Stories from Friday, February 24, 2012

The Poinsett County Democrat Tribune recently welcomed new reporter Erik Wright. Immediately after high school in Texas, Wright uprooted himself and moved back to his native home of Tucson, Ariz. He soon found work with a leading exploration geophysics firm and it was in this capacity that he traveled extensively throughout the southwestern United States and northwest Mexico...

Yvonne Miller spoke last week to the Trumann Lions Club about cancer prevention and Relay for Life. Miller had a personal experience with cancer 16 years ago and says it opened her eyes to what can she could do to help try and stop this disease. Miller has been involved with Relay for Life for 14 years and has served as chairperson for the last three years...

Sunday, Feb. 26, marks what would have been the 80th birthday of the late great Johnny Cash. To celebrate, many of Cash's family members are coming to Dyess this Sunday for a birthday tribute to The Man in Black. The tribute will be held at the Dyess Community Center on State Highway 297 at East Fourth Street. Hosted by Arkansas State University, the event will begin at 2 p.m. and will officially launch the restoration of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home...

Marked Tree High School (MTHS) principal Matt Wright spoke Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Marked Tree Rotary Club meeting. Wright addressed an engaged audience about MTHS's implementation of the so-called "Common Core" curriculum. Explaining the Common Core curriculum, Wright said, "Schools and institutions fail kids who are not being prepared for this new global market and workforce."...

Trumann Police Chief Tony Rusher was placed on paid administrative leave last week pending the outcome of an investigation ordered by Mayor Sheila Walters. Walters said she hired Phil Carter, a private investigator from Jonesboro and former special agent with the Arkansas State Police, to investigate Rusher...

Sorting though ways to resolve the trash pickup issue which has plagued Trumann over the last several months, the City Council examined six resolutions in a meeting Tuesday night, though only two of the issues discussed were resolved. After lengthy discussion about whether or not to totally cut ties with Delta Environmental, the company Trumann residents say failed in its responsibility to regularly pick up the trash around town, the council voted 7-2 to end its relationship with the company, which recently was reduced to only commercial pickup after the city opted to find another source for residential pickup.. ...

Much like Trumann, Lepanto also has been having issues with Delta Environmental and its garbage pick-up -- or lack of it. Mayor Steve Jernigan said garbage is a major issue in Lepanto and that he receives numerous complaints and daily phone calls about trash not being picked up...

Longtime Trumann community leader Billy V. "Bill" Cook died Monday, Feb. 13, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro at age 82. The owner and operator of Trumann Hardware from 1977 to 2005, he was a former Trumann City Council member, winner of Trumann's Outstanding Citizen Award, instrumental in the building of the American Legion Memorial Park, Walk of Honor and Boy Scout Hut and instrumental in restoration of the city's Cub Scout and Boy Scout program...

Two men tied to one of Marked Tree's longest running businesses have died. Frank Brunner Jr. of Jonesboro and Bobby Brunner of Elizabethtown, Ky., both formerly of Marked Tree, were part of the family operation John and Frank Pharmacy. Bobby retired in 1990 as treasurer of the business, and Frank served as sole owner of the pharmacy until his retirement in 2001...

MEMPHIS - Mr. Gregory William Charles Clem, 42, of Memphis, Tenn., died Wednesday evening, February 15, 2012, at the Delta Medical Center in Memphis. He was born in and lived his entire life in Memphis. Gregory loved spending time with his family and loved the time that he had with his mother. He also enjoyed music...

TRUMANN - Mrs. Erma Jewell Marshall Loveless, 92, of Trumann died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, at the Crittenden Regional Hospital in West Memphis, Ark. Mrs. Loveless was born in Harrisburg, Ark., and had lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. She was a housewife...