Stories from Friday, June 29, 2012

Nathan Maxwell has been selected to play in the 9th Annual Xtra Innings Summer Classic. The Classic is a showcase for some of the top underclassmen in the state and will be July 2-3. The athletes will participate in Pro Day on July 2nd at Nettleton High School. The athletes will do various activities from 9:30 a.m until 1:30 p.m. There will be two wood bat only games played at Tomlinson Stadium at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. Each of these games will be 10 innings. There will be four games July 3rd beginning at 10 a.m that morning. These games will also be held at Tomlinson Stadium and will be seven inning games. Maxwell, a senior to be at Trumann, will be a member of the Northeast-Red team.

Bryant Anderson of Marked Tree and Gunner Freeman of Bay recently played in the last events associated with their high school careers in the High School All-Star games held last week in Fayetteville. Anderson was a member of the East baseball team and Freeman was a member of the East basketball team. I had the chance to sit down with both of these young men and talk to them about the experience. Anderson's East team swept the West squad with a 4-1 win in the first game and an 8-7 win in eight innings in the second game. Anderson scored a run in the opening game. When asked about the experience of being at the All-Star event, Anderson said, "It was a real fun experience playing with and against the top players in the state." Anderson said the drills were different from those in high school, saying some of the outfield drills he had never seen before. Anderson will continue his baseball career at Arkansas Baptist next year. He thinks the biggest change from high school to college will be the speed of the pitching. Anderson knows he will play the outfield and is not particular to where they play him out there. Anderson said, "My goal is to make it to the major leagues." Freeman's East team came away with 84-69 victory with Freeman chipping in seven points. Freeman said the two a day practices were a little different that high school. He said they were up at 6:30 every morning for breakfast before practicing from 9-11. They had lunch with a short break before another practice from 2-4. Freeman said the drills were no different but only having played in the Sun Classic and now in the All-Star game, it took him about an hour to knock the rust off. "It was like playing in college, all the guys here very good. It was a lot of fun," Freeman said. Freeman will attend ASU in the fall, but has decided not to pursue basketball in college. "I've played since the third grade and since the fifth grade I've played year round. I just want to be a regular student in college," Freeman said. "I'm sure I'll miss the game, especially when I go to the first game for Bay," Freeman added.

The Delta 10 and 11 year old All-Stars teams captured district championships last weekend.

TRUMANN - Mr. Curtis "Curt" Owens, 82, died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. Born July 20, 1929, in Booneville, Miss., he was the son of R.C. and Carrie Owens. Mr. Owens enjoyed playing music, watching baseball and spending time with his family. He was retired from Hytrol Conveyor Co. where he was employed for 27 years...

TRUMANN - Mrs. Delena Willcockson, 72, of Trumann, died Wednesday, June 20, 2012, in Trumann. Mrs. Willcockson was born in Algora, Ark., to the late Harry and Elsey McKay. She lived most of her lifetime in Trumann, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Willcockson was preceded in death by her husband, Orvil Eugene Willcockson; three sons, Kenny Willcockson, Darrell Willcockson and Donald Willcockson, and one grandchild, Terry Plunkett...

POCAHONTAS - Geneva Smith of Pocahontas died at her home June 24, 2012. Mrs. Smith was born Feb. 11, 1931 in Waterloo, Ala., to R.G. and Cordelia Collins. She was a homemaker and a member of Columbia Jarrett Baptist Church in Maynard. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Carl Smith; one granddaughter Cheryl Norwood; one great-grandson, Matthew Chase Childers; two sisters, Faye Holt and Clara Fuller; and four brothers, Robert Collins, Hershel Collins, Doyle Collins and Donald Collins...

The Gene Crouch family of Harrisburg, who were recently named Poinsett County Farm Family of the Year, have been announced as one of eight district winners for the 66th Annual Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program. The Arkansas Farm Bureau announced this week that Gene and Mary Jo Crouch have been selected as the winners of the Northeast District. The Crouches grow rice, soybeans, and wheat on 3,290 acres. They have two children, Gregg and Rhonda, and three grandchildren...

The Trumann Time to Shine project will sponsor a Paint Your Home Project for residents of Trumann. This project is designed to assist citizens of Trumann with materials and labor to paint their home. Some minor repairs will be considered. To qualify applicants must be a homeowner inside the city of Trumann. The house must be their primary residence. Applicants must be willing to have before and after photos taken and have proof of ownership of property...

On the summer solstic or June 20, the longest day of the year, participants across the northern hemisphere, including two teams from Arkansas, pushed themselves to their limits in a sunrise-to-sunset relay to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Alzheimer's...

Approximately 100 members of the Harrisburg based 1039th Engineer Company with the Arkansas Army National Guard's 875th Engineer Battalion will soon be deployed to Afghanistan. The company completed the home station phase of their pre-deployment training last month at Fort Chaffee. ...