Stories from Friday, November 11, 2011

John and Sarah Kirby of Pocahontas announce the birth of a son, Dutch Palmer, on July 20, 2011, weighing 7 pounds and 11 ounces. Maternal grandparents are Kenny and Micki Doyle of Alexander and Jeri and John Walker of Pocahontas. Paternal grandparents are Alvie and Debbie Kirby of Marked Tree. Great-grandparents are Reva Doyle and Colma Lee Grissom of Pocahontas, Jenetta Lansdale of Marked Tree and Jerry and Brenda Grissom of Cherokee Village. Dutch Palmer has two-year-old brother, Liam Kirby.

Tracy and Amy Griffin of Helena proudly announce the arrival of their son, Tripp Owen, born at 11:40 a.m. Sept. 15. He weighed 5 pounds 14 1/2 ounces and was 19 inches long at birth. Tripp is the grandson of Patrick and Angela Tucker of Marked Tree, David and Vivian Tacker of Black Oak, and Buron and Judy Griffin of Helena. He is the great-grandson of Bill Craft of Marked Tree, Ralph and Ginger Tacker of Black Oak, Buron and Jewell Griffin of Helena, and John Dozier of Hot Springs. He is also the great-great-grandson of Gaulena Higgins of St. Peters, Mo., formerly of Marked Tree.

Monty and Priscilla Townson of Dyess announce the birth of their new daughter, Kinleigh Reece Townson, at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Kinleigh weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces and was 20.77 inches long at birth. She has one brother, Bradon, and two sisters, Matilyne, 6, and Lainey, 22 months. Her maternal grandparents are Wilford and Rena Ballard of Marked Tree.Her paternal grandparents are Jerry and Diann Townson of Dyess. Maternal great-grandparents are the late Riley and Linnie Miller of Marked Tree and the late Thomas and Era Ballard of Marked Tree. Paternal great-grandparents are Cleton and Willie Jones of Dyess and the late Carl and Ruby Townson of Dyess.

The Trumann Junior ROTC will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in the high school auditorium. The public is invited to attend

A group of people from Tyronza, Lepanto, and Marked Tree have formed a committee to bring the Vietnam Traveling Wall to Tyronza for next year's Stars and Stripes Jubilee. The dates they have asked for the wall's visit are May 14-19. In order to do this, they must raise around $10,000. David Wood, chairman of the Bring the Wall to Tyronza Committee, explained why the group wants to bring the wall to Tyronza. "In 2008, the Wall came to Marked Tree. A group of Vietnam veterans from Charlie Company were having their reunion in Memphis, and one of the things they did was to come to visit the Wall in Marked Tree," Wood said. "As the bus convoy made its way to Marked Tree, a group of students from East Poinsett County Elementary School in Tyronza went to the overpass in Tyronza and held up flags and a welcome sign as they passed through Tyronza. The veterans riding the buses said, 'Finally, we got our welcome home!' A group of these veterans have adopted our area as their 'home away from home.' They have come to the Stars and Stripes and Cotton Pickin' Jubilee each year since they visited the wall. While they were down in September of this year, they expressed an interest for us to bring the Wall back to our festival so they could see it one more time," Wood said. The committee currently has two fundraisers scheduled to help raise money to get the Wall. One is a memorial Christmas Tree. A Christmas ornament can be purchased to be displayed on the tree from Dec. 2 through Jan. 2. The cost of ornaments ranges from $10 to $15. The committee is also selling t-shirts. The shirts cost $15 each. They are also looking for 60 sponsors whose names will be printed on the back of the t-shirts. The $50 sponsorship cost includes a t-shirt with the sponsor's name printed on the back. "Thank you for any donation you might be able to give to help us bring the Wall to Tyronza," Wood said. For more information or to donate, please contact David at (870) 243-4914 or Donna at (870) 487-2168.

