News

The 4th annual Malik Monk Turkey Drive was held in Lepanto on Saturday as volunteers gave away over 300 turkeys, complete with all of the fixings, to families in need. Lepanto, Tyronza, Earle, Osceola and Marked Tree were just a few of several communities across northeast Arkansas that were served on Saturday...

Houston Hamilton, Sr., 61, of Trumann has been accused of raping a child along with sexual indecency with a child, possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with the intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and introducing a controlled substance into another body. ...

It’s that time of year again, when the weather starts getting cooler and people decide to fire up the chainsaw and gather firewood in hopes of heating their house, cutting wood for deer camp or to just enjoy the comfort of a fire in the fireplace. Just a few safety precautions can mean the difference between a warm fire and a trip to the hospital...

There were only two items on the agenda for the Poinsett County Quorum Court to discuss at their monthly meeting last Monday. A resolution authorizing lump sum extra compensation for Poinsett County employees and County Officers for 2020 was passed in recognition of service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also passed was Appropriations and Transfer Ordinance 2020-09 with appropriations of $36,439 and transfers of $2,000 for a total of $38, 439...

A minor was killed and a Lepanto man was injured in a one vehicle wreck this past Friday along Highway 140 and Buel Lane outside of Marked Tree in Poinsett County. The preliminary fatal crash summary from the Arkansas State Police (ASP) said authorities responded to the crash around 6:30 a.m. ...

The Trumann City Council met in regular session on November 10 with council members Stephen Hammell and Matthew Miller absent from the meeting. In new business, Mayor Barbara Lewallen gave a report on what’s been going on in the city. The following topics were covered: Police Chief Chad Henson, Assistant Police Chief John Redman and Fire Chief Revis Kemper have been working on the city’s submission to the State of Arkansas through the Cares Act and CESF. ...

Early voting for the December 1 General Runoff Election will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at the Poinsett County Annex Building located at 110 N. East Street, Harrisburg (across from the Courthouse). You must live in Willis Ward 5 in order to vote in this election. ...

The East Poinsett County Student Council hosted a Veterans Day lunch on November 11 in the Baptist Church Family Life Center for the local veterans. Masks, gloves and distancing were all used for the safety of our elderly veterans. The Student Council wanted to show their appreciation for everything our veterans have sacrificed for our country. ...

A teenage girl who was staying at the Rite of Passage facility in Harrisburg has escaped along with another female. Maranda Davidson, 15, is still at large as the other female is back in custody. The two juveniles were reported to have escaped from the facility around 5:30 p.m. Monday evening. Davidson was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and black sweat pants...

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and more drivers hit the roads; the Trumann Police Department is reminding all drivers of the importance of seat belt use. This annual campaign is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s national Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort that runs from November 16-29, 2020. ...

Trumann will need a run-off election to decide two seats for the Trumann City Council. The election is set for December 1. In Ward 3 Position 1, Incumbent Matthew Miller led challenger Peggy Greenwell 141-137 after election night on November 3. When provisional ballots were counted this past week, the two candidates were tied 142-142 in unofficial results. ...

A commodity distribution for Poinsett County is scheduled for Wednesday November 18, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. until noon or until food supplies are gone. The Distribution will be a Drive Through. The distribution will take place at three locations: Marked Tree Fire Station at 102 Liberty, Trumann Sports Complex at 16179 Pecan Grove Rd, and Weiner City Hall at 123 W. 2nd...

Improvements being made to Interstate 555 must have temporary ramp closures and detours at Gilmore, according to Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) officials. Weather permitting, crews will close the exit ramp at Turrell for I-555 northbound (Exit 23) starting at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 12 and continuing through 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24...

Larry Scott Mangrum, 39, of Trumann has been charged with arson. Mangrum, who was a deputy for the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office is no longer in that capacity. Mangrum also served with the Jonesboro Fire Department. Poinsett County Sheriff Kevin Molder could not speak on Mangrum’s status with the Jonesboro Fire Department and could not give any specifics about the case...

From what I’ve seen it looks like another bumper crop of acorns this year. With the acorns just starting to fall now is the time to be on the lookout for signs of acorn poisoning. When forage is scarce, cattle will often search for alternative food sources, and in Arkansas where cattle are often grazed on pastures that contain oak timber, cattle producers need to be extra cautious...

The Trumann School Board met on October 12 in their regularly scheduled meeting and accepted the resignation of a teacher and voted to make two new hires. The board accepted the resignation of Trumann Elementary School teacher Joe Derrick Hinds effective October 19, 2020. ...

