Stories from Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Poinsett County Quorum Court held their monthly meeting this past Monday at the Annex Building in Harrisburg. The condition of the county courthouse was the main issue discussed. After a brief discussion about the tour of the county detention center, the focus turned quickly to the county courthouse. ...

Tyronza Police Chief Tony Turner announced to the city council Tuesday night that he had turned in his resignation effective March 31. According to Mayor Charles Glover, Turner had gotten a good opportunity he is pursuing. Turner said he would still be in town and would be available in his free time to help out. "I've come to the point in my life where it was time to make a decision," Turner told the council. "Most of it was a family decision."...

The Marked Tree City Council passed an ordinance Monday night that would use a portion of the city's current one cent sales to clean up dilapidated houses. Last month, the council had discussed the possibility. The language on the ballot for the one cent sales tax that was approved by voters stated that 12.5 percent of the tax would be used "for the purpose of funding and promoting industrial development and industrial development projects to stimulate the local economy." The ordinance states that a portion of that 12.5 percent will be used for cleaning up the community by tearing down vacant, dilapidated houses to make the property "available to build new housing therefore increasing or maintaining the population for a valuable workforce" as well as to make the community "more attractive for industry prospects.". ...

The Trumann City Council had their monthly meeting this past Tuesday at the courthouse of the justice complex. The biggest issue of the night was the second reading of the no smoking ordinance on select city-owned properties. After Mayor Barbara Lewallen read the ordinance, alderman Charles Goza asked that a smoking area be established at these locations. ...