memphis marathon

Lisa Johnson, Jennifer Smith and DeAnn Penter, all of Trumann, are running a half marathon in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. A half marathon is 13.1 miles. The ladies have been training for several months for the event.

The team is named in honor of Laney Jo Ross, the daughter of Craig and Misty Ross of Jonesboro, formerly of Marked Tree.

On March 27, 2006 ninth week old Laney Jo was admitted to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. She had been very sick and doctors were unable to diagnose her illness. Within hours the family finally had a diagnosis, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) M7 which is a very rare cancer for children, only five to ten children a year are diagnosed with this type of cancer.

Thankfully after all her treatments at St. Jude's Laney Jo has been cancer free for over a year.

The team runs in honor of Laney Jo and they raise money on St. Jude's Heroes website. All money raised goes directly to St. Jude's, for the care of other children. Donations for St. Jude can be given to one of the three ladies, or mailed directly to St. Jude.

All of the ladies, including Laney Jo's mother, have heroes pages on the St. Jude's website. To visit the site and heroes pages go to www.stjudeheroes.org.

Team Laney Jo runs half marathon

Lisa Johnson, Jennifer Smith and DeAnn Penter, all of Trumann, are running a half marathon in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. A half marathon is 13.1 miles. The ladies have been training for several months for the event.
Hancock, Ballard homes on Christmas tour

A great way to kick off the holiday season and get inspirational ideas for decorating your home for holidays is to attend the annual Trumann Poinsettia Club annual Christmas Tour of Homes.
Auto show winners

Trumann Auto Parts sponsored its first antique car show last Thursday. Best of show winner was Barry Wood's 1969 Mercury Cyclone GS and runner up was Jerry Hollihan's 1968 Dodge Charger. Trumann Auto Parts owner Neal Vickers said he had the car show because he wanted to do something for the community and he new a lot of people in Trumann had an interest in and rebuilt cars. He plans for this to become an annual event. (Democrat photo/Carin McClung)
Pet photos set

The Northeast Arkansas Humane Society is sponsoring their annual Holiday Pet Photos. Dates for photos are Nov. 12 n 15.
A letter from Ms. Wright

Dear Parents,
EHC met

The Maple Grove EHC met Nov. 17 in the church fellowship hall. There were 11 members present, Maudine heath, Carnelle Henley, Doris Henley, Mary L. Johnson, Dorothy Lafarlett, Willie Jo McGirr, Janice McDaniel, Jo Ann Pankey, Wylma Parrish, Bonnie Payne, Lorene Sadler and two visitors, Sharon Linder, EHC Director and Lenora hillis.
Bay City Council met

Bay Mayor Darrell Kirby presented the Bay City Council with the figures for the 2008 street budget at the November meeting. He pointed out the equipment purchase budget was much higher than that of 2007, and explained that earlier in the year the council had approved the purchase of a new mower, and that it had just currently been ordered for a price of: $3,600.
TPD felony arrest report

Dennis Burgess, 816 Hoover, Jonesboro, was arrested on Nov. 10 by Ptl. Corey Overstreet and charged with forgery.
Completion of Barret Banking School will earn six credit hours toward MBA at ASU

The College of Business at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro has entered into an agreement with the Paul W. Barret School of Banking in Memphis to award six credit hours toward the master of business administration degree to individuals who complete the Barret Banking School program.
Baby Miss Poinsettia 0 to 12 months

(From left) first alternate and most photogenic McKinley Waggoner is the daughter of Josh and Amy Waggoner of Harrisburg, Queen, best personality and prettiest smile is Madison Jo McIllwain, the daughter of Gary McIllwain, second alternate is Bryley Grace Starnes she is the daughter of Danielle Bell and Wesley Starnes of Osceola and third alternate and prettiest eyes is Brianna Mooneyham, she is the daughter of Brian and Kelly Mooneyham.
Baby Christmas Prince 0 to 12 months

(From left) King, best dressed and most photogenic, Cody Lynn Webb and first alternate, prettiest smile and prettiest eyes, Zachary Kyle Webb are the twin sons of April and Jonathan Webb of Weiner.
Christmas Prince 12 to 23 months

(From left) first alternate John-David Baxter the son of Brandon Baxter and Samantha Sowells of Harrisburg, King and best personality Spencer Stutts the son of Jared and Kristen Stutts of Manila and second alternate and most photogenic is Memphis Stone Thompson the son of Misty Stokes and Paul Thompson of Trumann.
Tiny Miss Poinsettia 13 to 23 months

(From left) first alternate, prettiest smile and most photogenic is MaryBeth Olivia Penter, she is the daughter of Zach and DeAnn Penter of Trumann, queen and best dressed is Gabby Hillis, she is the daughter of Del and Wendy Hillis of Trumann, third alternate is Kelsey Pierce, the daughter of Shana and Robert Pierce of Marked Tree.
Dainty Miss Poinsettia 2 to 3 years

(From left) second alternate is Eva Neil, she is the daughter of Crystal and Shannon Neal of Jonesboro, third alternate is Denissia Gaines the daughter of Wynetta and Dens Gaines of Lepanto, queen is Jaycie Osment the daughter of Misty and Jeremy Osment of Trumann, first alternate and prettiest eyes is Emma Jarrett the daughter of Chad and Jennifer Jarrett of Jonesboro and best personality is Maegan Householder the daughter of Tim and Anna Householder of Harrisburg. Not pictured is best dressed Sophie Bell, the daughter of Mark and Julie Bell of Caraway.
Petite Miss Poinsettia 4 to 5 years