Poinsett County Sheriff Kevin Molder says that Poinsett County will soon be a part of the 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force. During a meeting of the task force this past Friday in Jonesboro, Molder made the request to Corey Seats, Craighead County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney...

Ronnie Jones, 50, of Trumann was arrested this past Friday at Simmons Bank in Jonesboro when he attempted to cash a stolen check in the amount of $360 at the drive through window. Jones, who is being held on a $20,000 cash only bond, admitted to stealing and forging 20 payroll checks for farm workers. ...

Administrators for the Marked Tree School District announced that beginning Friday, October 30, they would send every child home with four meals for their Saturday and Sunday breakfasts and lunches. This is thanks to a series of waivers the school is using through the government...

Ashley Cox, 33, Trumann was caught on camera stealing lottery tickets from the store where she worked. Cox was an employee at Flash Market #23 on Highway 69. Officer Ryan Price stated that video provided by the store’s managers show Cox take cash from the register then put it in her pocket. “It is also clearly visible that Cox takes lottery tickets from the spool and does not pay for them,” he stated. “In some instances, [she] scratches them off in clear view of the camera.”...

**UPDATED) After damage to a fire hydrant Saturday evening, officials in Weiner issued a boil order effective immediately. According to Myra Schwarz, with the Weiner Water Company, the Weiner and Waldenburg water systems will be under a boil order until further notification...

Poinsett County has had 919 confirmed cases along with 64 probable cases. There are 137 confirmed cases still active with 21 probable active cases. There have been 766 confirmed recoveries with 42 probable recovered cases. There has been 16 confirmed deaths and one probable death...

The Trumann School Board held a special meeting on September 23 to accept the resignation of a school employee. Anthony Patterson and Revis Kemper were absent from the meeting. The board accepted the resignation of Samantha Harris, bus aide only, retroactive to August 25...

Poinsett County has had 884 confirmed cases along with 53 probable cases. There are 133 confirmed cases still active with 15 probable active cases. There have been 735 confirmed recoveries with 37 probable recovered cases. There has been 16 confirmed deaths and one probable death...

Poinsett County has had 872 confirmed cases along with 54 probable cases. There are 134 confirmed cases still active with 17 probable active cases. There have been 722 confirmed recoveries with 36 probable recovered cases. There has been 16 confirmed deaths and one probable death...

BY CRAIG ALLEN, CEA STAFF-CHAIR A voter guide, handout can help voters with information journey. Even without a pandemic, it’s always good to go into Election Day with a plan. This plan should include how you are going to vote – whether by absentee ballot, early voting or on Election Day – as well as knowing how you want to vote...

The Poinsett County Quorum Court had their monthly meeting this past Monday at the Poinsett County Detention Center in Harrisburg. All justices were present. In new business, the court approved for Craig Allen, CEA Staff-Chair, to purchase the three lots next to the extension office. ...

Trumann business has ribbon cutting.

The Poinsett County Election Commission recently voted to move the Vote Center location in Lepanto from Lepanto City Hall to the Lepanto Housing Authority Community Room located at 100 Stevens Square. Poinsett County is a Vote Center county and registered voters may vote at any of the following Vote Center locations during the upcoming November 3 General Election: CALVARY BAPTIST LIFE CENTER, 503 S. ...

The Trumann Lady Wildcats went 3-0 last week with wins at Piggott (10/5), at home versus Walnut Ridge (10/6) and at Highland (10/8). For the week, Christina Jean-Paul had 38 kills, 28 blocks and nine stuff blocks, Jayda Halfacre had 26 kills, 44 digs and three aces, Isabella Davis had 11 kills and 15 digs, Lynlee Morgan had 10 kills, 12 blocks, three stuff blocks and six digs, Zoey Craig had 28 kills, 11 blocks, six stuff blocks and four aces, Anna Lebo had 56 digs and four aces, Carlie Jo Hicks had 12 aces, 12 digs and 23 assists as Annaleigh Penter finished with 31 digs and 63 assists. ...

With a score that seemed more like a baseball game, Harrisburg beat Manila 17-2 in high school football action this past Friday in Manila. Manila took the opening kick-off and drove the ball to the Harrisburg four-yard line before River Carter came up big knocking a fourth down pass down to give the Hornets the ball with 8:35 left in the opening quarter. ...

