The section in question is between the river and where the pavement of Russell Street ends. A public hearing will be held at 6:45 p.m before the next council meeting, which will be on Tuesday, July 19, before a decision will be made. The council also heard from David Simmons, director of Riverside Ambulance. Simmons asked if the city was interested in licensing its first responder vehicle to Riverside. Riverside would leave the vehicle at the station in town and would take over all responsibility for it. The issue will be tabled until the next meeting so more details can be gathered concerning who owns what on the vehicle and what it's worth. Mayor Jernigan gave an update on the dog pound at the sewer pond. He said work is progressing and that it hopefully will be up and running in the next few weeks. The city then can hire a dogcatcher. Jernigan also said representatives from FEMA had come by to look at roads and erosion and will decide if the city is eligible for money for repairs. Jernigan said there are several drainage projects coming including one at the cemetery and one at Sycamore Street. He also said the recycling grant for $45,000 is in limbo. There had been talk of using it for a building to store a fire truck, but the project must follow what is on the original application. The council also discussed their dissatisfaction with Anthony Smith's work managing the ballpark because, they said, he is allegedly not scheduling tournaments or doing all he promised to do. Jernigan also talked about the city's water problems. He said there are three solutions to getting cleaner water in Lepanto: phosphate can be added, but that causes more leaks; a filtering system can be bought to filter out rust, or pipes can be replaced. The city's water pipes are so old that he said, "It's gotten to the point where patching is no good. You'll have to start replacing line." He said they are working on the problem and trying to get grant money, but added "grants are few and far between."

Trumann unveiled a Purple Heart monument Friday, June 24, located near the walking track at the Sports Complex. Trumann officials came out to honor local heroes who have served in past wars, like William Eugene Thompson, who has received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam War, and John Sadler, who has received two Purple Hearts and multiple Bronze Stars for service during World War II. The Craighead County Honor Guard performed a ceremony, unveiling the new monument. "We appreciate everyone who donated to help our city receive this," said Bill Thomas. "It's an honor for our Purple Heart veterans. It's something we can feel good about."

Dr. Lonnie Williams, associate vice chancellor for student affairs at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, recently talked to the Marked Tree Rotary club about his book which gives an oral history of integration at the University of Arkansas-Fayettville. Remembrances in Black: Personal Perspectives of the African American Experience at the University of Arkansas 1940s-2000s, was published in December of 2010. Williams said the book took three years to complete. He co-authored the book with Dr. Charles Robinson, the vice provost for diversity at U of A. Dr. Robinson worked on the historical aspects of the campus while Dr. Williams conducted interviews with alumni and faculty. Each chapter encompasses ten years and opens with a historical section followed by interviews. "I met alumni from as far as 1949," Williams said. The first African-American student admitted to the U of A was Silas Hunt, who was admitted into the law school in 1948. "U of A was founded in 1871," Williams said. "There was one African-American in the first class, but none were admitted since then until 1948. Some attempted and were denied. U of A's claim to fame is that it is the first Southern institution to integrate without the threat of litigation." Robinson said it became an economic issue because if an African-American student wanted to go to graduate or professional school, they had to go out of state. Initially, only graduate students were allowed in. African-American undergraduates were not let in until the late 1950s. For comparison, ASU's first African-American student was admitted in 1955, as was University of Central Arkansas'. Henderson State University integrated in 1956, University of Arkansas at Monticello in 1963. "Fayetteville was ahead of the curve," Williams said. "We called the first six African-Americans who attended between 49 and 52 the Six Pioneers." Eugene Dowell was the first African-American from Fayetteville to get a degree. Dr. Williams said that U of A also recently honored a woman who graduated in 1951 but was not allowed to attend commencement. Lothaire Green, the mother of Ernest Green who was one of the Little Rock Nine, received a letter in 1951 telling her not to attend commencement. She died in 1976, but the university honored her this year. Her daughter, Treopia Washington, attended commencement ceremonies to accept the master's degree in education Green earned 60 years ago. The first two oral histories in the book are interviews with George Haley and Christopher Mercer Jr., who are the oldest African-American Alumni. Dr. Williams said his favorite story in the book is that of Dale Brown, who wanted to be the first to integrate the football team in the 1960s and talks about his experience as a walk-on player trying to get on the team. U of A fully integrated in 1965 when Robert Whitfield and others sued the university for the right to live in the residence halls. Before that, African-American students could only live in the residence halls in the summer and lived in the African-American community in Fayetteville the rest of the year. "Most of the people in the book talk about their relationship to the African-American community and what a support they were," Williams said. "Students were more actively involved than the community in getting the city pool integrated." He said there were also advocates at the university as well. "The Dean of the Law School at the time took a proactive stance. He was an advocate for integration." "People talk about their experiences, good and bad," Williams said. "Not one person said, 'If I had to do it again, I wouldn't.' The book is about triumph as much as adversity, if not more so." In Rotary-related news, the Marked Tree Rotary club was awarded the Partnership of the Year award from the Arkansas Sunken Lands Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Every day, most children in America have a morning routine that involves waking up and fixing a bowl of cereal, grabbing a piece of fruit or pouring a glass of milk. The majority of children in our communities receive a healthy breakfast and lunch, but not every child is fed. St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Bay is planning on changing that for children in Bay and in Trumann. Basil Joiner is the pastor of St. Paul and has helped start a program to feed hungry children in the area, by providing them free breakfasts and lunches. "Our goal is to feed 300 kids in Bay and 100 kids in Trumann," said Joiner. "We are always looking for volunteers. We need people who can help bring children, who might be in the surrounding area, to our sites in Bay and Trumann so they can receive a free meal." Through the USDA and the Department of Human Services, St. Paul went through 16 hours of staff training to make sure that the free food program was in compliance with program rules, health codes and civil laws. "This is an open site," said Joiner. "There is no discrimination. Anyone 18-years and under can receive a free meal if they come to one of the sites." Through this program, local churches that are interested can also become a site for free meals. St. Paul would prepare all of the food and churches can pick up the meals daily. Churches that would like to participate must fill out an application for approval first and provide St. Paul with the number of meals they would need. "We don't want to see any child turned down or go hungry," said Joiner. "We will even provide other churches tables and chairs for the children they feed or we encourage them to come here and eat with us at our site. Our cafeteria can hold 150 guests at one time." St. Paul provides a nutritious menu. Each meal contains each food group and is portioned to regulation. "We make sure our kids get plenty of milk," said Joiner. "And we have great cooks who don't just serve stuff straight from the can. They put a little love into everything. We want our kids to eat their vegetables." Members of St. Paul and the community have helped make the program a success by donating their time, energy and resources. "I just want to thank those who have given, both communities, Bay's mayor Curtis and Trumann's mayor Walters who have been so supportive," said Joiner. "Also to the members of New Rising Sun Missionary Baptist Church, who are letting us use their site to reach kids in Trumann. Thanks to all of the people who are spreading the word, handing out flyers and letting people know we are here and are trying to make an impact on the community by keeping our children healthy." This program will last 40 days, then after an assessment, might be able to continue year round. Joiner has said he would like to see the sites open on the weekends in future, as more people join in the efforts. Food donations will be accepted by St. Paul, if they meet guideline set out by the program. St. Paul also welcomes any volunteers. Children are welcome to come to the site in Bay at the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church or the site in Trumann at the New Rising Sun Missionary Baptist Church for breakfast starting at 8 a.m. and lasting until 9 a.m. and lunch starting at noon and lasting until 1 p.m. The only requirement is that children are 18 years and under. To contact the Bay site for more information call (870) 636-6027 and for the Trumann site call (870) 636-6026.

