THE NASHVILLE HH HH Preserving SouthwestNews-LEADER Arkansas’s Heritage While Leading Through the 21st Century Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 u Vol. 17, Issue 33 u 18 pages, 2 sections u 75¢ Leader Early voting set Board to open Feb. 18 www.swarkansasnews.com Early voting for Ar- Umpire. kansas’s Preferential Pri- Voters will choose be- OPINION 4A mary Election will begin tween Democratic and Tuesday, Feb. 18, and will Republican party ballots, Some thoughts continue through the day except for non-partisan before election day, Tues- judicial races which will on Noah’s Ark, day, March 3. be on both ballots. the flood and Howard County’s ear- The races ly voting at the Carter The main interest will other topics Day Training Center on be on races for the U.S. N. Main, Nashville, also Presidential nomination includes two Saturdays from each party. Scrapper -- Feb. 22 and 29 -- when The candidates include: the voting place will be Republican -- Roque Supermarket open 10-4. “Rocky” De La Fuente, to benefit from Otherwise, the voting Donald J. Trump and Bill place is open 8-6, Monday- Weld. FUMC dinner Friday. Democrat -- Tom Steyer, First United Method- There will be early vot- Kamala Harris, Elizabeth ist Church of Nashville ing at the Dierks Commu- Warren, Pete Buttigieg, will host an authentic nity Center, 102 W. 2nd St., Joe Stesak, Julian Cas- New Orleans red beans on Monday March 2 from tro, Steve Bullock, John and rice dinner on Fat 10-4. K. Delaney, Michael R. Tuesday Feb. 25 from There are six voting Bloomberg, Amy Klobu- 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the fel- places on election day, and char, Mosie Boyd, Tulsi lowship hall. The event all are open 7:30-7:30. Any Gabbard, Joseph R. Biden, will benefit the Scrap- registered voter from any Bernie Sanders, Marianna per Supermarket food voting precinct in Howard Williamson, Andrew Yang, pantry program in the County may vote at any of Michael Bennet and Cory Nashville School District. the six sites. Booker. Cost of the meal is The sites include: The non-partisan races donation only. Take outs • Carter Day Training include: will be available. Center in Nashville; For State Supreme The menu includes • Howard County Fair Court Associate Justice, New Orleans red beans Barn, 1565 Hwy. 371 W., candidates are Judge Mor- and rice with andou- Nashville; gan ‘Chip’ Welch and Bar- ille sausage and ham, • Mineral Springs Meth- bara Womack Webb. green garden salad, Courtesy photo/NASHVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL odist Church, 101 Church For Court of Appeals french bread and King’s FUND-RAISER. Principal Rick Rebsamen lands a pie in the face of teacher Ben St., Mineral Springs; Associate Judge, District Cake. Wallis Feb. 4 during a fund-raiser for teacher Ace Howard at Nashville Elementary • Tollette Church of 4 Position 2, candidates The dinner will be School. Howard, a cancer patient, is undergoing a series of treatments. Elemen- God, 946 MLK, Mineral are Prosecuting Attorney hosted by the United tary school faculty and students donated abut $4,000, with NJHS collecting about Springs (Tollette); Stephanie Potter Barrett Methodist Men. $2,000 and nearly $900 coming from Nashville Primary. “We thank those who • Dierks Community and Emily White. The church is located participated, including teachers, students and the Scrapper Nation family who Center, Dierks; There is a contested race at 1403 W. Sunset in donated. We appreciate it, and I know the Howard family appreciates it. Keep Ace • Umpire Community Nashville. and other cancer patients in your hearts and prayers,” Rebsamen said. Center, 15790 Hwy. 278 W., See Election • Page 5A For more information, call 870-845-3030. Church to observe 140th anniversary By John R. Schirmer be Chuck Moran of Pin- News-Leader staff nacle Church in Little Rock, “A Faith for All Seasons” widely known as the “pig- will be the theme for the skin preacher.” 140-year celebration Feb. The schedule includes the 22-23 at Blue Bayou Church following: Junior tourney of Christ. Saturday, Feb. 22- 3 p.m. for District 7-4A Minister Michael Howard singing; 4:15 p.m., history said the church has been of Blue Bayou; 4:30 p.m., underway “in the same location, and Chuck Monan; 5:30 p.m., in Nashville there’s still some of the origi- supper, Taste of Blue Bayou. nal wood” from 1880. “The Sunday, Feb. 23 - 9 a.m., The junior high bas- pulpit is over 130 years old.” Bible class, Chuck Monan; ketball tournament for The congregation began 10 a.m., the history of Blue ANNIVERSARY SET AT BLUE BAYOU. The Blue Bayou Church of Christ will District 7-4A is underway with 15 people, according Bayou; 11 a.m., worship, mark its 140th anniversary Feb. 22-23 with a number of special activities. The