First Pentecostal Church in Trumann will have a churchwide rummage sale from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 5. The church is located on the corner of Temple and Christy. Inside you will find furniture, big screen tv's, clothes and lots of other items.

An AARP driver safety program class will be offered from 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 8 at the ASU Technical Center in Marked Tree. To pre-register for the class, call Charles Abanathy at (870) 239-9696 or register the day of the class. Registration fees are $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members, payable the day of class. Participants need to take their AARP membership card to get the AARP discount, and everyone needs to take a driver's license. Those who attend will receive a discount on auto insurance for three years. All military personnel, active duty, veterans, National Guard, reserves or Coast Guard (spouses, widows and widowers) are eligible to receive a free DSP class in the month of November 2011.

Waking up to fresh crisp air on a beautiful fall morning is always a treat, but the smell of frying bacon and warm biscuits in the oven makes it even better. Join the staff of Lake Poinsett State Park for a Breakfast Dutch Oven Cooking Workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, and learn how to make breakfast camp style in a Dutch oven. Each participant will receive all the recipes and a Lodge Logic cast iron muffin pan. The cost is $25 per individual and $5 per additional guest. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call the park at (870) 578-2064. 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 workshop up or any other park events, contact the park at (870) 578-2064 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.

The magical voice of Gary Morris has thrilled audiences all over the world. In his first visit to Jonesboro Aug. 4 for the inaugural Johnny Cash Music Festival, held at ASU's Convocation Center, he received two standing ovations -- one for Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," performed as a duet with his son Matt, and the other for his signature "Wind Beneath My Wings," which he began solo on acoustic guitar before being joined by Matt. Morris is excited about returning to Jonesboro at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, for a special concert which, like the August event, is in support the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home restoration project in Dyess. However, while the August concert featured a star-studded lineup which included about 10 other performers, Morris will perform solo this time, allowing the audience to savor the magnificence of his voice, get to know him better and to hear many more songs which might be among their favorites. Tickets are now on sale for the event, to be held in ASU's Riceland Hall at the Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, in Jonesboro. "The only problem about my last time in Jonesboro was it wasn't long enough," Morris said. "People were great. I'm looking forward to coming back and playing for you." VIP tickets are $50 and will include a pre-concert meet-and-greet with Morris. Lower-level tickets are $40 and upper-level tickets $30. Morris, an award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist, burst onto the national music scene in 1982, earning Billboard's New Male Artist of the Year award with his self-titled debut album and producing the breakthrough hit "Headed for a Heartache," which reached number six on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1981. From there, he went on to record 15 top 10 country songs, including "Wind Beneath My Wings," one of the most popular songs of the generation, which was named the Academy of Country Music's Single of the Year in 1983. Morris has been prolific in his career, appearing in more than 20 solo and compilation albums. Seeking a break from touring with his music, Morris took his soaring voice to Broadway, performing as Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables." Morris was highly regarded for his performance, with his rendition of "Bring Him Home" -- one of the most memorable songs of the production -- included on the platinum selling "Les Miserables" compilation album. He has appeared on a number of television shows, including hosting "North American Sportsman" on TNN, the network's top-ranked show, for five years, and has guest-starred, hosted or produced numerous television shows, including the Tonight Show, General Hospital, and Designing Women. He has appeared in command performances for the Queen of England, President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, President and Mrs. George Bush, President and Mrs. Bill Clinton, and President and Mrs. George W. Bush, as well as performing at the Red, White, and Blue Inaugural Ball for President and Mrs. Barack Obama. Considering those performances, it comes as no surprise that Morris is one of America's greatest performers of patriotic music. He is well-known for his masterful renditions of "The National Anthem" and "God Bless America," among others. His newest studio release, "Faith and Freedom," displays the essence of the principles on which America was founded. Morris recently returned to the studio and to the road after a self-imposed hiatus from music. He currently is touring to publicize "Faith and Freedom." He appeared in December 2010 in Rector for a fundraiser for that community's Helping Hands Foundation, which provides assistance to disadvantaged students, as well as college scholarships -- many to ASU. While Rector is a small venue when compared to the massive arenas and worldwide audiences with which Morris has shared his amazing gifts, there's a touching sentiment behind the Helping Hands Foundation which Morris said drew him to the area. "The story is compelling in the very fact the community can raise money and provide scholarships for these kids and all it takes is someone with a little bit of talent," Morris said. "How can you not love an organization like the Helping Hands Foundation which is designed to help these young people have opportunities they might not have otherwise? When I learned about the foundation from my friend Bill Carter (co-founder of the organization), I knew it was something I wanted to be involved in. I told him, 'Whenever you do another one (concert), tell me and I'll come play.' My talent, whatever it may be, is a gift from God. I've been able to use it to make a great life, and I want to use the opportunities I've been afforded to help others. I think there's a time when the fortunate have to repay the blessings they've received." Morris is no stranger to assisting worthy causes. He has long been a supporter of TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), which offers grief counseling and support to military families who have lost loved ones to the tragedies of war. During a recent golf tournament which he helped sponsor, Morris was introduced to a nine-year-old girl who spoke about the impact TAPS had on her family after losing her father in Afghanistan. Morris was so moved by the story that he invited the girl, who has a strong interest in the outdoors, to join him on a five-day elk hunt. Rachel Worby, music director and conductor of the Pasadena Pops Orchestra, says,"Gary Morris is, above all else, a consummate musician. His soul is filled with song and his spirit is filled with a desire to bring music into the lives of all for whom he performs...." The Dallas Morning News noted, "There are voices that transcend seasons and settings. Gary Morris has one of those voices." Deborah Evans-Price, of the Boot, has called his voice "incredible," and Morris's critics and fans alike seem to concur. Those who wish may visit Morris online at http://www.garymorris.com/. For more details on the Dec. 11 concert, contact Christy Valentine (cvalentine@astate.edu), executive director, University Communications, (870) 972-3780, or purchase tickets at the ASU Central Box Office (http://www.astate.edu/tickets/), (870) 972-2781, or toll-free at 888-278-3267.

