Monday, June 15, 2015

June 9 Edition

"Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness." - Exodus 23:1

Birthdays this week: Virginia (Brown) Carter - June 9th, Julie Trucks and Bobbie Bell Dunlap - June 11th.  

Anniversary wishes to: Greg and Allison (Jones) Dallen - June 10th, Rachel and Henry Jones - June 11th and Regina and Barry Huddleston - June 11th.

Since last we met, two area residents have passed away: John Michael "Big Mike" Thompson, age 58, and Leroy Broughton, age 83. Keep both families in your thoughts and prayers.

As of this writing (Monday afternoon), Robert Dale Thompson has been hospitalized following a four-wheeler wreck Monday morning.

Feel free to share items of interest with this column.  To get it in for a particular week, I need to see it before that Monday.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

Friday, June 5, 2015

June 5 Edition

Matthew 19:14 "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Happy birthday to: Dustin Gann (June 1) and Billy McClellan (June 5).

Happy anniversary to Jimmy and Wanda Howard (June 2) and Billy and Glenda Wilson (June 2).

Our thoughts and prayers go with Bro. John Kidwell and family who lost Anna Kidwell last week after a long illness.

The rain continues... and continues... with occasional bouts of killer humidity.

Smith Chapel Church will celebrate its 100th Anniversary this Sunday, June 7. Activities will include congregational singing, speakers, special entertainment, historical displays and photos, and a noon meal.

Braydon Pennington has left for Army Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC.

Greenland Church Food Pantry will be open next Tuesday, June 9, at 9am. Greenland Food Pantry provides supplemental groceries for the low income and elderly.

Remember, Eagles: This year's All School Reunion will be July 11 at 10:30am at the school building. Any and all who attended New Edinburg Schools during its glory days... 1904 through 1985... is welcome to attend.

Feel free to share items of interest with this column.  To get it in for a particular week, I need to see it before that Monday.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

May 28 Edition

Colossians 1:16-18 “16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. “

Happy birthday to: Bonnie Jackson, Princess Warner  and Betty Lisemby Taylor (May 26), Bobby Thompson (May 27), Elton Lisemby (May 29). Happy belated birthday to Michelle Reaves (May 20).

Happy anniversary to Jason and Carrie Hall (May 21).

We Eagles are saddened at the death last week of Jimmy Brashears of the Hebron community and the passing of  Lue (Thompson) Childers.

The benefit for Jane Coates at the New Edinburg Community Center raised over $4000 for her cause.

Congratulations to any and all High School Seniors who made it out of school alive and sane.

An extract from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas, Chapter 25, page 619: James Edgar Martin is a stock-dealer and merchant of New Edinburg, Ark., and was born in Bradley County, Ark., on May 27, 1852, being a son of Dr. John W. and Mary E. (Franklin) Martin, who were born in Virginia and Arkansas respectively. Both are residents of Warren, Bradley County, Ark., and Dr. Martin is now seventy-one years of age... a family of twelve children was born to himself and wife, eight of whom are now living, James Edgar Martin being the second child. In his youth he attended the Warren High School, and in 1873 left his home to embark in the mercantile business, first as salesman at Collins Station, in his uncle's employ, then for the firm of Martin and Goodwin of Warren. In 1876 he came to New Edinburg and became an associate of Martin and Goodwin in the firm of T. M. Goodwin & Co., but in 1883 he became sole proprietor and has since been successfully engaged in business alone. In connection with managing his store he also deals extensively in stock, and is the owner of some very fine registered Holstein and Jersey cattle. He has been grading his stock for four years past, and now has one of the finest herds in the county. He is also the owner of 1,500 acres of land in Bradley and Cleveland Counties, a goodly portion of which is under cultivation, and is accounted not only a successful farmer and stockman also. Like his father, he is a Mason and a Democrat, and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Word, and whom he married on March 5, 1884, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a daughter of James Word of New Edinburg. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children, Anna May and John Ernest.

Please feel free to share items of interest with this column by Monday morning for inclusion in that week's paper. This column appears on the internet (whenever I get around to posting it) at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com. Go Eagles.

