Stories from Friday, March 16, 2012

Mrs. Dottie Hellen Bossert, 74, of Trumann died Sunday evening, March 10, 2012, at her home. She was born in Lone Rock, Ark., to the late Ed and Eula (Biggers) Harrington. Mrs. Bossert enjoyed spending time in her garden with her flowers and fountain, cooking and going to yard sales. She was of the Southern Baptist faith and a member of the Eastside Baptist Church in Trumann, where she was in the women's group...

Aline Mae Carter was 101 when she died Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Three Rivers Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Marked Tree. Mrs. Carter was born in Apt, Ark., on March 15, 1910. Her parents were Mert and Ella Carter. Mrs. Carter was a homemaker. She was of the Assembly of God faith and a member of Eastern Star...

TRUMANN - Mr. Willie R. "Bill" Lairson, 69, of Ravenden, Ark., died Monday, March 12, 2012, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge, Ark. He was born in Tulot, Ark., and was of Protestant faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister...

Linda Willey started her career as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). Now, as coordinator for Schmieding Home Caregiver Training in Jonesboro, Willey gets the chance to teach the skills she's developed. She spoke recently to the Alzheimer's Support Group at Three Rivers Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Marked Tree...

Melinda Odom, instructor of cosmetology at Arkansas State University-Newport's Marked Tree campus, spoke Wednesday, March 7, to the Marked Tree Rotary Club. Odom, a veteran of cosmetology instruction, told of the program's success and how she achieves that success...

Six-year-old Jacques Ballard and his family went to Ritter Communications in Marked Tree last Friday thinking they were there to promote the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South. Instead, the family, from West Memphis, found they were the center of the event...

Sixth-grader Trevor Paulsen of Harrisburg is excited about going to Washington D.C. to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee after winning the state spelling in Little Rock. "I feel great," Paulsen said. "It's definitely not an experience you get to enjoy every day."...

The city of Marked Tree needs to come up with $300,000 to finish the Awesome Products rail spur, Mayor Wayne Nichols told the city council Monday night. Mayor Nichols said he had spoken to Gov. Mike Beebe Monday morning about acquiring additional funds, but said the governor told him he had put more money into the project than originally planned and there are no additional funds...

Trumann police investigator Erik Willbanks was fired March 7 following an investigation into former Police Chief Tony's Rusher use of prescription drugs from the department's evidence room. Willbanks was suspended two weeks without pay on Feb. 28 after the results of the investigation were released. On March 6, at a special meeting of the Trumann city council, aldermen voted unanimously to support Mayor Sheila Walters in whatever decision she decided to take regarding Willbanks...