Stories from Friday, May 11, 2012

Colleen Fuller Campbell, 82, of Panama City, Fla., passed away Sunday, May 6, 2012, in a local hospital. She was born Nov. 28, 1929, to Thelma and Hershal Fuller, but was raised by her grandparents, Marcus and Minnie Mott. She was the oldest of four children...

James "Jim" Carey, age 57, died May 5, 2012, at his home in Etowah. Mr. Carey was born in Jefferson City, Mo., to James and Rhudene Carey. He was a retired policeman and retired truck driver and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Carey was preceded in death by his parents, James Carey and Rhudene Carey Bennett...

Mrs. Doris Shelton Cockrum, age 94, of Iuka, Miss., died May 2, 2012, at Southern Magnolia Estates in Iuka. Mrs. Cockrum, the daughter of Barnett Varner and Hallie Lostutter Varner, was born Aug. 23, 1917, in Black Oak, Ark. She graduated from Black Oak High School in 1935 and attended Arkansas State College...

Mr. Don E. Halfacre, Jr., of Trumann departed this life Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at his home at the age of 48. He was born Dec. 5, 1963, in Blytheville, Ark. Don was a member of the Providence Baptist Church in Trumann and enjoyed collecting keychains and movies. He was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army...

TRUMANN - Mrs. Stella M. Hollis, 105, of Trumann died April 29, 2012, at the family residence. She was born in Aly, Ark., and had lived in Trumann for the past 10 years and was formerly of Jonesboro. Mrs. Hollis was a homemaker and a member of Elm Grove Baptist Church...

HOT SPRINGS - Mr. Earl "Sunny" Moon, 67, of Hot Springs, died Monday, April 30, 2012. He was born in Trumann, Ark., and received a business degree from the college in Monticello, Ark. He worked in management for International Harvester before retiring from Navistar International Truck...

Dana Watson, licensed psychologist and supervisor of Families, Inc. Counseling Services in Trumann, told the Trumann Rotary Club last week that one of the ways to get good results in counseling children is to include the whole family. "One thing that sets us apart is that we work so much with with children's families," Watson said. "We stress including the whole family in therapy."...

Students at Marked Tree High School ran through their final rehearsals of the play "Voices from the High School" this week. The play is the first production of the newly-formed Marked Tree Drama Club and will be performed this weekend. The Drama Club was started by Liz Smith, who teaches eighth grade math and ninth grade algebra, and Liz Newton, who teaches seventh and eighth grade social studies, U.S. history, and AP U.S. Hhstory...

Jeanne Fleming has touched many lives throughout her teaching career and as a member of the Marked Tree community. On May 5, family, friends, former students and members of the community packed the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church for a luncheon in her honor sponsored by the Marked Tree Historical Society...

Trumann Country Club will the site for the Ducks Unlimited sponsored three man golf scramble on May 12th. The 27-hole event is set to start at 8:00 a.m. Entry fee will be $150 per team and lunch will be provided. Wood Ford will be giving away a new car for the first hole in one on hole number seven during the last round. All golfers will hit from the gold tees on this hole. Contact Jason Stewart at 870-219-0782 for more information.

Trumann is starting a new 4-H Shooting Sports Club. Our organizational meeting will be held at 6:00 pm on Tuesday May 15, 2012 at the Dixie Gin and Warehouse (Old Dixie Equipment Building) located on Hwy 463 South. Brent Henderson will be the main leader in charge of the Trumann Shooting Sports Club. We would encourage all youths and parents interested to attend. 4-H Shooting Sports is one of the fastest growing programs in 4-H today. In addition to teaching youth concepts related to shooting safety and firearm responsibility, the curriculum offers opportunities for youth to develop important life skills such as citizenship, leadership, sportsmanship, ethics, critical thinking and an appreciation for nature. 4-H Shooting Sports is a community-based, volunteer-directed, family-oriented activity that emphasizes hands-on learning. The program also ties in well with a variety of outdoor-related educational programming, such as the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program, wildlife management and related topics. Youths age 9 to 19 will be allowed to compete in all activities. This meeting is open to all youth between the ages of 5 and 19 without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or any other legally protected status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (large print, audiotapes, etc.) should notify the county Extension office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible prior to the activity. For more information, please contact the Poinsett County Extension Office at (870) 578-4490.

Senior Quentin Buchanan recently competed in the district and state track and field championships. Buchanan won the shot put contest at the district meet with a toss of 44 feet and 1 inch. Buchanan, with that win at district, advanced to compete in the state meet held at Nashville High School. Buchanan finished fifth in the state meet with a throw of 44 feet and 6 inches.