Zachary Ingram of Trumann was arrested Oct. 23 and charged with forgery. Trumann police were given information that someone possibly was using stolen checks at a Trumann area convenience store. After investigating the matter, police determined a female individual lost a checkbook and a check had been cashed at Valero. Police located Ingram and interviewed him as to his involvement in the matter. Ingram admitted to finding the check, filling it out and then cashing it at the store for $350. Ingram's court date is set for Nov. 30 and his bond is set at $25,000.

Two men, Brandon Bowen and Patrick Campbell, were arrested Oct. 19 on drug related charges. The Poinsett County Sheriff's Department was contacted by a Trumann K-9 officer about a possible meth lab on Kassinger Lane. Jackie Colter had contacted the Trumann officer and advised him that her grandson, Bowen, was in the shed behind her house at 17054 Kassinger Lane cooking meth. Colter signed a consent to search form for the house and shed and gave the deputies permission to search the residence. Officers conducted a search of the shed first and found two glass light bulbs with the bottoms removed that appeared to be used to smoke methamphetamine. Deputies then went to the front door of the residence and made contact with Campbell and Bowen. They were detained until the search was completed. Upon search of the residence, deputies found a plastic bag with a 20-ounce plastic bottle with an off-white substance inside that was consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine referred to as the "one-pot" method, coffee filters and Ziploc bags. Campbell and Bowen were placed into custody. While searching Bowen, deputies found a small corner baggie with an off-white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine. Both subjects were taken to the Poinsett County Detention Center, where, officers said, Bowen was biligerent and uncooperative. Bowen admitted verbally that he and Campbell smoked about a gram of methamphetamine inside the shed before deputies arrived. During another search at the jail, Bowen was again uncooperative. Bowen is being charged with possession of methamphetamine, manufacturing of methamphetamine, four counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct. Campbell is being charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to use and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use. Both Bowen and Campbell are being held for a Poinsett County hearing.