Monday, May 18, 2015

May 18 Edition

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (KJV)

Birthdays this week include: Betty King (May 16), Ronnie and Donnie McClellan (May 18), Marnell Parker, Colleen Parham and Jerry Don Langford all (May 19), James Norris (May 21), Connie Shaw (May 23).

What a busy day last Saturday was for this normally comatose little town: Bill Watts reports his NEHS Class of '57 held its reunion and was hosted by John L. McClellan. The New Edinburg Fire Department plus volunteers collected over 30 big bags of trash Saturday morning during its Great American Cleanup reports Fire Chief Randy Linzy. New Edinburg Community Center held a fundraiser to help Jane Coates who is suffering from cancer, while West Saline Community Center held a crawfish boil with a lively attendance to raise money for its general funds. All of this with staggering humidity in progress all weekend. Congratulations to all of these groups in their endeavors.

Brother Tony Atkins has been back in the pulpit after his surgery and reports he is doing as well as can be expected and won't let any cancer keep him from preaching the Word of God.



Please feel free to share items of interest with this column by Monday morning for inclusion in that week's paper.  This column appears on the internet (whenever I get around to posting it) at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com. Go Eagles.

Monday, May 11, 2015

May 11 Edition

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV

Birthdays this week include: Kim Emerson (May 10), Michael Rawls (May 11), Devlyn Moring (May 11), Patsy Spears (May 12) Termedia Jackson and Glenda Wilson (May 15).

What a stormy weekend we had, but we had no significant damage here unlike other places in the state. Despite it all, I hope all mothers here had a great Mother's Day.

There will be a BBQ fundraiser at the New Edinburg Community Center for Jane Coats. She's got cancer and is fighting hard so help her out. The event will be 5pm on May 16. Plates of pulled pork with the fixings will be sold for $10 each.

Laverne (Chambers/Miller) Thompson spent Mother's Day surrounded by her children and grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Many attended church services with her at First Free Will Baptist Church in Warren, and all joined with her later that evening.

Another story from Banks Road from back in the it was a donkey; honestly, after 47 years in the country, I've yet to learn the difference) which he kept in the pasture behind his house. Now, most prisoners, if you give them enough time, will learn how to escape from any prison, and this mule proved it; it learned to unlock the hasp on the gate. Once free, it would take off down the road to our house where it loved to graze on our grass.  Of course, Wig would come looking for it, load it up and take it home and... a couple of weeks later it would be right back down at our house.

So apparently the mule learned what Wig's truck sounded like. One day it was visiting my Dad and I in the yard when we heard Wig coming up the road. So did the mule, and he quickly hid behind our woodstack.

Wig pulls up and asked "ya'll haven't seen my mule, have you?"

My Dad replied "look over there" and pointed to the woodstack over which two ears were sticking up and slowly rotating around to listen in.

No plan is perfect. Go Eagles.

Monday, May 4, 2015

May 4 Edition

" Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  --- James 5:16 KJV

Birthdays this week: Cheryl Parker Bynum (May 6), Tina Sanders (May 7), Yours Truly (May 7), Daniel Bryant (May 9).

There will be a love program/benefit for Sylvester and Rae Nell Wright and family this Friday at 7pm at Bethel Methodist Church.

May 15-17 will see the 151st Re-enactment of the Battle of Marks' Mills... 99% of which will be in Fordyce. There will be a small demonstration skirmish at the Mark's house place area that Friday morning. I think that's very nice of them to do that.

My error in last week's column: the next community development meeting will be May 14, 6pm at the New Edinburg Community Center, not May 7 as I said. Sorry.

So this Saturday we buried one of the finest fellows in this town; Junior Lee Hayes (NEHS '70) passed away April 27 in Warren. Greenland Baptist Church held his homegoing celebration with standing room only. 

Greenland Food Church Pantry will be open next Tuesday, May 12, at 9am for the purpose of providing food and necessities for the low-income and elderly.

