Stories from Wednesday, July 15, 2020

The normal summertime heat combined with an increase in the number of people working from home to avoid COVID-19 adds up to increased electrical usage for many Entergy Arkansas’ residential customers. The company has several tips for how to save energy and, in the process, save money...

The Trumann Fire Department answered 92 calls for the month June that averaged out to just over three calls per day. The following is a breakdown of the type of calls. Rescue/medical calls topped the list as the department responded to 62 calls followed by 16 calls for public assistance. Eleven calls were fire calls as there was three false alarm calls...

St. Bernards will again offer free, comprehensive student-athlete pre-participation evaluations for area high school students on August 1 at First National Bank Arena after delaying the examinations due to COVID-19. In previous years, St. Bernards performed these evaluations in conjunction with its Health & Fitness Expo held each April, but COVID-19 forced the expo’s cancellation this year...

Robert Wyatt Boxley, 58, departed this life July 6, 2020 in Jonesboro. He was born January 6, 1962 to John Edward, Sr., and Ruby Jean Cooley Boxley. Robert was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Marked Tree and worked as a farm manager for Ritter Ag. ...

Mr. Richard L. “Skeeter” Waters departed this life on Sunday, July 12, 2020 at the family residence in Trumann at the age of 85 years, 4 months and 2 days. He was born Sunday, March 10, 1935 in and has been a lifetime resident of Trumann. He was a retired truck driver for Coca Cola and of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by one sister, Edith Dycus; two brothers, Ray Waters, an infant brother and his parents, Samuel and Nannie Polk Waters...

The most common cause of major fish kills in ponds is low dissolved oxygen. Minor fish kills in the form of a few dead fish per day are usually due to water quality problems other than dissolved oxygen. Turnovers are a common cause of low dissolved oxygen in ponds and can potentially lead to fish kills. ...

Both state and local law enforcement around the Natural State will be working in full-force this week on a traffic safety campaign that stresses taking the foot off the accelerator. The statewide “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” campaign started Monday, July 13 and goes through Sunday, July 19...

The filing period for municipal office begins at noon on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 and will continue until noon on August 5, 2020. Interested persons will file their petitions of nomination, an affidavit of eligibility and political practices pledge with the County Clerk’s office during that time. Anyone with questions regarding this may contact the County Clerk’s office at 870-578-4410 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m...

Ms. Kathy Darlene Hammons Brewer of Bay departed this life on Monday, July 6, 2020 at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 61 years, 11 months and 17 days. She was born Saturday, July 19, 1958 in Flint, Mich. to the late Willie and Ruby Richardson Hammons and lived most of her lifetime in Trumann. Kathy was a homemaker and of the Assembly of God faith. She was preceded in death by two brothers, two sisters and her parents...

The filing period for school board director in the Harrisburg School District begins at noon on Monday, July 27, 2020 and will continue until noon on Monday, August 3, 2020. Interested persons will file their petitions of candidacy, an affidavit of eligibility and political practices pledge with the County Clerk’s office during that time. Anyone with questions regarding this may contact the County Clerk’s office at 870-578-4410 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m...

The Poinsett County Quorum Court had their monthly meeting this past Monday at the Annex Building in Harrisburg. Poinsett County Judge Bob Cantrell called the meeting before Justice Carmack Sanders gave the invocation. County Clerk Teresa Rouse called roll with Dustin Mars being absent. The minutes of the June meeting were approved as were the financial reports...

Mr. Donald Ray Trenthem of Trumann departed this life on Sunday, July 5, 2020 at the family residence at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 10 days. He was born Friday, August 25, 1933 in Memphis, Tenn. and lived most of his lifetime in Trumann. Donald was an Army veteran of the Korean War. ...

Eighty-two percent of Arkansans said they wear personal protective equipment in public in a survey released Wednesday. Sixteen percent said they do not. The survey was a project of the Arkansas Economic Recovery Task Force, headed by Walmart heir and board member Steuart Walton...

Deajon Dobbins, 22, of Jacksonville is being held in the Poinsett County Detention Center after assaulting an officer and fleeing. Poinsett County Deputy Luke Roe spotted a gray Dodge Carter parked on the northbound shoulder of the floodway near Marked Tree while on patrol July 8. The initial incident report stated when Roe approached the vehicle, Dobbins turned the wheel and attempted to hit Roe. Dobbins then spun his tires and started traveling at a high rate of speed...

Poinsett County has had 78 active cases with 20 cases still being active. There have been 55 recoveries, three deaths and 1,879 negative tests.

Dove hunters will have more than 300 acres of privately owned farmland available via drawn permit for the early weeks of Arkansas’s 2020 dove season, which opens Saturday, Sept. 5. Several regions of the state have been represented by the private land permit hunts in the past three years since the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission initiated the program, but this year will mark the first time a northeast Arkansas field has been part of the roster...

This is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly fishing report for July 15, 2020. If there is a body of water you would like included in this report, please email jim.harris@agfc.ar.gov with information on possible sources for reports about that lake or river. ...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reopened its doors to public access for the first time since March beginning today. All buildings will have limited public access as part of the state’s reopening process. “We’ve been working diligently to address the safety of our staff and the public as we begin the reopening process,” AGFC Director Pat Fitts said. ...

The cover story for the 28th annual Hooten’s Arkansas Football bookazine goes in-depth with 58-year old Sam Pittman, documenting his rise from nomadic college assistant to SEC head coach. In the extensive high school section, conference coaches voted Trumann to finish sixth in the 3-4A, Harrisburg third in the 3-3A, EPC third in the 3-2A and Marked Tree to finish fifth in the 3-2A...

Floyd H. Weems, Jr. 80, of Trumann passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at NEA Baptist Hospital, Jonesboro. He was born July 3, 1940 in Jonesboro to Floyd H. and Lou Donal Matthews Weems.