Stories from Thursday, August 12, 2004

An independent study of anti-smoking efforts reported that 25 percent of Arkansas adults smoke, a level that has remained fairly constant since 1996. The survey found that the number of teen-agers who smoke has gone down from 43 percent in 1999 to 35 percent in 2001 and to 29 percent in 2003...

Do you know anyone in the world who doesn't like homemade bread? Many years ago, probably a least 20, there was a sorta fad amongst us homemakers in which we passed around a recipe for sourdough bread and accompanied it with the "starter" which was used for the leavening process in lieu of yeast...

Ozarka Vocational-Technical School opened in 1975 to service residents of Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties. The first class of 43 students graduated in July of 1976. In 1999 it became Ozarka College, offering a wide range of degree programs and having agreements with four-year colleges and universities around the state to allow students in the associate of arts program to transfer easily...

Despite the incredible comeback story of the wild turkey in Arkansas, reports show a statewide decrease in the turkey harvest for the 2004 spring season. According to the "2004 Spring Turkey Harvest Summary" produced by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas hunters took 16,969 gobblers during this year's spring hunt. This is a decrease of 2,978 birds (or 15 percent) from the previous year's record-high harvest...

The Army Corps of Engineers is taking applications from youth hunters who would like to participate in a special deer hunt Dec. 4 and 5 in Ozark Isle Park at Bull Shoals Lake. Eight permits will be issued to hunter education graduates 15 years old and under (born on or after Dec. 5, 1988.)...

Curtis Dean LaSage, 80 of Cherokee Village died Aug. 3, 2004, at Eastern Ozarks Regional Health System. Born March 3, 1924, in Chicago, he was the son of Edward and Rose Poland Oatman. He was united in marriage Nov. 9, 1942, in Poygan, Wis., to Kathryn Marie Grinnell who preceded him in death on March 29, 2001. ...

Pearl Lucille Harris, 91, of Strawberry, died Aug. 4, 2004, at Cave City Nursing Home. Born Sept. 26, 1912, at Strawberry, she was the daughter of George W. and Mollie Belle Milligan Mullen. She was a retired schoolteacher, having taught at Strawberry and Lynn and was a member of Strawberry Church of Christ...

Nola Mae Peterson Schaufler, 84, of Viola, Ark., daughter of the late Thomas Smith and Nettie Elizabeth Ann Emery Peterson, was born Oct. 31, 1919 in Sturkie, Ark. She died Aug. 4, 2004, in Mountain Home, Ark. She married Lee Bob Schaufler Sept. 15, 1940, at Sturkie, Ark., and to this union three sons were born...

James Elroy Warren, 70, of Sturkie, Ark., son of the late Greenberry and Emily S. Fry Warren was born Aug. 28, 1933, in Caraway, Ark. He died Aug. 1, 2004, at Salem, Ark. He married Kathy Ann Kallenback March 11, 1966, at Millington, Tenn. He spent his working years as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and Boatswain's Mate for the United States Navy from which he retired, serving his country in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. ...

Rudolph Harold Clausing, 76, of Raytown, Mo., died Aug. 1, 2004, at Raytown. Born Nov. 7, 1927, in Jeff, Mo., he was the son of John James and Laura Price Clausing. He was married to Louise Sellers. He served his country in the United States Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post 344 in Thayer, Mo. He was a machinist working for many years in a machine shop and was of the Lutheran Faith...

Letitia Rhea Ducker Samson, 35, of Salem, Ark., daughter of Rhea Jeffery Ducker and the late Dr. David E. Ducker, was born Jan. 17, 1969, in Salem. She died Aug. 5, 2004, at Rogers, Ark. She spent her working years as a mother and waitress, a member of Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was a 1987 graduate of Salem High School...