(From left) first alternate, most photogenic and best personality is Heaven Ferguson, the daughter of Kelley and Joe Ferguson of Jonesboro, Queen, best dressed, prettiest smile and prettiest eyes is Elizabeth Sprinkle, the daughter of David and Dana Sprinkle of Harrisburg, second alternate is Hannah McClaughlin, the daughter of Amber and Brandon McClaughlin.
Little Miss Poinsettia 6 to 7 years

(From left) first alternate and prettiest eyes, Emily Whittaker is the daughter of Michael and Pamela Whittaker of Jonesboro, Queen, best dressed and most photogenic and prettiest smile is Makayla Spinkle the daughter of David and Dana Sprinkle of Harrisburg, second alternate and best personality is Bailey Davis the daughter of Sherry Lung of Trumann and third alternate is Veronica Raines, the daughter of Jessica and Tommy Raines of Trumann.
Young Miss Poinsettia 8 to 9 years

(From left) third alternate is Zoei Findley the daughter of Shanna and Ronnie Floyd of Paragould, prettiest eyes and first alternate is Taelor Gartman the daughter of Carrie and Jonathan Martin of Trumann, queen and best dressed is Meredith Greathouse the daughter of Brad and Shaunya Greathouse of Brookland, most photogenic is Natalie Stuckey, the daughter of John and Amy Stuckey of Trumann and second alternate and prettiest smile is Savanna Sprinkle, the daughter of David and Dana Sprinkle of Harrisburg.
Junior Miss Poinsettia 10 to 12 years

(From left) prettiest smile is Johanna Haynes the daughter of Ronnie and Shannon Haynes of Trumann, most photogenic is Reagan Heilman the daughter of Larra and Mike Walker of Trumann, second alternate is Macey Davis the daughter of Tony and Shelley Davis of Trumann, best personality and Queen is Katie Vincent, the daughter of Greg and Stephanie Vincent of Trumann, third alternate and prettiest eyes if Paige Hisaw, the daughter of Beverly and Scotty Hisaw of Trumann first alternate and best dressed is Heather Melton the daughter of Chris and Danny Melton of Walnut Ridge.
Miss Poinsettia Princess 13 to 15 years

(From left) first alternate is Cecilia White, the daughter of Keith and Susan White of Trumann, prettiest eyes is Samantha Minick the daughter of Teresa and Jim Minick of Trumann, third alternate is Paige McCrackin the daughter of Dean and Lori Norris of Bay, best smile is Holly York the daughter of Terry Whitaker and Mitch York of Trumann, Queen is Bobbi Benson, the daughter of Bobby and Delores Benson of Trumann, best personality Carrie Bushong, the daughter of Debbie and Kelly Crites and second alternate and best dressed, Brianna Tharp, the daughter of Leann Tharp and Allen Harris f Pocahontas.
Melissa resident Rick Henry knows something about long-distance running: The longtime marathon runner once ran nearly 2,000 miles in a four-month span.

So taking on a much shorter distance � from McKinney to Memphis, Tenn. � didn't seem like an impossible challenge.

Mr. Henry decided to make the two-week trek earlier this month to help raise awareness for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Sponsors who heard about his run donated more than $10,000 to the hospital.

"The running part seems to be the easy part," he said. "The logistics in setting up everything is the hard part."

Mr. Henry began his journey on Nov. 8 and arrived in Memphis on Thanksgiving Day. He ran mostly along back roads and traveled with Carlos Medina, who rode alongside Mr. Henry in a truck that averaged about 6 mph. Mr. Medina, owner of a Dallas-area LA Fitness, volunteered to drive the supplies.

Mr. Henry had several encounters along the way. In Des Arc, Ark., he learned about 8-year-old Lexi Tenison, a well-known cancer survivor in her community.

"He was doing the run from Texas to Memphis to raise awareness for cancer and someone called us," said Liz Hampton, a reporter for a local Des Arc paper, the White River Journal. "They happened to be about 10 miles from where Lexi lives."

At 6 months old, Lexi developed a brain tumor, said Greg Tenison, the girl's father and a Des Arc pastor. She's since overcome that tumor and eight others, he said.

"The doctor said she wouldn't live to be a year old, and she just had her eighth birthday," Mr. Tenison said.

Ms. Hampton told Mr. Henry about Lexi, and afterward, with Lexi's name newly inked onto his shirt, the run took on an additional cause.

Though Mr. Henry is an experienced runner and had trained for three hours a day since July, his journey was not without obstacles.

He averaged 30 miles a day, but at the end of each stretch, he had sore muscles. He even developed a prostate infection toward the end, he said.

But he kept running.

"I go into these things realizing I'm going to get hurt," he said. "Knees and hips and ankles are going to get stiff."

On the last days, his friend Alan Florschuetz rode beside him on his mountain bike. Mr. Henry kept an 8-minute mile pace, which was ahead of schedule.

Friends at the finish line called Mr. Florschuetz and told them to slow down because they weren't ready for him, he said. But, Mr. Henry continued running.

"It's a blur; it's nonstop," he said. "The only time you really stop is when you're sleeping. I was just happy to finish. It was a long two weeks."

On his ride back to Texas, Mr. Henry stopped in Des Arc to meet Lexi and her family. They had invited him and his family to share Thanksgiving dinner.

"It's our job, the people who are strong, to help people who aren't," he said.