Evelyn Nunally Hall, 87, of Copperas Cove, Texas, passed away Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Mrs. Hall was born in Tyronza and was a resident for over 70 years. She graduated from Tyronza High School in 1942 and held several positions in the First Delta Bank in Tyronza until her retirement. She was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church in Tyronza. Mrs. Hall was preceded in death by her husband, Carl W. Hall; her parents, Maggie and J.W. Nunally, and her brother, Ray Nunally, all of Tyronza. She is survived by her sons, Joseph H. Hall of Cabot, Ark.; Robert W. Hall and wife Carroll of Copperas Cove, Texas; her sister, Marie Sparkman of Athens, Tenn.; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Swope and husband John of Copperas Cove, Texas, Joanne Baker of Cabot, Ark., and Staff Sergeant Christopher Hall and wife Amanda of Fayetteville, N.C., and six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis, Ark. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at the Tyronza Cemetery in Tyronza, Ark.

Mr. Charles Henry Taylor departed this life on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at Jonesboro two days after the death of his beloved wife of 58 years, Mrs. Dorothy Ann (Gordinier) Taylor. She departed this life Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at her home in Trumann. Charles was born Dec. 19, 1933, at Blytheville, the son of John Wesley and Mary Magdalene (Matthews) Taylor. Dorothy Ann was born April 20, 1934, at Detroit, Mich., the daughter of Jay and Gladys (Eavins) Gordinier. After moving to Michigan in the 1950's, Mr. Charles Henry Taylor met and fell in love with Miss Dorothy Ann Gordinier after meeting her at church.They were married April 25, 1953, in Michigan, where they lived until they moved to Blytheville, where they made their home and raised three sons. While living in Blytheville, Mrs. Taylor was a homemaker and Mr. Taylor worked as a cable repairman for AT&T. After retiring, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor moved to Harrisburg and then to Trumann.The Taylors were devoted members of the McCormick Baptist Church.Together they enjoyed spending time with their church family.Their greatest enjoyment and love was spending time with their family, especially their grandchildren. Mrs. Taylor also enjoyed playing the piano and gospel music. Mr. Taylor especially enjoyed socializing at the Main Street CafÈ, fishing, and cattle ranching. They were preceeded in death by their parents and two brothers and brothers-in-law, Howard "Pete" Taylor and Jay Gordinier. They are survived by three sons, Wesley Taylor and wife Gladys of Rogers, Greg Taylor of Jonesboro, and Scott Taylor and wife Sherry of Trumann; five grandchildren, Chris Taylor, Morgan Taylor, Haven Taylor, Andrew Waltman and Amber Waltman; two great-grandchildren, Randy Polack and D.J. McIver; brothers and brothers-in-law, Wayne Taylor of Marion, Tom Taylor of San Antonio, Texas, Bill Taylor of Bull Shoals, Ala., John R. Taylor of Blytheville, Jerry Gordinier of Detroit, Mich., and Jule Gordinier of Detroit, Mich.; sisters and sisters-in-law, Mary Kelly of West Memphis, Martha Gothard of Armorel and Barbara Brancoto of Detroit, Mich.; several nieces and nephews, and a lifetime of friends. After spending a lifetime together, they were laid to rest together at Holly Springs Cemetery following funeral services at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at Jackson's Harrisburg Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jim Frazier and Bro. Jason Douglas officiating. Friends visited at the funeral home Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, from 5 to 8 p.m. Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Keith Williams, Gary Beard, Jordan Long, Bobby Jones, Ronnie Samuel and Marty Champlin. Honorary pallbearers were the McCormick Baptist Church Men's Sunday School Class. To sign their online guestbook, leave a condolence or light a memorial candle, please visit our website at jacksonsfh.com.Arrangements by Jackson's Harrisburg Funeral Home.