Joe Dale Crase, 61, of Dupo, Ill, died July 28, 1004, at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center in St. Louis. Born June 4, 1943, in Thayer, Mo., he was the son of Lawrence and Calma Sandridge Crase. He was a retired auto mechanic and had worked at Famous-Barr Tire Company in St. Louis. He was a member of Widman's Harley Davidson, Kirkwood, Mo. chapter. He was a 1963 Thayer High School graduate...

Opal M. Blizard, 83, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died Aug. 6, 2004, at Ash Flat, Ark., Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Born March 23, 1921, in Dexter, Kan., she was the daughter of Wilbur Southard and Opal Hathorn Southard. She married Ralph A. Blizard April 14, 1962...

Darlene Ardela Young, 70, of Salem, Ark., daughter of the late Walter Rudolph and Beatrice Meyer Linder was born Oct. 15, 1933, in Wisconsin. She died Aug. 7, 2004, at her home. She was united in marriage to Mark D. Young. She spent her working years as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a homemaker...

Tina Lynn Belt, 39, of Cave City, Ark., formerly of Cherokee Village, died Aug. 6, 2004, at her home in Cave City. Born Nov. 8, 1964, in Leachville, Ark., she was the daughter of Charles Thacker Sr. and Imalene Cooper Thacker. She married Michael Belt Jan. 30, 1993, in Jonesboro, Ark. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Cherokee Village. She was a homemaker...

Joseph N. "Joe" Neal, 22, of Calamine died Aug. 3, 2004, at White River Medical Center in Batesville. Born Feb. 3, 1982, he was the son of John Norman and Mary Kathleen Hill Neal. He was a sawmill worker, a talented musician and a member of Apple Hill General Baptist Church at Ward...

Capt. Jess Guy Hamilton Jr., retired, was born May 30, 1930, at McCormick, Ark., and died and was cremated on March 5, 2004, in Washington, D.C. He was the son of the late Jess G. Hamilton Sr. of Harrisburg, Ark., and the late Frona Hamilton Hardy of Hardy, Ark...

Gary Daniel Graham, 24, son of Gary and Pat Blankenship Graham of Melbourne, was born on Feb. 22, 1980, in Salem, Ark. He died Aug. 7, 2004, in Springfield, Mo., He was a 1998 graduate of Melbourne High School. He attended Ozarka College and received an associate degree. He was a member of Belview Baptist Church in Melbourne...

H. Frances Snider, 87, died July 2, 2004, in Bixby, Okla. Born Jan. 20, 1919, in Newcastle, Ind., she was the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Marlatt Harlow. She lived in Newcastle until her marriage to George Snider Oct. 13, 1939. They lied in Indianapolis where she worked as a bookkeeper/ accountant. ...

Flora Marie "Jane" Hester, 88, formerly of Ash Flat, Ark., died Aug. 2, 2004, in Little Rock, Ark. Born June 17, 1916, near Tahlequah, Okla., she was the daughter of Charles Hester and Ollie Samantha Scribner Hester. She was employed as a farm worker and a maintenance work at Los angeles Schools. She was of the Baptist faith...

THOMASVILLE -- Officials with the Oregon County Public Library said the summer reading reading program at the Thomasville Library was a success. The state summer reading program theme was "Discover New Trails: READ" After hearing a story at each day's gathering, the participants took an active part in the days program...

Americans always have been an audacious people. In 1776, a group of patriots dared to declare independence from Great Britain. They had no constitution and no reason to believe they could militarily defeat "Mother England." In addition, a large percentage of the people who would become "Americans" actually opposed the Declaration of Independence. ...

The Thayer Medical Clinic is offering free sports physicals for Thayer and Koshkonong students interested in playing sports at either school for the up-coming year. The physicals will be given Aug. 16 from 8 a.m. until noon, and from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m...

The Dirt Works Race Cars sponsored Open Wheel Modified Show-Me Championship, held Aug. 5-7 at West Plains Motor Speedway, is in the record book. With weather for three days that couldn't have been much better, and racing described by observers as the best ever, the 12th annual event saw Greenbrier's Jack Sullivan take the big $6,000 check, the pair of trophies and full honors of the event...

