Stories from Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Poinsett County mom arrested for child endangerment first degree Kelsey Lane Alvarado, 27, Trumann was arrested August 21 after her three-year old child fell in a swimming pool at the house next door an August 3 before passing away on August 8 at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Alvarado was on probation for child endangerment third degree charges from a July 2019 incident...

A wooden bridge in Northeast Arkansas has been closed indefinitely after someone set fire to it over the past weekend. The bridge, on Desmond Lake Road near Lepanto, was reported by the Poinsett County Road Department that it had been burned. The road department posted a picture of the bridge on their Facebook page. Anyone with information on who set the fire is asked to call the sheriff's office at 870-578-4444...

Ray Collett, of Trumann, was arrested on rape charges after a victim said he raped her this past Tuesday. In a report of the incident, the victim provided an audio recording of her phone conversation with Collett in which she asked “why he had sex with her after she had said no?” In the report Collett’s reply was, “because I haven’t had any in a while.” The report also says that Collett told her he was sorry and he shouldn’t have done it...

Christopher Wayne Sparks, also know as Flip, turned himself into the Poinsett County Sheriff's Department this past Friday morning. Sparks was wanted for rape and child pornography crimes. Sparks was charged with rape, incest, computer exploitation of a child and distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child...

Jay Paul Woods is announcing his candidacy for the Trumann City Council, Ward 5 Position 1 seat. Woods has lived in Trumann since 2001 and was born here and raised in this area. Over the last 19 years, Woods has made Trumann his home as he and his wife Tammy have raised two boys, Jay-Ryan and Garrett, who attended and graduated Trumann Schools. ...

Robert McKenzie of Trumann was sentences to five years in state prison as one of 13 suspects arrested back in January as part of Operation Stopping Underage Illegal Trafficking. McKenzie entered a negotiated guilty plea last Monday for charges of internet stalking of a child, a Class Y felony that is punishable by 10 years to life and for computer child pornography which is a Class B felony...

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard the first official reading of 46 proposed regulations changes concerning fishing and fisheries management in Arkansas during today’s regularly scheduled meeting. Thirty-six of the regulations presented were either simplifications, clarifications or expansions of opportunities for anglers. ...

With the summer ending and thoughts of cooler weather on our minds, it seems that many of us tend to forget about gardening. We still have a month or so of hot weather ahead of us. Water is still important to the lawn and garden at this time. Remember that trees and shrubs that bloom in the spring are setting flower buds now. If the plants get too stressed and shut down early, this will affect the blooms next spring...

Mr. Donnie Lee Pipes of Trumann departed from this life on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at St. Elizabeth Place in Jonesboro at the age of 73 years, 7 months and 8 days. He was born Sunday, January 12, 1947 in Trumann and lived in Kansas City, Mo. before moving back to Trumann in 1970. ...

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting submissions for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Alternative Selling Methods Campaign through September 30, 2020. Program information and instructions for submitting videos can be found at www.arkansasgrown.org/about-us...

The Harrisburg School Board met for a regular board meeting remotely on Monday, August 10, 2020 in the Central Office Board Room. Board member Nacole Sweeney was absent. In new business, the board heard reports on progress from the administrators of each campus in the Harrisburg School District. ...

Arkansas Farm Bureau praised Governor Asa Hutchinson and members of the General Assembly after the body allocated $5 million from the federal CARES Act to create a grant program that will allow custom meat processors in Arkansas to expand and upgrade facilities...

The Trumann Wildcats and Lady Wildcats came up short in their golf matches against Westside this past Monday. Luke Montgomery won medalist honors for Trumann as the Wildcats fell 140-142 to the Warriors. Connor Everhart finished with a 46 as James Dunman and David Hodges finished with a 55 and 69 respectively. The Lady Wildcats got a 64 from Macey Powell and a 69 from Jaycie Hall in their 123-133 loss to the Lady Warriors...

Trumann and Harrisburg tune up for season openers with benefit games.