Please feel free to share items of interest with this column by Monday morning for inclusion in that week's paper.  This column appears on the internet (whenever I get around to posting it) athttp://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com. Go Eagles.

Monday, April 27, 2015

April 27 Edition

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." - Isaiah 54:17

Happy birthday this week to: Robert Dyer - April 27, Megan and Morgan Searcy and Norma Thompson - April 28.


We Eagles are sad at the passing of Mrs. Peggy Towery last Saturday at the age of 86.

Daisy Blackmon celebrated her past birthday with family and friends at the West Saline Community Center last Sunday afternoon.

Donnie McClellan is engaged to Marie Crank of Texarkana.

Last Thursday's initial community development meeting went well with about 25 people in attendance. Herald editor Britt Tallent MCed the discussion and we examined what the attendees thought were the strengths of our community, our weaknesses, and where we want to be in a decade. Further plans are afoot.

One interesting thing brought up was a desire to have a sort of home town festival... perhaps based around the Battle of Marks' Mills. I remember now some of the school yearbooks from the 1950s showed some pictures of a halloween parade through downtown New Edinburg. I'll see if I can't scan and share them later.

Speaking of Marks' Mills: last Saturday was the 151st anniversary of that battle, and if I remember nothing else about it, I will always remember a stunt my father pulled on me when I was about 7. At the time, we lived on the Banks Road where Carlton McClellan lives now, and our neighbors were Margie Bowers and the Smiths. 

Back in the 70s, the weekend trip to Fordyce or Warren was a big deal... or at least it was to me... and my Mom did her grocery shopping on Saturday morning. On that particular April 25th, as he was going to work, my Dad told me that on this day the ghosts of the Confederates killed at Marks' Mills would be marching up the Banks Road. Now, understand, I was 7. I gave up a trip to Fordyce and the comic books that would have been acquired, to stand in Margie Bowers' yard and wait with excitement to see ghosts silently marching up the road to their destiny.

I stood out there a solid two hours. At one point, Howard Smith came out of his house and looked at me. I said "I'm waiting for the ghosts to march by." He simply said "all right" and went back inside.

As you've probably guessed by now, the ghosts didn't appear, and I felt cheated. When my Dad came home, I let him know right off the bat no ghosts came by and I missed a trip to town because of all this. He stared at me in disbelief and said "Oh my God, you didn't really believe me did you?"

Be careful what you tell your children.

Go Eagles.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

April 21 Edition

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" --- Job 19:25

Birthdays this week include: Kim Allen - April 22, Daisy Blackmon - April 23.

Here's hoping all the turkey hunters had some luck last weekend as the season opened. I'm not hearing very many optimistic reports...

Chapel Hill Baptist Church will be holding revival services next week, April 27-29, at 7 pm. Services will be led by Brother Rick Bolin.

Kickstart Cleveland County will be holding its second community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the New Edinburg Community Center. The meeting is open to anyone interested in possibly starting a community development initiative in the New Edinburg area.


Greenland Food Pantry will be open Tuesday, April 28th at 9am. Those with low incomes and in need of supplemental food are welcome to come by.

Robert Boney is still in St. John's Place for rehab. He'd probably love it if any of his old friends/girlfriends/relatives came by the visit.

If you have items of interest for this column, please share them before Monday in order to get in that week's edition. This column will appear on the internet (sometime) at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com. Go Eagles.

Monday, April 13, 2015

April 13 Edition

"11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." -- Romans 8:11-12

Birthdays this week include: Sheila Currier - April 13, Blake Spears and Bobbie Moseley - April 14, Johnnie Green & Ella Green April 15.


Bro. Tony Atkins of New Edinburg First Baptist Church is undergoing problems with lung cancer. It's confined to one lymph node, and surgery may be done soon. Please keep him in your prayers.

Also keep in your heart the family of the late Sue Carolyn Wheeler Smith, NEHS Class of '51 and the sister-in-law of Bobbie Moseley.

Last week's house fire at the home of Sylvester and Rae Nell Wright really got out of hand with a return visit that night from the Fire Department followed by a third visit the following morning as a car parked behind the remains of the house caught fire. So, between the trailer fire on Farm to Market Rd and this fire, the department was in action off and on for about 40 hours.

