News

Marked Tree School District is asking for a millage increase during the annual school election on Sept. 19. They are asking for a six mill increase, which would raise them from 33.5 mills--the 32nd lowest in the state--to 39.5 mills. Out of the 25 schools in Northeast Arkansas, this would move Marked Tree from 22nd to 11th...

NEA Baptist broke ground Aug. 9 on a new facility for their Trumann clinic. The 8,050 square foot medical facility will be on 1.2 acres in front of Orscheln on Industrial Park Drive. "This was a long time in the making," said Brad Parsons, NEA Baptist CEO, during the groundbreaking ceremony. "This new facility is something we're very proud to offer this community and the region."...

The City of Marked Tree has conducted several surveys recently to get public input on what's needed at the parks in preparation for grant applications to update the parks in several ways. The Marked Tree City Council reviewed the results of those surveys during Monday night's meeting and heard a presentation on plans to use grant funds at both the sports complex and Carver Park...

The Poinsett County Quorum Court had three new items of business on the agenda Monday. The court heard the reading of a resolution declaring a vacancy in the office of justice of the peace for District #5 of Poinsett County. The position became vacant with the passing Gary Anderson. The resolution was to ask the governor to appoint a new person to the position. The resolution pass unanimously...

The Trumann City Council appointed a new alderman to fill the remainder of a term due to an alderman moving from the city during their monthly meeting Tuesday. Alderman Charles Goza attended his final meeting as an alderman as he and his family are moving to Jonesboro. ...

Tuesday night, the Tyronza City Council approved ordinances on limb pick-up and functioning water services in addition to approving a contract with a Gospel band for the Stars and Stripes festival. The limbs ordinance, which the council has discussed the last couple months, says the city will remove limbs which are placed curbside. ...

The Arkansas State Highway Commission approved several bids for resurfacing city streets, county roads, and state highways in Poinsett County last week. The first bid includes resurfacing streets in Lepanto, Tyronza, and Black Oak. In Lepanto, 1.4 miles of of streets will be resurfaced, including: McClellan Avenue, Thomas Street, Alexander Avenue, and Oak Street. ...

Thirteen Poinsett County residents were among 154 employees who were recognized recently for their years of service at St. Bernards. Nine were from Trumann, two were from Marked Tree, one was from Lepanto, and one was from Harrisburg. One has worked for St. Bernards for 30 years, two for 25 years, one for 20 years, four for 15, two for 10 years, and three for five years...

Haag Brown Commercial recently announced that a new restaurant is coming Trumann: a full-service Burger King, which will be located along I-555 on Industrial Park Access Road between the Walmart Super Center and McDonald's. "We have been marketing this specific lot for several years and are thrilled that it has been purchased by such a strong global tenant," said Haag Brown Commercial Principal Joshua Brown. ...

Three Rivers Food Pantry in Marked Tree recently celebrated their one-year anniversary with Connie and Jim Huff as directors. They have gone from helping three families their first week to 563 families--1,355 individuals--during the month of June. The pantry has received support from numerous volunteers, students, and area churches. ...

Vision loss can be difficult to deal with and can sometimes put people in danger of losing their jobs. But it doesn't have to. That's the message Kimberly Harkey is trying to get out there. Harkey is Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Department of Humans Services (DHS) Division of Services for the Blind (DSB). ...

The Trumann City Council held a special meeting Tuesday night to annex a little over 92 acres into the city limits. The ordinance passed by a unanimous vote. The land annexed into the city is west of the high school on the north side of West Main Street. ...

Brad Baker with Mid-South Lions was on hand last Wednesday to install the new officers for the Trumann Lions Club. Baker also took the time to speak a little bit about being a Lion. Baker, who has been with Mid-South Lions for 27 years, talked to the group about feeling burned out and being tired of doing this. ...

Representatives from Southeastern Medical Solutions, and from several pharmacies partnering with them, answered questions recently during a town hall meeting in Harrisburg regarding the proposed medical marijuana cultivation facility. Max Caldwell, with Caldwell Pharmacy in Wynne, was among many pharmacists present who are partnering with Southeastern Medical Solutions. ...