Editor's Note: The following story is about the service record and awards Teddy Sutherland received during his service as an army staff sergeant in World War II. Sutherland was born in Saddle Nov. 19, 1922. He was the ninth of 12 children born to D.W. and Alise Sutherland, both of Saddle. Sutherland's family has lived in Fulton County for over six generations...

Rusty and Tania Wallace of Morriston have announced the birth of their daughter, Brenna Renee Inez Wallace, at 9:25 a.m. July 7, 2004, at Cox-South in Springfield, Mo. She weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20-1/2 inches long. She is the sister of Blaine Alan, 2, and Breten Russell, deceased...

LaGina Swetnam Austin and Brad Austin of Littleton, Mass., announce the birth of a daughter, Stella Mae Austin, July 22, 2004, at the North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Mass. Grandparents are Larry and Virginia Swetnam of Hardy, Julia Austin of Jackson, Tenn., and Bill and Dianne Austin of Martin, Tenn...

Gina Sicley, daughter of Betty Sicley of Hardy and the late Bob Sicley, and Kevin Frickson Jr., son of Kevin and Sue Frickson of Hardy, have announced their nuptials. The ceremony will be held Aug. 14 at noon at High Falls in Hardy on the Spring River, with a reception to follow the ceremony...

William Erwin Cowen, 92, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., died Aug. 1, 2004, at Shady Oaks Health Care in Thayer, Mo. Born, May 11, 1912, in Mammoth Spring, he was the son of Arch Cowen and Savannah Pierce Cowen. He was married to Nannie Mae Hunt. He later married Joyce Smith Lewis on Jan. 9, 1963...

Nellie M. Woods Stapleton, 69, of Calico Rock, Ark., daughter of the late Johnny Woods and Elsie Williams Woods, was born Jan. 17, 1935, in Optimus, Ark. She died July 29, 2004, in Mountain Home, Ark. She married Billy Borden Stapleton June 27, 1951, in Calico Rock and to this union one child was born. Nellie spent her years as a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. She was of the Baptist faith...

Ora Iene Partee Russell, 88, of Calico Rock, Ark., daughter of the late Samuel John and Irene Wallace Partee, was born on July 2, 1916, in Livingston, Ark. She died Aug. 1, 2004, in Calico Rock, Ark. She married Darrell William Russell Nov. 4, 1939...

Each day, the American Red Cross must receive between 500 and 530 whole blood donations to supply the nearly 70 hospitals it serves in Arkansas, western Tennessee and southwest Missouri. People are being asked to give the gift of life by donating at the following American Red Cross blood drives:...

A routine traffic stop, two long-term investigations and a one-vehicle accident led to 10 arrests on multiple drug charges over the weekend in Fulton and Sharp counties. "We've been busy," said 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force Chief Scott Russell...

OREGON COUNTY -- Local community leaders will discuss the All Hazard Mitigation Plan for the county/municipalities of Oregon County. Community leaders will identify new initiatives and policies that may be implemented in order to help reduce the community's vulnerability to hazards in addition to helping meet the community's needs. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and be involved in the community plan. The following is a list of dates and times of August meetings:...

THAYER -- All school age children and their parents in the area are invited to the annual Bank of Thayer Back to School Open House. The event is planned for Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. K-Kountry 95 Radio will be on hand for a live remote. Sodas, candy bars, pencil sets, key chains for high school students and balloons for small children will be given away the day of the open house...

Several incumbent Izard County aldermen will face challengers in the Nov. 2 general election, while aldermen in Fulton County will not. Izard County In Horseshoe Bend, Ward 1 Position 1 incumbent Merlyn "Smiley" Lenhard will face off against challenger David Seibert Sr...

