Stories from Friday, June 1, 2012

TRUMANN - Mr. Billy Lee "Forbee" Forbus, 69, of Trumann, Ark., died Saturday, May 26, 2012, at the family residence. He was born in Heber Springs, Ark., and had lived in Trumann for the past 48 years and was formerly of Mt. View, Ark. Mr. Forbus was a retired contractor and of the Baptist faith...

Iva Reudell Lawson, 90, of Marked Tree died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in Three Rivers Nursing Center in Marked Tree. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Marietta Yewell; her husband, Turmon Lawson; five brothers, three sisters and a great-grandson, Max Reed...

TRUMANN - Mrs. Imogene Ray, 83, of Trumann died Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born in Leachville, Ark., to the late Ollie and Addie Monroe Barnett. Mrs. Ray had lived in Trumann for the past 47 years and was formerly of Corning. She was a retired factory worker and of the Christian faith...

Mrs. Phyllis LaVonne Rousseau, 78, of Trumann died Friday, May 25, 2012, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. She was born in Boone, Iowa, and had lived in Trumann since 1996 and was formerly of Iowa and Illinois. She was a retired nurse and member of the Eastside Baptist Church...

Donald Wayne Ruiz, 44, of Marked Tree, died Monday, May 28, 2012, in St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fortunato and Donna Ruiz; a brother, Jimmy Ruiz, and a nephew, Alan Rollins. Survivors include brothers, Robert Ruiz (Barbara) of Tyronza, Johnny Ruiz of Marked Tree and Hubert Ruiz (Donna) of Lepanto; sisters, Rebecca Rollins (Larry) of Marked Tree, Gloria Sharpe (James) of Marked Tree, Marti Palmer of Deming, N.M., and Hope Burdett (Larry) of Marked Tree; 13 nieces and nephews and five great-nieces and nephews.. ...

The first recipients of the Saint Francis River Pecan Company Scholarship are Marked Tree High School graduating seniors Paige Blansett and Jagger McCrary. Each will receive a scholarship from the Saint Francis River Pecan Company Endowment Fund of $8,000 over the four years of their undergraduate degree programs...

Brandon Shrader, director of Trumann Parks and Recreation (TPR), was the guest speaker last week at the Trumann Lions Club weekly meeting. Shrader said most people know him from the sports side of his job, but he noted there are other things to gain from the city's parks and recreation programs...

A wreck Tuesday in Lepanto Tuesday meant the temporary closure of a bridge on Highway 140 at the Little River. According to Lepanto Police Captain David Layman, the wreck occurred at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday when a truck belonging to Stuckey Farms of Clarksdale had a blowout and struck the bridge...

The lineup for the second Johnny Cash Music Festival will be smaller than last year's but should prove to be just as impressive. John Carter Cash was on hand at Arkansas State University last week along with ASU officials to announce the lineup for this year's festival. Tickets went on sale last Friday...

Civilians and veterans young and old gathered Monday at Trumann's American Legion Memorial Park to honor the fallen for Memorial Day. The service was led by Ron Taylor, 5th District Commander of American Legion Post 42. Boy Scout Jeremy Arnold led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the service. This was followed by a rendition of the National Anthem by three young ladies -- Kelsey, Kylie and Kaitlyn -- who also sang Amazing Grace to close the program...