The Bay Cardinals took first place in Trumann this past Saturday, in the Cal Ripken 10 & Under 2012 classic division. The Bay Yellow Jackets took second place. Five teams from NEA competed in the tournament. (Photo submitted)

EPC rightfielder Ace Price fires one of his three putouts during regional action against Salem Friday. (DT Photo/Anthony Cossey)

Several area teams will advance to play in state tournaments in baseball and softball this weekend. Trumann's Lady Wildcats will open play in the Class 4A state softball tournament at Nashville High School Thursday at noon as they face Ashdown. Marked Tree's baseball team will play in the Class 2A state tournament at White Hall High School with a 2:30 p.m. game Thursday against Hackett. EPC will play at noon on Thursday against Magazine in White Hall. The Marked Tree Lady Indians will play at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Junction City High School against Hackett in the Class 2A state softball tournament. The Weiner Lady Cardinals will play in the 1A state softball tournament at Bradley High School with a 5:00 p.m. game against Viola Thursday.

The Marked Tree Indians and EPC Warriors both qualified for the Class 2A state baseball tournament to be held in White Hall this weekend by finishing third and fourth respectively in the Class 2A North Regional tournament held this past weekend in Marked Tree. EPC was the first to gain a spot in the state tournament as they topped the number one seed from 2A-2 region Salem 16-1 this past Friday. Caleb Harston got the win for the Warriors going all seven innings. He allowed five hits while striking out seven and walking one. Cayne Tyler and McKenzie Betts both drove in four runs on two hits apiece, Josh Skipper had a hit and three RBIs and Harston helped his own cause by hitting a solo home run. Ace Price had a big day in the field from his right field position. Price had three put outs as he threw runners out at first, third and home on the day. EPC's win advances them to play Marmaduke in round 2. Host Marked Tree posted an 11-0 win over White County Central in their opening round game to secure their trip to the state tournament. Jagger McCrary tossed a one-hitter for the Indians as he struck out eight and walked two. Gunner Pitts led the Indians offensively with two hits, two RBIs and four stolen bases. Dylan Hunt added two RBIs, Bryant Anderson drove in a run and McCrary had a RBI double. Marked Tree moves on to play Walnut Ridge in the second round. EPC and Marmaduke played the first semi-final game this past Saturday as the Greyhounds rallied late to post a 4-3 win. EPC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second as Aaron Scales and Byron Scales both plated runs for the Warriors. A. Scales drew a bases loaded walk to score Betts before his brother Byron did the same to score Josh Skipper. Marmaduke got a run across in the bottom of the second to make the score 2-1. EPC added a run in the top of the third as J. Skipper led off the inning with a single. Corbin Truelove advanced pinch runner Chandler Smith to third with a nice hit and run play before A. Scales plated Smith with an RBI single to put EPC up 3-1. Marmaduke tied the game up it the bottom of the sixth as they scored three runs. Marmaduke scored a run on a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to win the game. B. Scales took the loss for the Warriors as he pitched 4 2/3 innings giving up three runs on four hits as he struck out three and walked eight. Betts pitched one inning giving up one run on one hit with no walks or strikeouts. The Scales brothers led the Warriors at the plate. Aaron had a hit and two RBIs with Byron recording a hit and a RBI. Betts, J. Skipper and Truelove each scored a run. Marked Tree squared off against Walnut Ridge in the second semi-final game of the day. The Indians got out early scoring a run in the top of the first. Taylor Wages led off with a double and came in to score on a RBI single from Pitts. The Bobcats answered in their half as they plated a run to tie the game up after one inning of play. Marked Tree scored three runs to take a 4-1 lead in the top of the second. Brandon Adamson opened the inning with a double. Bailey Gilbert reached on an error and Brody McCrary reached on a fielder's choice as Adamson scored. Thadious Moore moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Wages scored Gilbert with a base hit and B. McCrary scored on a passed ball. Walnut Ridge cut the lead to one at 4-3 with runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. Jagger McCrary reached second on an overthrow of first on his ground ball to the short stop. J. McCrary advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-3 Marked Tree. The wheels came off for the Indians in the bottom of the sixth as Walnut Ridge exploded for seven runs to take a 10-5 lead. The Indians were retired in order in the top of the seventh to end the game. Wages took the loss for the Indians as the pitched 5 1/3 innings giving up eight runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked six. J. McCrary gave up one run on two hits while not recording an out. B. McCrary pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up one run on one hit while walking three. Marked Tree and EPC met this past Monday in the consolation game of the tournament. Bubba Phillips threw a five-inning no-hitter as the Indians blanked the Warriors 10-0. Phillips didn't allow walks and struck out three. Wages and Pitts led Marked Tree at the plate with Wages collecting three hits, two RBIs and scoring a run as Pitts had a RBI and scored a run. Marked Tree (26-9) will open play in the state tournament Thursday at 2:30 as they play Hackett. EPC (17-17) will play at noon Thursday against Magazine.