ALTON -- Alton's 19th annual Ozark Black Gold Walnut Festival will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and Alton Chamber of Commerce officials said the festival will be bigger than ever. According to chamber planning committee chairman Tammy Curtis, the festival outgrew available space on the square last year so most of the activities are being moved to Piney Creek Park (formally Lions Club Park) just east of Alton on Highway 160...

OREGON COUNTY-- Oregon County Clerk Gary Hensley credits voters being educated, good solid candidates and two hot constitutional amendments to the large voter turnout in last Tuesday's primary election. Hensley said 49 percent of the registered voters in the county cast their vote Aug. 3. "Our office was very pleased with the number of voters in Oregon County that exercised their right to vote last Tuesday," the county clerk said...

THAYER -- Rod Priest is the new Thayer Elementary School principal. He grew up in Mountain View, Mo., where he was PK--3 principal the last four years. Before going to Mountain View, he taught in the Doniphan school system for six years, teaching in the lower primary grades...

THAYER -- A dedication and open house for the new Thayer Elementary School is set for Aug. 15 at 2 p.m. Immediately following the celebration, around 3 p.m., there will be an open house where students can find their rooms and meet their teachers. Several speakers are planned for the event. Randy Ward, school board president, will preside over the event. State Rep. Mike Dethrow, superintendent Bill Garrison, elementary principal Rod Priest and Mayor Allen Deckard are all scheduled to speak...

Sixty-three family members and friends of the late Arch and Anna Goodson were reunited this summer after 29 years. The reunion took place June 11-12 at Salem Senior Citizens' Center. Arch and Anna had eight children -- Muriel, Thad, Fred, Ted, Irene, Eldon, Boyd, and Bobby Joe -- 34 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Irene, Boyd, and Bobby Joe survive their parents and siblings, and they were present at the reunion...

Scott Bradley Chambers and Christina Noel Wilson were united in marriage July 10 at Cherokee Village United Methodist Church. The couple is employed at the Green County Sheriffs Department and reside in Marmaduke, Ark.

Ozarka Vocational-Technical School opened in 1975 to service residents of Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties. The first class of 43 students graduated in July of 1976. In 1999 it became Ozarka College, offering a wide range of degree programs and having agreements with four-year colleges and universities around the state to allow students in the associate of arts program to transfer easily...

Do you know anyone in the world who doesn't like homemade bread? Many years ago, probably a least 20, there was a sorta fad amongst us homemakers in which we passed around a recipe for sourdough bread and accompanied it with the "starter" which was used for the leavening process in lieu of yeast...

An independent study of anti-smoking efforts reported that 25 percent of Arkansas adults smoke, a level that has remained fairly constant since 1996. The survey found that the number of teen-agers who smoke has gone down from 43 percent in 1999 to 35 percent in 2001 and to 29 percent in 2003...

Gary Daniel Graham, 24, son of Gary and Pat Blankenship Graham of Melbourne, was born on Feb. 22, 1980, in Salem, Ark. He died Aug. 7, 2004, in Springfield, Mo., He was a 1998 graduate of Melbourne High School. He attended Ozarka College and received an associate degree. He was a member of Belview Baptist Church in Melbourne...

H. Frances Snider, 87, died July 2, 2004, in Bixby, Okla. Born Jan. 20, 1919, in Newcastle, Ind., she was the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Marlatt Harlow. She lived in Newcastle until her marriage to George Snider Oct. 13, 1939. They lied in Indianapolis where she worked as a bookkeeper/ accountant. ...

Flora Marie "Jane" Hester, 88, formerly of Ash Flat, Ark., died Aug. 2, 2004, in Little Rock, Ark. Born June 17, 1916, near Tahlequah, Okla., she was the daughter of Charles Hester and Ollie Samantha Scribner Hester. She was employed as a farm worker and a maintenance work at Los angeles Schools. She was of the Baptist faith...