Trumann mayor Shelia Walters went to an East Arkansas Planning and Development meeting Friday, Oct. 28, in Jonesboro to discuss a grant that could impact the city. Craighead County, Poinsett County and possibly a few other surrounding counties will apply for a grant that will allow for $20 million in restoration projects in the area. Walters sought permission from the city council and applied for one of the grants offered that could potentially give Trumann over $1.77 million. The money would be used for the partial or complete renovation of about 30 streets. Some of the streets will be widened to 24 feet, instead of their current 20 feet, to provide bike paths. The streets also will be restriped. The grant is part of the Roads to Education program that helps add bike paths to educational facilities. The widened streets will lead to both the Trumann Intermediate School and the Adult Educational building in Trumann. "There are a lot of people in this area who walk, jog and bike, so this grant would be very helpful," Walters said. Walters has already spoken with an engineer about the improvements. The city council passed an ordinance in January to allow the construction of bike paths in Trumann.

The Trumann Area Fine Arts annual November meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in the CLC Building of the First Baptist Church. The Trumann High School band, under the direction of Shelia Stephan, will be represented by a trio composed of Seth Berryhill, Eric Jackson and Keiron Sims. The Trumann High School Theatre Department, directed by Beth Montgomery, will perform dramatic skits. Everyone is invited to attend, enjoy the entertainment and visit with the students. Refreshments will be served.

The Trumann Community House Committee will have its annual meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Old Community House. The meeting is open to the public, and those attending are invited to offer their input.

A family with local roots has planted a new church in Trumann called the Northeast Arkansas Baptist Church. The theme for the new church is "A new church with an old message." Pastor John Dillinger and wife Mindy both grew up and graduated from high school in Trumann. It wasn't long after accepting a call to preach that they moved away from their longtime home. Their journey first took them through a four-year pastorate at the Black Oak Baptist Church of Tyronza, then a six-year term as associate pastor of the Holy Hills Baptist Church in Dyersburg, Tenn. "We were blessed to see the Lord do some amazing things at both places," said Bro. Dillinger. "A lot of souls were saved and many folks were added to both local churches." It was in Dyersburg where they saw the most growth. "When we came to Holy Hills, the church was running around 50 people, but now we average around 300 every Sunday," he said. "And the most amazing thing is, the church is an old fashioned, amen shouting and singing church. Nothing new except the folks there are excited about serving God." Another familiar family that will be helping to plant this new church is Bro. Jonathan Skaggs and his family. Bro. Jonathan is a lifelong resident of Trumann. He has pastored two other churches in the area and served on the Trumann police force for over a decade. The Northeast Arkansas Baptist Church's first service will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, in the Trumann Sports Complex, located at 16179 Pecan Grove Road in Trumann. Everyone is invited to attend.

Trumann High School's newly-formed chapter of the National Honor Society recently held a Pumpkin Decorating Contest as a fundraiser. The event, held Oct. 24-27, was open to all students with a cost of $2 per entry and 25 cents per vote. The pumpkin receiving the most votes was declared the winner. The prize was a $20 food card from Tropical Twist Pizza. And the winner was -- the Hello Kitty pumpkin submitted by senior Melissa Martin. The National Honor Society also hosted a new member induction ceremony today (Thursday, Nov. 3) at the THS Auditorium. Parents were invited to attend. The National Honor Society and the THS Student Council are working on a joint service project. The "That Turkey Has Class" food drive will run Nov. 7-18. Students are asked to take non-perishable food items to the library. Each donation earns a feather for the grade level turkeys. The class whose turkey has the most tail feathers will be declared the winners. All proceeds will benefit the Trumann Food Pantry.