this week at Scrapper to Howard. Chuck Monan. Arena. The guest speaker for The public is invited to church (left in picture) has been in the same location for all 140 years. A school Games opened the anniversary event will attend. (right) was once located near the church. Monday afternoon and will continue through the finals Thursday night. The Nashville junior Scrappers and Scrap- perettes had opening Three NHS athletes ink college letters round byes and will play in the semifinals today By John R. Schirmer (Feb. 12). News-Leader staff The Scrapperettes Three Nashville High School se- will play De Queen at 4 niors settled questions about their p.m. college plans as they signed NCAA The other semifinal letters-of-intent on National Sign- will see Mena against ing Day Feb. 5. Bauxite at 6:30 p.m. They included Ty Basiliere, The Scrappers will football, Henderson State; Haley play Bauxite at 7:45 p.m. Perez, cross country, Rich Moun- Mena and Arkadel- tain Community College; and phia will meet in the Maurelys Wade, track, Southern other semifinal at 5:15 Arkansas. p.m. Athletic Director James “Bunch” The girls champion- Nichols began the program in ship game will begin at 6 the NHS cafeteria by reminding p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, the signees and guests that last followed by the boys title Wednesday was “a great day to game at 7:15 p.m. be a Scrapper. It’s always special when one of our own goes to the next level. I hope they have an Inside the News-Leader enjoyable day. These kids have Obituaries, 2A worked hard and deserve every Early Files, 3A bit of it.” Opinion, 4A In keeping with tradition, Sports, 6A-8A Bunch gave each athlete a pen to Trends, B be used for the signing ceremony. The case has “Once a Scrapper” on Classifieds, 9B the side, with “Always a Scrapper” on the pen. News-Leader photo/JOHN R. SCHIRMER Coaches introduced their ath- SIGNING DAY. Three Nashville High School seniors signed NCAA letters-of-intent on National Signing letes and discussed them briefly. Day Wednesday, Feb. 5. The signees include Maurelys Wade, track, Southern Arkansas University; Haley Football Coach Mike Volarvich, Perez, cross country, Rich Mountain Community College; and Ty Basiliere, football, Henderson State who was offensive coordinator at University. Family, coaches, teammates and friends attended the event at the NHS cafeteria. Coaches Henderson before coming to Nash- introduced the athletes and commented on their careers at Nashville. Afterward, signees and guests ville, said he is “obviously excited were served cakes with icing in their colleges’ colors. More pictures, page 5A and 8A. See Signing • Page 5A 2A Obituaries Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 Nashville News-Leader boro. The things she enjoyed Latimer Funeral Home in the most were cooking and Nashville. spending time with her fam- Funeral services were 2 Obituaries ily, friends and especially her p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, grandkids and great-grand- at Latimer Funeral Home in kids. She was also the big- Nashville with Danny White gest fan of the Razorbacks, officiating. vices will be held 11:00 a.m. happily married to Winton Chicago Cubs, Walker Texas Bu rial followed in Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 at E. Lee., Jr., for 65 years and Ranger. Corinth Cemetery under the Athens Cemetery in Athens, lived most of her life in In addition to her par- direction of Latimer Funeral Ark., under the direction of Dierks. She was a lifelong ents she was preceded in Home in Nashville. Wilkerson Funeral Home in member of the First United death by her husband, Floyd Pallbearers were De- Dierks, Arkansas. Methodist Church in Dierks. “Sonny” Jackson; broth- wayne Fritts, Tim Young, You may leave a condo- Mrs. Lee was known as one ers Francis, John, William, Myron Young, Bobby Brown, lence online at www.wilker- of the best gardeners in Di- and Louis Fox; sisters Betty Chad Stanley, Matt Tollett, sonfuneralhomes.com. erks who could grow any Roop, Loretta Ladd, and Frankie Brown. plant or flower bigger than Ruby Ginger. Sharon Westfall Milton Paul Cowling anyone else. Survivors include: daugh- Sharon Westfall, age 66 Sherry Lynn Bissell Dix Milton Paul Cowling, 67, She was also known for ters Debbie Wright and hus- of Nathan, Ark., went to be Sherry Lynn Bissell Dix, of Texarkana, died Friday, her witty sense of humor and band Leland of Murfrees- with the Lord, Friday, Feb. 68, of Portland, Ore., for- Noel Wayne Feb. 7, 2020. her devoted love of family. boro, Ark., Teresa Shelby and 7, 2020, in Texarkana, Texas. merly of Newhope, Ark., McMellon He was born Jan.10, 1953, Mrs. Lee was preceded husband Robert of Kirby, She was born July 16, 1953 died Thursday, Feb.