Stories from Friday, July 20, 2012

Ronnie Bearden was born Sept. 27, 1953, in Tyronza to Cecil and Clara Choate Bearden. He passed away July 15, 2012, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro. Mr. Bearden was a farmer and a truck driver. He was of the Pentecostal faith. Mr. Bearden is survived by his wife, Becky Joan Bearden of the home; one daughter, Rhonda Kay Bearden of Marked Tree; two sisters, Joyce Bearden Howard of Tyronza and Rebecca Bearden Howe of Dallas; and one brother, Cecil Bearden Jr. of Tyronza...

Donald R. Copeland of Ypsilanti Township, Mich., died peacefully at the age of 63 at his home Saturday, July 14, 2012. He was born July 17, 1948, in McCormick, Ark., the son of Alfred and Cleffie (Hudspeth) Copeland. Don was an over-the-road truck driver for 25 plus years until retirement, and remained a trucker at heart as he renovated two homes in which friends and family spent many hours preparing and sharing Southern home-cooked meals. ...

Jack Noel passed away Wednesday July 11, 2012, at Ridgecrest Rehabilitation Center in Jonesboro. He was 87 years old. He was preceded in death by his mother Alma Noel, sister Dorothy Noel, and half-brother Billy Perkins of Denison, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Pauline Noel of the home. ...

Mr. James Stanley Martin, 98, of Trumann passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born in Hollis, Ark., and had lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. He owned and operated Martin Furniture Store for many years. ...

Mayor Sheila Walters visited the Trumann Rotary Club last week as guest speaker to talk about grants the city has received recently. She said the city received a $23,000 grant through East Arkansas Planning and Development District. The grant, which was applied for in 2010, went toward a Bobcat and accessories to move pallets and help with the recylcing program. The Bobcat and accessories were purchased for $22,900, leaving $100 left to purchase blue bags...

Dennis Burks, Solid Waste director for the East Arkansas Planning and Development District (EAPDD), presented Marked Tree Mayor Wayne Nichols with a $38,000 check from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality's Recycling Grant Program. EAPDD applied for the grant on behalf of the City of Marked Tree. ...

Marked Tree resident, Zach Hatley, was elected the 2012-2013 President of the Marked Tree Rotary Club. Hatley is currently employed as the nurse and social director of Three Rivers Nursing Home in Marked Tree. In his hometown, being more active in the community and a good group of people to associate with were his reasons for joining the Rotary Club. He was asked by other members to become club president, which he considered a great honor...

Betty Payne was the guest speaker last week at the weekly meeting of the Trumann Lions Club. Payne, recently elected as a District Governor for the Lions Club, told all about her recent trip to Busan, Korea, where she attended the international convention...

Jury selections continue in Paragould for the trial of Jerry D. Lard, 37, who is accused of capital murder in the shooting death of Trumann police officer Jonathan Schmidt, on April 12, 2011. Lard is also charged with attempted capital murder for wounding Sgt. Corey Overstreet, and with possession of methamphetamines...

The Trumann Sports Complex is the place to be on July 28th as Magic of Wrestling presents Trouble In Trumann. The feature match will be Austin Lane's retirement match against Killer Nikels. This will be the first meeting for these too. Scheduled to appear at this event include Brian Christopher, Austin Lane, Derrick King, Stan Lee, Eric Wayne, Killer Nikels, Texas Tornadoes and many more!! Bell time is set for 7 pm. Come out enjoy a night of wrestling. Concessions will be provided by the Boy Scouts of Trumann.

Most Saturday nights from the beginning of March and running through September, you can expect the engines to be roaring and the dirt to be flying at the NEA Speedway in Harrisburg. This was my first visit to the speedway and I enjoyed the show. Co-owner T.J. Thompson, along with Jimmy Thompson and Warren Fender, have owned the track since 2007 but the track has been in operation since the early 90's. Thompson said the speedway usually averages from 60-75 drivers who run in five different classifications. The classes are modified, street stock, e-mod, factory stock and mini stock. Most nights it's the usual regulars but from time to time they have special events. The schedule of events can be viewed at www.neaspeedway.org. "We offer good clean racing and a family environment," Thompson said. The drivers race for prize monies in the feature races along with trophies. Some classes have 20 cars running in the feature events. If you don't have anything to do on a Saturday night, visit the speedway. The engines will be loud and the dirt will be flying. Visit www.democrattribune.com/gallery for photos from this past Saturday night.