A benefit was held at the West Saline Community Center to help the family of the late Eric Abeyta of Kingsland. Good BBQ plates and live entertainment was on hand with an attendance of about 150 and about $1400 raised for the family.

There will be another benefit given there at our old school with the aim of raising funds to repair the gymnasium floor so that an indoor place for children to have games can be provided. A local contractor has stated he and his crew can easily make the repairs. The event will start at 5:30pm on Saturday, April 18. Admission is $5.00 and the live entertainment will Warren local "Big Chuk." 

If you have items of interest for this column, please get them to me before Monday of each week.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  

Monday, April 6, 2015

April 6 Edition

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." --- Roman 5:10
Birthdays this week include: Tommy Green - April 10, Melinda Huddleston & Dustin Briant - April 12
I hope everyone had a great Easter despite the rainy, cool weather.
Easter Sunday noon saw the New Edinburg Fire Department responding to a fire on the Farm to Market Road where an abandoned trailer apparently exploded. An unnamed witness reported the fire and said she saw a man running away from the trailer. No one was injured.
The next morning, Monday, the old Kleinbeck home in the middle of town burned. It was a total loss, but fortunately all residents were away at the time. The house was the residence of Sylvester and Rae Nell Wright and family.
Robert Boney is alive and well and in St. John's Place in Fordyce for rehabilitation after receiving a stint for his aneurysm.
Bro. Tony Atkins reports First Baptist Church had the biggest attendance ever for their Easter Sunrise Services.
Some local history about the First Baptist Church courtesy of The Eagle Democrat,  Wednesday, October 25, 1967:  "The First Baptist Church of New Edinburg has a distinction of having been built and located in three counties without moving more than 100 yards and without ever crossing a county line.
At the time of the erection of the church, the town of New Edinburg was in Bradley County. Some years later, a new county was formed from parts of adjoining counties and New Edinburg and the Baptist Church found themselves in Dorsey County. Still later, the name of the county was changed, honoring President Grover Cleveland.
The church was organized almost 100 years ago in 1868 with Elders Solomon Gardner and John T. Craig consitituting the Presbytery. The church was in the Judson Baptist Association. After 1901, the church agreed that it could no longer see eye to eye on ecclesiastical matters with its present larger connection and joined the General Association, the American Baptist Association, and later the North American Baptist Association.
The first building was completed in September of 1869, after which the church adopted a resolution to the Methodist of the community expressing appreciation for being allowed to use the Methodist house of worship for its services for a season.
In early years, at almost every monthly conference, some-Brother or Sister was excluded from worship for some kind of unbecoming conduct: the men usually for imbibing too freely of alcoholic beverages and the women for "tipping light fantastic toe..." [Note: that's archaic language for dancing...]
In those days, revivals were popular, and one mighty one was conducted under the persuasive preaching of Rev. W. E. Penn in 1890. Results, fifty church additions and 122 professions of faith.
A new church was erected in 1936 and it was dedicated in 1937. The building, at the time of completion, consisted of an auditorium and six Sabbath School rooms. The Sunday School is first mentioned in church records of 1883. The church has had three buildings, the current one replacing one that was put up in 1890. This one replaced the orginal church structure. The middle building had an 84-foot steeple."
Go Eagles.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

September 30 Edition

"Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness." --- Proverbs 30:20
Birthdays this week include: Debbie Sanders and Dakotah Moring (Sept. 29), Teresa Lynn (Oct. 2). Happy belated birthdays to L. T. Marks (Sept. 23) and Otis Clary (Sept. 26).

