Lepanto News

The Tyronza Farmers Market will have its grand opening from 4 -- 8 p.m. Thursday, July 3 in downtown Lepanto.

Governor Mike Beebe announced last week that the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, has awarded $2,048,177 in grants for projects in 35 Arkansas counties ...

Four Lepanto residents were arrested Sunday, June 4 when officers raided a shop building located at 31661 North Road in Marked Tree.

"Sometimes after a difficult call, or witnessing a tragedy, we just need someone outside the department to talk to," said Trumann Police Department Chief Larry Blagg.

Charles Nix of Harrisburg will be the new county judge come January after securing the seat in a runoff held Tuesday, June 10.

The runoff election for Poinsett County Judge will be held Tuesday, June 10. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hut in Lepanto and the National Guard Armory in Marked Tree.

The creator of a "dragon" fighting knight was there. So was a man whose name became synonymous with illicit passion... Full article Red Hatters elect new queen The Lepanto Lamp City Red Hatters recently held a ...

Louvenia Lillard sewed her first dress at the age of 11 and hasn't looked back since.

A routine traffic stop quickly became a drug bust on Friday, May 16 when Sgt. Allen Hicks stopped an ATV on Eason Street in Leapnto. Jason Truelove, 26 years old, of 423 Eason Street in Lepanto was the operator of the ATV. According to Sgt. Hicks, Truelove was acting nervously and fumbling with his right front pocket. To ensure officer safety, Sgt. Hicks did a pat down of Truelove and discovered a plastic bag containing what is believed to be methamphetamine in Truelove's right front pocket. Truelove was charged with operating an ATV on the highway and possession of a controlled substance. On May 19, 2008, Truelove was taken before District Judge, Steve Imboden. Bond was set at $100,000 cash. Truelove is in the Poinsett County Detention Center awaiting a June 23, 2008 Court in Poinsett County Circuit Court.

On April 30, Judy's Snack House and the Allure Hair Studio in Lepanto was burglarized. There was money taken from both businesses and the back doors were damaged at both locations. Following an investigation by the Lepanto Police Department, Curtis Pilgrim of 320 Berney St. was arrested on May 9 and charged with two counts of commercial burglary, two counts of theft under $500 and two counts of criminal mischief and destruction of public property. Pilgrim has a prior burglary arrest. On May 12, Pilgrim was taken before District Judge Steve Inboden and bond was set at $100,000 cash. He is awaiting a circuit court date set for May 30, 2008.

Thrilled EPC seniors stepped onto the East Poinsett County High School football field as students for the last time Friday night. The teens officially graduated with ceremonies of pomp and circumstance. Class valedictorian was Matt Smith and salutatorian was Stephanie Steakly. Honor graduates were Sabrina Benton, Ashton Smith, Cara Pilgrim, Candace Dorris, Kimberly Harston, Amber Sides, Brett Hardin, Mark Medina, Jackaa Cypress, Jordan Driver, Meredith Ruiz, Tye Shempert, Keith Chisem and Kelsey Story. The EPC Class of 2008 received total scholarships valued at $276,480. Those receiving scholarships are as follows: Michael Medina - $2,500 two year Crowder College CAMP Scholarship. Ashton Smith - $500 Billy Powell Memorial Local Scholarship, $1,000 Opastco Scholarship and $3,850 MidSouth Community College Academic Scholarship. Total two year value - $5,350. Brett Hardin - $11,750 four year Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. Jackaa Cypress - $11,750 four year Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. Kelsey Story - $11,750 four year Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.

Several local races were decided at Tuesday's polls with a run off set for the county judge race. In the race for county judge, Charles Nix won the most votes with 1,298 votes. Steve Jernigan received 1,035 votes and incumbent Doyle Hillis received 946 votes. Nix and Jernigan will face off in a run off set for June 10. In the district judge race, Ron Hunter received 1,482 votes against incumbent Steve Inboden who won 1,293 votes. Chet Dunlap received 584 votes. Inboden and Hunter will face each again in the general election this November. In other local races, incumbent Fonda Condra defeated challenger Chris King with 2,806 votes to 456 votes. Tammie Stanford was elected county treasurer with 2,429 votes. Her former challenger Carolyn Wages received 768 votes despite withdrawing from the race earlier this month. For the Justice of the Peace District 10 race, Larry Steakley won the seat with 248 votes against Paul Howard, who received 95 votes. Unopposed Democratic candidates included Mark Pryor, U.S. Senate; Marion Berry, U.S. Congress District 1; Buddy Lovell, State Representative District 56; Larry Mills, sheriff; Claudia Matthews, circuit clerk; Johnny Rye, Jr., assessor; John Davis, coroner; Randy Jones, Justice of the Peace District 1; Elizabeth Schwarz, Justice of the Peace District 2; J.C. Carter, Justice of the Peace District 4; Johnny Johnson, Justice of the Peace District 5; Jerry G. Terry, Justice of the Peace District 6; Brent Henderson, Justice of the Peace District 7; John Salder, Justice of the Peace District 8; Mary Ann Arnold, Justice of the Peace District 9; Harold Blackwood, District of the Peace District 11; Don Horne, Constable of Little River Township; Charles "Bill" Rudd, Constable of Dobson Township. Unopposed Republican candidates include Darrell Rains, Justice of the Peace District 6; Coty Powers, Justice of the Peace District 9; and Jackie Ragan, Constable of Little River Township.