The staff of the Poinsett County Democrat Tribune will hold a Customer Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, to show our appreciation for community support. The event will be at our office at 201 Highway 463 North in Trumann. There will be refreshments and door prizes. New subscriptions also will be available at a rate of $19 per year. "The community support I've seen for the paper over the last year since I started here has been outstanding," office manager Bridget Bean said. "We appreciate the way all the communities we serve have responded by submitting stories, photos and supporting local advertising. We also encourage everyone to continue to bring us news stories and pictures either by e-mail at bbean@democrattribune.com, fax at 870-483-6031, or coming by the office." "I've really enjoyed meeting people and working with the communities of Poinsett County," reporter Jackie Wilson said. "Everyone has made me feel part of the community here." Sales representative Anthony Cossey said he will have information on upcoming advertising opportunities for local businesses and will work with business owners to develop an advertising budget for the upcoming year to help give people the most for their money. "I want to thank all the clients I've worked with since I started here in July and hope to see you Friday," Cossey said. "You're not only my clients, you're my friends." Everyone is invited to come down for the event. "We look forward to seeing you there," Bean said.

David Burnette, customer service manager for Entergy, presented to Trumann Mayor Sheila Walters this week two checks for $500 each. The first check will be used to help finance renovations at City Hall and the other will go to the Trumann food pantry, which Walters serves as a board member. "Entergy has been helpful with sponsoring education programs and renovations to promote energy conservation in our community," Walters said. The money was awarded through the Open Grant Program with Entergy. Entergy provides electricity to more than 687,000 customers in the area and Burnette said the company is proud to help support the communities in Poinsett County.

Jeff Brown, director of Arkansas State University's Fowler Center, spoke recently to the Trumann Rotary Club about the upcoming events scheduled this year. "This is my third season at the Fowler Center," Brown said, "and I'm very proud of what we are doing." Brown scheduled a total of eight shows for the fall 2011 through spring 2012 year. "During the second week in January I traveled to New York for a conference that showcased artists and their agents," Brown said. "It's one of the largest conferences of its kind. There were four floors pitching artists." For five days Brown hunted the grounds for relevant and interesting artists that would appeal to both students and adults in the communities in Northeast Arkansas. Each act had its own room and performed for roughly 15 minutes while directors and others who were interested in obtaining acts went in to watch. "It's not a very conductive environment for the performer," Brown said, "but Rhythmic Circus was the first performance I saw and they had amazingly high energy. The had a beat boxer and a very talented backup band." Rhythmic Circus was the first performance scheduled for the ASU concert year at the Fowler Center, performing in mid-September. In early October, the center presented "Stormy Weather: the Lena Horne Project," starring Mary Wilson of the Supremes. The show also featured award-winning blues singer Paula West. Susan Werner, a singer with a blend of folk, jazz and pop, will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. "When I saw Susan Werner, I just knew I had to get her at the Fowler Center," Brown said. "She's clever, funny and has a great voice." Just in time for Christmas, the Fowler Center will host "Home for the Holidays: Memphis Symphony Orchestra," with Stilian Kirov as the conductor. The orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15. "They produce great Christmas music," Brown said. "We haven't had them at the Fowler Center in a while and we're glad to have them back." Billy Dean, a country crooner, will liven the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Dean has 12 albums and 11 top 10 hits, with awards in the Academy of Country Music and a Grammy. Fans of Glee and the Singoff will love "The Blanks," an a cappella group featured on the show "Scrubs." They will be at the Fowler Center at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25. "Hot Club of Detroit" will perform traditional Gypsy jazz on March 15. The band features five jazz players blasting on the sax, strumming the bass and incorporating the Gypsy sounds of the accordion. "Dailey and Vincent" will be the last performance for the Fowler Center on April 21. They received rave reviews in a performance at the August Johnny Cash Music Festival at ASU, almost stealing the show in a lineup of big stars. They have a combined 10 International Bluegass Music Association (IBMA) Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. "They are a hot, up-and-coming group," Brown said. "Get your tickets for this one before they sell out." For more information about the Fowler Center or to purchase tickets to the events, visit the center's website at www.yourfowlercenter.com.