Harold Williams always felt he could write but didn't start writing seriously until after he semi-retired at the age of 62. He worked in marketing and retail all his professional life and was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division. Since he started writing, his short stories and essays have been published in magazines throughout the United States and Canada, and several have won awards. His new book, Crowley's Ridge: Collected Stories of H.R. Williams, includes 35 of his genre-spanning short stories. Williams said his book contains "every kind of story you can imagine. There are stories in the human drama genre. There are mysteries, a couple of ghost stories, and stories about outdoor activities from squirrel hunting to frog gigging." One thing the stories all have in common is that they all take place in eastern Arkansas along Crowley's Ridge. It's an area Williams knows well. He was born in Marianna, grew up in Helena and West Helena, lived in Jonesboro for many years, and currently lives in Trumann. "Ernest Hemingway said write what you truly know. I know the Arkansas Delta very well. I'm an old Arkansas boy. Almost all my short stories and both novels are set in eastern Arkansas," Williams said. Williams said his urge to tell stories was inspired by his father. "My father was a great storyteller. Some of the stories in this collection were inspired by stories he told. He did accents and everything." In fact, the first story Williams wrote, "Shaker Mose," was inspired by a story his father told him. "When I first started, I couldn't think of what to write. I remembered a story my father told of an old black man who lived on my great-grandfather's farm. It's fictionalized, but all the stories in this collection have a current of fact. The last story in the collection, called 'Supper for the Dead,' is about an activity in LaGrange. There's a cemetery on a hill, and all the folks in town meet once a year for supper. The proceeds go to the cemetery on the hill. It's a true to life account of what happens each year." Williams wrote Shaker Mose in 1995. "It was the first story I wrote, and I sold it. That gave me confidence." Since then, Williams has written numerous stories, many of which appear in Crowley's Ridge, and two novels. His first novel was Harris: The Return of the Gunfighter, a traditional western about a retired gunfighter who straps on the guns one last time to help a sheriff who's in trouble. "The difference between my book and most westerns is that instead of being set in Arizona or Texas, this is set in Eastern Arkansas right after the Civil War." The novel takes place in the fictional town of Medford, which is patterned after Helena, where Williams grew up. His second novel, The Whiskey Killing, takes place in Medford in modern times. It's a police procedural about a detective investigating a murder in which the killer empties an entire bottle of whiskey on the victim after the killing. "A few readers have guessed who the murderer is, but none have guessed the ending," Williams said. The Whiskey Killing was awarded first prize by the National League of American PEN Women. Williams listed his favorite writers as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, Mark Twain, John le CarrČ and Nelson DeMille. Williams currently lives in Trumann with his wife. He is the father of four and grandfather of six. He will have a book signing for his new book at Barnes and Noble in Jonesboro on Saturday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fans may also contact the author via e-mail at hrwilliams@rittermail.com for a signed and dedicated copy.