THOMASVILLE -- Officials with the Oregon County Public Library said the summer reading reading program at the Thomasville Library was a success. The state summer reading program theme was "Discover New Trails: READ" After hearing a story at each day's gathering, the participants took an active part in the days program...

Americans always have been an audacious people. In 1776, a group of patriots dared to declare independence from Great Britain. They had no constitution and no reason to believe they could militarily defeat "Mother England." In addition, a large percentage of the people who would become "Americans" actually opposed the Declaration of Independence. ...

The Thayer Medical Clinic is offering free sports physicals for Thayer and Koshkonong students interested in playing sports at either school for the up-coming year. The physicals will be given Aug. 16 from 8 a.m. until noon, and from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m...

The Dirt Works Race Cars sponsored Open Wheel Modified Show-Me Championship, held Aug. 5-7 at West Plains Motor Speedway, is in the record book. With weather for three days that couldn't have been much better, and racing described by observers as the best ever, the 12th annual event saw Greenbrier's Jack Sullivan take the big $6,000 check, the pair of trophies and full honors of the event...

Despite the incredible comeback story of the wild turkey in Arkansas, reports show a statewide decrease in the turkey harvest for the 2004 spring season. According to the "2004 Spring Turkey Harvest Summary" produced by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas hunters took 16,969 gobblers during this year's spring hunt. This is a decrease of 2,978 birds (or 15 percent) from the previous year's record-high harvest...

The Army Corps of Engineers is taking applications from youth hunters who would like to participate in a special deer hunt Dec. 4 and 5 in Ozark Isle Park at Bull Shoals Lake. Eight permits will be issued to hunter education graduates 15 years old and under (born on or after Dec. 5, 1988.)...

Joe Dale Crase, 61, of Dupo, Ill, died July 28, 1004, at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center in St. Louis. Born June 4, 1943, in Thayer, Mo., he was the son of Lawrence and Calma Sandridge Crase. He was a retired auto mechanic and had worked at Famous-Barr Tire Company in St. Louis. He was a member of Widman's Harley Davidson, Kirkwood, Mo. chapter. He was a 1963 Thayer High School graduate...

Letitia Rhea Ducker Samson, 35, of Salem, Ark., daughter of Rhea Jeffery Ducker and the late Dr. David E. Ducker, was born Jan. 17, 1969, in Salem. She died Aug. 5, 2004, at Rogers, Ark. She spent her working years as a mother and waitress, a member of Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was a 1987 graduate of Salem High School...

Rudolph Harold Clausing, 76, of Raytown, Mo., died Aug. 1, 2004, at Raytown. Born Nov. 7, 1927, in Jeff, Mo., he was the son of John James and Laura Price Clausing. He was married to Louise Sellers. He served his country in the United States Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post 344 in Thayer, Mo. He was a machinist working for many years in a machine shop and was of the Lutheran Faith...

James Elroy Warren, 70, of Sturkie, Ark., son of the late Greenberry and Emily S. Fry Warren was born Aug. 28, 1933, in Caraway, Ark. He died Aug. 1, 2004, at Salem, Ark. He married Kathy Ann Kallenback March 11, 1966, at Millington, Tenn. He spent his working years as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and Boatswain's Mate for the United States Navy from which he retired, serving his country in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. ...

Nola Mae Peterson Schaufler, 84, of Viola, Ark., daughter of the late Thomas Smith and Nettie Elizabeth Ann Emery Peterson, was born Oct. 31, 1919 in Sturkie, Ark. She died Aug. 4, 2004, in Mountain Home, Ark. She married Lee Bob Schaufler Sept. 15, 1940, at Sturkie, Ark., and to this union three sons were born...

Pearl Lucille Harris, 91, of Strawberry, died Aug. 4, 2004, at Cave City Nursing Home. Born Sept. 26, 1912, at Strawberry, she was the daughter of George W. and Mollie Belle Milligan Mullen. She was a retired schoolteacher, having taught at Strawberry and Lynn and was a member of Strawberry Church of Christ...