Old business was the main item on the agenda for the Trumann City Council during their monthly meeting Tuesday. The council decided not to enter into a contract with Trumann Ambulance Service (TEMS). The proposed contract was asked for approval by Alderman Brett Parker but failed to get a second by another member, so the issue died. ...

The Marked Tree City Council took a step toward the process of condemnation on a property that burned last October. During discussion of cleanup of a property at 209 Broadway where the council approved paying Poinsett County Abstract Company $150 for researching the property, Alderman Mack Rhoads asked about the property at 126 Brigance, a trailer that burned last year. ...

Lepanto Police Chief Chad Henderson presented the city council with a proposal Tuesday to purchase two used police cars to replace the department's two Dodge Nitros, which are down. Henderson said Big Bear Cruisers has a 2011 Crown Victoria with 52,000 miles for $14,695--with police equipment--and a 2013 Chevrolet Caprice with 65,000 miles at $17,395--with equipment. ...

The intergovernmental cooperative council had a small turnout this quarter for its meeting in Harrisburg Tuesday. County Judge Bob Cantrell met with mayors Randy Mills, Dale Dunlap, and William Wood along with other county officials to give quarterly updates...

The Walk to End Alzheimer's had a new team kickoff breakfast Monday to begin signing up teams for this year's walk. This year's walk at the Arkansas State University Student Union will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7. According to the Alzheimer's Association, 28 teams and 66 participants have already signed up for the local walk, and they have raised $19,195 so far out of their $85,000 goal for advancing Alzheimer's support, care, and research...

The Poinsett County Quorum Court had a short agenda for their July meeting Monday night at the Courthouse Annex Building in Harrisburg. Poinsett County Judge Bob Cantrell opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the family of Justice Gary Anderson, who passed away last week, before saying a prayer for the Anderson family. After the prayer, roll was called with all remaining justices present. The minutes and financial report were then approved...

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, has awarded $2,824,799 in grants for projects in 47 Arkansas counties--including Poinsett County--through its County Courthouse Restoration Grant, Historic Preservation Restoration Grant and Main Street Downtown Revitalization Grant programs...

Emelda Williams of Travel With Us Jonesboro spoke to the Trumann Lions Club about the world of travel and about upcoming tours her company has to offer. Williams told the group a little about herself and her husband. "We are both retired professors from Arkansas State University, and we lucked into the business we have now," Williams said. ...

The Wrays, who farm near Payneway, have been named the 2017 Farm Family of the Year for both Poinsett County and the Northeast Arkansas District. Eddie and Annette Wray have four children, the youngest of which, James, works on the farm with them. The others are Jamie, Stephen, and Ashley. The Wrays went from farming 1,300 acres their first year to farming 5,000 acres today with soybeans making up a little over half those acres. They also farm cotton, rice, and corn...

Marked Tree Police Department's first female officer, Jennifer Witherspoon, started work Monday. "I'm excited," Witherspoon said. "I'm ready to get started, get out there, and get on the road." Witherspoon said her end goal is to be an Arkansas Game and Fish game warden, and part of the requirements for that involves having at least two years experience in law enforcement or military. ...

Chuck Long, a 27-year member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), was on hand last Wednesday to teach a little Arkansas history at the Trumann Lions Club's weekly meeting. Long has been in the Education Department for AGFC since 1998. Long gave out a sheet with dates and events and had the members try to match the events and dates up. ...

This month, the Harrisburg City Council approved a resolution giving a group the okay to build a medical marijuana cultivation facility should they be awarded a permit by the state. Harrisburg Mayor Randy Mills said a representative with Southeastern Medical Solutions spoke to the council and that council support was unanimous. "We're supporting it," he said...

Justin Chlapecka, with the Cooperative Extension Service for Poinsett County, spoke to the Trumann Lions Club last week about the new study being done on ticks in Arkansas. Chlapecka said the study will help provide information on the tick population. ...

Last year, the Trumann City Council entered into a contract with Trumann EMS to make them the city's exclusive ambulance provider. This meant all dispatch calls for an ambulance were directed to TEMS first, and if they were unable to take a call, it was then directed to another ambulance service. The contract did not keep a person from asking for another ambulance service by name when they called...