Arkansas State University-Newport Chancellor, Dr. Sandra Massey, will retire at the end of 2020 after seven years of service. ASU-Newport named Massey its second chancellor in September 2013. Since then, Massey has dedicated the past seven years of her career to supporting ASUN’s mission of providing an accessible, affordable, quality education that transforms the lives of students, enriches communities and strengthens the regional economy...

Rhonda Burnett, 41, of Marked Tree was killed in a two-vehicle accident near Jericho in Crittenden County. Two passengers, Ronald Burnett, also of Marked Tree, and an unnamed minor were injured and taken to Memphis hospitals. The preliminary crash report states the October 2 wreck happened when Burnett was on the I-55 East service road north of James Mill Road when she tried to merge onto the interstate when a pick-up truck failed to yield and crashed into Burnett's car. ...

Three schools in Poinsett County have reported cases of COVID-19 among their staff and students. Marked Tree School District was the latest school to be hit by the virus. The school will do virtual learning Thursday October 8 and Friday October 9 after an increase of positive COVID-19 cases among students and employees...

Brad Robertson, 49, of Harrisburg died this past Wednesday morning when he lost control of his 2014 Freightliner while negotiating a curve and ran off the road and overturned. The accident occurred on State Highway 135 north of Rivervale at 8:55 a.m...

Poinsett County has had 703 confirmed cases along with 36 probable cases. There are 58 confirmed cases still active with 15 probable active cases. There have been 631 confirmed recoveries with 20 probable recovered cases. There has been 14 confirmed deaths and one probable death...

Willie Wood, 78, of Harrisburg was killed this past Tuesday when he collided head-on with a Mack CH6 dump truck. According to a report from the Arkansas State Police, Wood crossed the center line in his F-150 and collided with the truck on State Highway 149 north of Three Forks in Earle. The unidentified driver of the dump truck was not injured...

The Marked Tree School District has received a grant in the amount of $25,000 through the NEA Food Bank. The money will help feed some of the disadvantaged families for one year. Reaching out to Marked Tree Superintendent Matt Wright, he told the paper that he will give another update in a few days as training will be given on how the grant is to be used...

In a special board meeting held September 28, the Harrisburg School Board approved Mizell Heating and Air of Dumas to provide air conditioning in the gym pending no additional fee over $20,000 from Entergy.

The EPC School board voted to approve the budget presented by Mitzi Malone and the state and federal budgets presented by Marla Blain at the regular board meeting held on September 28. In other new business, the board approved to remove listed items from the district inventory, accepted the resignation of Rosita Johnson and voted to hire Peyton Roach, Pre-K Aide. ...

Early voting for the November 3 General Election, Nonpartisan Runoff and Annual School Election (Harrisburg School District only) will begin at 8:00 a.m. Monday, October 19, 2020 at the Poinsett County Annex Building located at 110 N. East Street, Harrisburg (across from the Courthouse). ...

While I’m not sure we’ll get to trick or treat on Halloween night due to COVID-19, we can still decorate around the house in celebration of fall and cooler temperatures. Choosing a pumpkin for Halloween or decoration is easy. Just follow a few simple rules: Look for a deep orange pumpkin that is evenly colored, look for a pumpkin that is appealing to the eye, choose one that is the right size for the application, look for a shape that appeals to you, if it is flat on one side you may be able to use it in your design, make sure that the pumpkin is free from soft spots, cuts, bruises, or punctures, the flesh should feel hard, and not push in easily (this could lead to rotting) and make sure that about three inches of stem is still attached.. ...

Dollar General Market going up in Lepanto.

Junior Hornets fall to Walnut Ridge 14-8.

ARKids Pediatric Day Care has ribbon cutting.

Monica Arnold of Trumann was arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment after her six-year old son was injured in a crash in June and airlifted to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis with a broken leg a serious cut to his forehead. The wreck happened at the intersection of Poinsett Street and Circle Drive on June 17...

Over the past decade, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes on our nation’s roads. The Trumann Police Department is encouraging drivers to put down the phone and remember: U Drive. U Text. U Pay. The Trumann Police Department will partner with the U.S. ...

Poinsett County has had 687 confirmed cases along with 31 probable cases. There are 53 confirmed cases still active with 12 probable active cases. There have been 620 confirmed recoveries with 18 probable recovered cases. There has been 14 confirmed deaths and one probable death...

Harrisburg Elementary School teacher Susanne Michael lost her battle with COVID-19 on October 2 as the Harrisburg School District announced today (October 2). Michael had been receiving antiviral and convalescent plasma at a local hospital on September 23 and had been placed on a ventilator with some hope she would recover. ...