Curtis Dean LaSage, 80 of Cherokee Village died Aug. 3, 2004, at Eastern Ozarks Regional Health System. Born March 3, 1924, in Chicago, he was the son of Edward and Rose Poland Oatman. He was united in marriage Nov. 9, 1942, in Poygan, Wis., to Kathryn Marie Grinnell who preceded him in death on March 29, 2001. ...

THAYER -- A dedication and open house for the new Thayer Elementary School is set for Aug. 15 at 2 p.m. Immediately following the celebration, around 3 p.m., there will be an open house where students can find their rooms and meet their teachers. Several speakers are planned for the event. Randy Ward, school board president, will preside over the event. State Rep. Mike Dethrow, superintendent Bill Garrison, elementary principal Rod Priest and Mayor Allen Deckard are all scheduled to speak...

THAYER -- Rod Priest is the new Thayer Elementary School principal. He grew up in Mountain View, Mo., where he was PK--3 principal the last four years. Before going to Mountain View, he taught in the Doniphan school system for six years, teaching in the lower primary grades...

OREGON COUNTY-- Oregon County Clerk Gary Hensley credits voters being educated, good solid candidates and two hot constitutional amendments to the large voter turnout in last Tuesday's primary election. Hensley said 49 percent of the registered voters in the county cast their vote Aug. 3. "Our office was very pleased with the number of voters in Oregon County that exercised their right to vote last Tuesday," the county clerk said...

ALTON -- Alton's 19th annual Ozark Black Gold Walnut Festival will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and Alton Chamber of Commerce officials said the festival will be bigger than ever. According to chamber planning committee chairman Tammy Curtis, the festival outgrew available space on the square last year so most of the activities are being moved to Piney Creek Park (formally Lions Club Park) just east of Alton on Highway 160...

Several incumbent Izard County aldermen will face challengers in the Nov. 2 general election, while aldermen in Fulton County will not. Izard County In Horseshoe Bend, Ward 1 Position 1 incumbent Merlyn "Smiley" Lenhard will face off against challenger David Seibert Sr...

THAYER -- All school age children and their parents in the area are invited to the annual Bank of Thayer Back to School Open House. The event is planned for Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. K-Kountry 95 Radio will be on hand for a live remote. Sodas, candy bars, pencil sets, key chains for high school students and balloons for small children will be given away the day of the open house...

OREGON COUNTY -- Local community leaders will discuss the All Hazard Mitigation Plan for the county/municipalities of Oregon County. Community leaders will identify new initiatives and policies that may be implemented in order to help reduce the community's vulnerability to hazards in addition to helping meet the community's needs. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and be involved in the community plan. The following is a list of dates and times of August meetings:...

A routine traffic stop, two long-term investigations and a one-vehicle accident led to 10 arrests on multiple drug charges over the weekend in Fulton and Sharp counties. "We've been busy," said 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force Chief Scott Russell...

Each day, the American Red Cross must receive between 500 and 530 whole blood donations to supply the nearly 70 hospitals it serves in Arkansas, western Tennessee and southwest Missouri. People are being asked to give the gift of life by donating at the following American Red Cross blood drives:...

Sixty-three family members and friends of the late Arch and Anna Goodson were reunited this summer after 29 years. The reunion took place June 11-12 at Salem Senior Citizens' Center. Arch and Anna had eight children -- Muriel, Thad, Fred, Ted, Irene, Eldon, Boyd, and Bobby Joe -- 34 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Irene, Boyd, and Bobby Joe survive their parents and siblings, and they were present at the reunion...

Editor's Note: The following story is about the service record and awards Teddy Sutherland received during his service as an army staff sergeant in World War II. Sutherland was born in Saddle Nov. 19, 1922. He was the ninth of 12 children born to D.W. and Alise Sutherland, both of Saddle. Sutherland's family has lived in Fulton County for over six generations...