Herb Lawrence spoke last week to the Marked Tree Rotary Club about his work with small businesses as director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. ASBTDC provides free confidential consulting assistance for start-up businesses. Lawrence said some of the services ASBTDC provides include consulting with existing businesses. "We do a lot of work with financial analysis and do a lot of website analysis and marketing assistance," Lawrence said. The center also does a lot of training. "I do 60 workshops a year on various topics," he said. "The real interest is in marketing, especially online marketing. Your customers are online and looking for you." As an example of people's growing interest in technology, Lawrence compared the number of people who signed up for a cash flow workshop with the number who signed up for a Twitter workshop. Three came to the cash flow workshop, while 30 came to the Twitter workshop. Lawrence emphasized the importance of technology and innovation. "Manufacturing jobs nationwide continue to decline, and they're not coming back," he said. "The future of jobs in the U.S. will be knowledge-based. We'll never compete with China making Christmas ornaments." Lawrence said there is currently a lot of interest in website development and that because ASBTDC does free consulting, they do not redesign websites for clients, but do lots of analysis work and show clients the strengths and weaknesses of their websites. ASBTDC also does veterans outreach work through a Veterans Grant Project. They help existing and returning members of the National Guard set up businesses. He said guardsmen and reservists have high unemployment rates and have difficulty getting hired since they can mobilize at any time. Lawrence also talked about how technological changes over the last 10 years have changed how customers interact with businesses. He said people who are between 18 and 30 are more likely to use Google to find the information they're looking for rather than newspapers or the yellow pages. "As small businesses, how we understand e-commerce determines how successful we are," Lawrence said. "It can't be about how I want to send out information. It has to be about how the customer wants information. Fifty-eight percent of people expect businesses to have a social media presence."

Jeff Caughron grew up in Trumann and, at age 14, began to learn to play the guitar, thanks to his mother's encouragement and his first concert with a friend. Caughron now is a star in his own right, playing in bands like "Jasmine Cain" and "Every Mother's Nightmare." "My friend and I went to a concert in Memphis," Caughron said. "After that I just knew that's what I wanted to do. I bought my first guitar and began to learn." Caughron started out with a local band that traveled to Little Rock and Memphis. "It was a stepping stone," Caughron said, "but it opened a lot of doors." Soon he was touring with "Every Mother's Nightmare," a heavy metal band formed in Nashville. "One night I sat up with the lead singer and we wrote and played some acoustic music," Caughron said. "That's when he asked me if we wanted to open for them. Of course we jumped on board and ended up playing a show in Nashville. It was really intense how fast things moved." Caughron later joined EMN's band and toured with other heavy metal bands like Ratt, Guns and Roses, Poison and Cheap Trick. Caughron also got involved with the group "Jasmine Cain," both as a performer and songwriter. Their first record won two awards, while the second won seven. Together they performed at the Wild Horse Saloon and have done over 200 shows a year. The band has been featured on Speed TV, True TV and is in the database for an upcoming episode of the Sons of Anarchy television show. Caughron currently is working on several side projects, including a solo album, launching the career of an up-and-coming country artist and writing with the members of "Full Double Jacket" to possibly make an album. "Right now we are just writing and waiting to see what comes from it," Caughron said. Caughron is married to Leslie Wolf from Memphis' radio station Rock 103 and together they have a 15-month-old girl. Caughron's parents and sisters still live in Trumann. "When I lived in Trumann, my friends and I worked hard to get better and we spent most of our weekends playing music in our rooms," Caughron said. "I think some people doubted the idea that this was possible, but playing music was my backup plan. We weren't afraid to take risks and because of that, I got to prove myself right." Caughron's advice for young stars in the making in Northeast Arkansas is to not go into the business thinking you will be on top of the world. "You can only get what you put in, and I do this because I love it," he said. "You have to put yourself out there and make sacrifices like changing your location. Don't expect it to fall in your lap. You have to stand out because the reward can be worth millions."