At age 18, Amory MS native Jessi McCormick joined the U.S. Marines to pursue a career in law enforcement as a military police. She was excited but didn't know what to expect. Corporal McCormick's biggest challenge came when she was sent to Iraq for eight months in August 2004 to provide security for the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team (EOD). McCormick is one of a handful of female Marines whose job was to clear bombs. McCormick was in town attending the Garden Point Cemetery Memorial Service where she presented the laying of the wreath in remembrance of veterans. She is the granddaughter of Betty Wilmoth Webb and the great niece of Sally McMechen and Bob Wilmoth.

While many people spent Memorial Day at the lake or by the grill or pool , others were paying tribute to honor those who have died in combat and those that continue to serve by attending grave side services throughout the nation. One such service honoring heroes was held at the Garden Point Cemetery at Etowah. Mayor of Etowah Bo McCollum welcomed everyone and reminded participants why of the day's special meaning. "We have a lot to be thankful for in our great nation," said McCollum. "We are here today to pay tribute to family members and friends who died serving our great nation, and to honor all the veterans buried here, remember their loved ones and to lay the wreath of remembrance of our veterans."

The first automobile Pearl Bounds ever saw like to have scared her to death. "I was in first grade and was walking home from school," said the 103-year-old Bounds.

Beginning this month, the Lepanto Police Department will sound tornado sirens when a tornado warning is issued for Poinsett County. Capt. David Layman stated that with new Doppler radar innovations, a storm can be "tracked" to a specific area. "When the Weather Service issues a warning, they will tell us what areas are in the path of the storm," Layman said. "When a Warning is issued, and it is in a path toward Lepanto, the sirens will be sounded." When a tornado watch or severe thunderstorm warning is issued for the Lepanto area, trained storm spotters are activated. These storm spotters are dispatched to specific areas where they can monitor the city. The spotters are members of the Police Department and the Fire Department. If a storm spotter sees rotation in the clouds or a funnel cloud, the sirens will be sounded. If a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, the EPC tornado shelters are opened for persons to seek shelter. A member of the Police Department or Fire Department will man the tornado shelters to keep persons informed on the weather conditions. "We sound the sirens to alert the citizens that a tornado has either been actually spotted or detected by Doppler radar in our area," Layman said. "The Police Department asks that when the sirens do sound, you do not call the Police Department. This only ties up the phone lines that may be needed for an emergency. You should take cover in your safe spot immediately." Captain Layman said that the storm sirens are tested on Saturdays between the hours of 12 noon and 1 p.m. If severe storms are threatening at that time, the sirens will not be tested.

Friday, April 4, 2008 Greg Terrell and Greg Rogers of Lepanto were arrested by Arkansas State Police Rocky Rapert on highway 135 south of Lepanto after a routine traffic stop was made. Trooper Rapert initiated the traffic stop and shortly afterward contacted the Lepanto Police Department for assistance. K9 officer Nick Radick responded to the scene. Poinsett County Deputy Chad Henderson was also at the scene. A search of suspects vehicle was conducted after K9 Rocca alerted on vehicle where several components for a meth lab were found, leading to the arrest of Greg Rogers and Greg Terrell who were then transported to Poinsett County Detention Center to await probable cause hearing the following week.

Democratic voters will vote in four contested races when they head to the polls Tuesday, May 20. Polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Incumbent Doyle Hillis will face Charles Nix of Harrisburg and Steve Jernigan of Lepanto in the race for Poinsett County Judge. In the race for county clerk, incumbent Fonda Condra is challenged by Chris King. Paul Howard is running against Larry Steakley for Justice of the Peace District 10. The ballot will feature two candidates for county treasurer. However, Carolyn Wages announced last week her withdrawal from the race, so Tammie Stanford will win the race by default. All voters, including Republicans and independents, will vote in the three-way race for District Court Judge. Incumbent Steve Inboden is challenged by Ron Hunter of Harrisburg and Chesley "Chet" Dunlap of Trumann.

In April 2007, the Lepanto Police Department hired a new police officer. That officer was Rocca, a Golden Retriever drug detection dog. Rocca's handler is Officer Nick Radick. Since the two have been partnered together they have accomplished a lot of what they set out to do. Rocca has been used to search vehicles suspected of carrying narcotics. She has alerted on several of the vehicles and narcotics were found where she indicated. Rocca has assisted the Arkansas State Police, the Poinsett County Sheriff's Department, the Tyronza and Marked Tree Police Departments and other Law Enforcement Agencies in the area. Radick and Rocca have been to the EPC Lepanto School Campus, both to conduct searches and to visit with students. The two have also attended various churches to show what Rocca does to combat the war on drugs. "Children love Rocca, and Rocca loves children, said Radick.

The fourth annual "Saddle Up for St. Jude" trail ride was held Saturday, May 10 at the Fires Horse Arena in Rivervale. Over 30 people participated with 28 horse riders and two wagons. A large crowd of over 150 also filled the arena to watch the ride. The trail ride and auction raised nearly $5,600 for St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The event, which is always held the second Saturday in May, is organized by Dale and Judy Slack and Terry and Wayne Fires. "We want to thank everyone who contributed and participated," Slack said. "I want to say a special thank you to the Fires who donated the use of their facilities. We couldn't have done it without them." Organizers also wanted to thank the business and individuals who donated auction items, food and other items. He said they are also appreciative of all the cash donations to the great cause.