Rusty and Tania Wallace of Morriston have announced the birth of their daughter, Brenna Renee Inez Wallace, at 9:25 a.m. July 7, 2004, at Cox-South in Springfield, Mo. She weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20-1/2 inches long. She is the sister of Blaine Alan, 2, and Breten Russell, deceased...

Opal M. Blizard, 83, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died Aug. 6, 2004, at Ash Flat, Ark., Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Born March 23, 1921, in Dexter, Kan., she was the daughter of Wilbur Southard and Opal Hathorn Southard. She married Ralph A. Blizard April 14, 1962...

Darlene Ardela Young, 70, of Salem, Ark., daughter of the late Walter Rudolph and Beatrice Meyer Linder was born Oct. 15, 1933, in Wisconsin. She died Aug. 7, 2004, at her home. She was united in marriage to Mark D. Young. She spent her working years as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a homemaker...

Tina Lynn Belt, 39, of Cave City, Ark., formerly of Cherokee Village, died Aug. 6, 2004, at her home in Cave City. Born Nov. 8, 1964, in Leachville, Ark., she was the daughter of Charles Thacker Sr. and Imalene Cooper Thacker. She married Michael Belt Jan. 30, 1993, in Jonesboro, Ark. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Cherokee Village. She was a homemaker...

Joseph N. "Joe" Neal, 22, of Calamine died Aug. 3, 2004, at White River Medical Center in Batesville. Born Feb. 3, 1982, he was the son of John Norman and Mary Kathleen Hill Neal. He was a sawmill worker, a talented musician and a member of Apple Hill General Baptist Church at Ward...

Capt. Jess Guy Hamilton Jr., retired, was born May 30, 1930, at McCormick, Ark., and died and was cremated on March 5, 2004, in Washington, D.C. He was the son of the late Jess G. Hamilton Sr. of Harrisburg, Ark., and the late Frona Hamilton Hardy of Hardy, Ark...

Ora Iene Partee Russell, 88, of Calico Rock, Ark., daughter of the late Samuel John and Irene Wallace Partee, was born on July 2, 1916, in Livingston, Ark. She died Aug. 1, 2004, in Calico Rock, Ark. She married Darrell William Russell Nov. 4, 1939...

Nellie M. Woods Stapleton, 69, of Calico Rock, Ark., daughter of the late Johnny Woods and Elsie Williams Woods, was born Jan. 17, 1935, in Optimus, Ark. She died July 29, 2004, in Mountain Home, Ark. She married Billy Borden Stapleton June 27, 1951, in Calico Rock and to this union one child was born. Nellie spent her years as a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. She was of the Baptist faith...

William Erwin Cowen, 92, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., died Aug. 1, 2004, at Shady Oaks Health Care in Thayer, Mo. Born, May 11, 1912, in Mammoth Spring, he was the son of Arch Cowen and Savannah Pierce Cowen. He was married to Nannie Mae Hunt. He later married Joyce Smith Lewis on Jan. 9, 1963...

Gina Sicley, daughter of Betty Sicley of Hardy and the late Bob Sicley, and Kevin Frickson Jr., son of Kevin and Sue Frickson of Hardy, have announced their nuptials. The ceremony will be held Aug. 14 at noon at High Falls in Hardy on the Spring River, with a reception to follow the ceremony...

LaGina Swetnam Austin and Brad Austin of Littleton, Mass., announce the birth of a daughter, Stella Mae Austin, July 22, 2004, at the North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Mass. Grandparents are Larry and Virginia Swetnam of Hardy, Julia Austin of Jackson, Tenn., and Bill and Dianne Austin of Martin, Tenn...

Scott Bradley Chambers and Christina Noel Wilson were united in marriage July 10 at Cherokee Village United Methodist Church. The couple is employed at the Green County Sheriffs Department and reside in Marmaduke, Ark.