New Edinburg's Spook House is gearing up for this October at the West Saline Community Center.  More details as they arise.  The attentive reader may remember from two years ago that it was rated higher by tourists than any others in the surrounding area, and the organizers are planning bigger and better things.
West Saline Community Center's board voted to dismiss LaVetrice Gill from her board position at a special meeting Sept. 19.
Regarding my uncle Robert Boney, he is recovering from the head-on collision he suffered Sept. 22 which killed his wife of 50 years, Ruth Gray Boney, and left him hospitalized in critical condition. Reports from the family have him facing liver damage and numerous punctures, but he is out of ICU. He is thankful for your thoughts and prayers.
Funeral services for Pascal and Rita Parham will be graveside at 1pm on Oct. 11 at Freehouse Cemetery on Hwy. 8.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

Monday, September 22, 2014

September 22 Edition

"3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." --- Romans 5:3-5
Birthdays this week: Paula Splawn (Sept. 21), Linda Warner (Sept. 22), Barbara Chance (Sept. 23), Melvin Jackson and Judy Simmons (Sept. 26).
Fall is here. Enjoy it while it lasts.
The Mt. Elba Access on this side of the river is now officially the Lloyd Wilton "Buddy" Reaves Mt. Elba Access after a dedication ceremony last Friday attended by many family and friends of the late Buddy Reaves.

For those of you wondering what happened to the lights Sunday night: a Benton resident driving through town lost control and smacked one of the light poles in front of the old Ray Estes store and damaging another thus plunging the town into darkness for several hours. The driver fled on foot but was picked up by the Sheriff's department near Marks' Mills Park. I guess he was still trying to get back to Benton. I saw the car, and personally I'm amazed he was still alive let alone able to hoof it down the road.
New Edinburg's Spook House is gearing up for this October at the school building. Admission will be $2 a head. I'll publish the date as soon as I have it. I can say that it will be something else this year.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

September 16 Edition

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 KJV

Birthdays this week include: Linda Knight and Bro. Tony Atkins - Sept. 20.
New Edinburg buried two excellent women last Saturday: Joyce Briant and Emilie Jones. Keep both families in your prayers. Also remember Bobby Avery as he recovers from cancer surgery. Bobby's problem was found, not after waiting in a doctor's office, but through a free clinic. Take advantage of them; it could save your life.
Did you enjoy the cold snap? Every weather prediction source is calling for an early Fall and a really bad Winter.

Bow season for deer opens soon. Beware deer with bows, and please be safe in the woods.
West Saline Community Center added two new board members: Tyrone Cranford and Christi Russell. The Center is already getting ready for its 3rd annual Spook House in late October. From the plans I've received, it looks to be bigger and better than the last two years and will include children's games for the ones too little to be spooked, and a haunted trail. I'll keep you apprised as to more details as the day approaches.

A blast from the past from the Arkansas Baptist Newspaper, 17 Feb 1897, page 15, col 1 : "Dr. E.H. Moses, of New Edinburg died February 5, 1897. Dr. Moses was born in Georgia, March 10, 1827; educated in the medical school of Philadelphia; married in the spring of 1849. He was a charter member of this church, and for more than forty-six years has walked circumspectly in this community. He was baptized at the age of 20. His funeral was attended by a host of loved ones, who grieve at his departure. This dear brother has been in sympathy with all our church work. The community has lost a good citizen, the church a true light, and the wife a loving husband.
We mourn not as those who have no hope. God has taken his loyal child home. We shall meet him by and by. May God be with his dear companion, comfort and keep her until that blessed day."

If you have items you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

September 9 Edition

"4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."  --- Isaiah 46:4

Birthdays this week include: Vester Thompson - Sept. 9, Charlene King - Sept. 10, Nita Beth Hall - Sept. 12, Austin Grice and Sharon Davis - Sept.13, Beth Rippy and Sierra Paul - Sept 14.

Happy anniversary to Marvin and Princess Jackson - Sept. 7.

The New Edinburg Cemetery Association asks that anyone with family or friends in the NE Cemetery please help with the cost of upkeep through donations.  Donations made be made to Rick St. John, who is the treasurer.
Plans are underway for this year's Spook House in the old school building. I'm told that this year it will be preceeded by games for the smaller children who can't handle being chased down the hall by masked maniacs. I say this tongue in cheek because last year I was one of the tour guides, and met some older people who couldn't handle it either... carried one on my back for a couple of yards, in fact.

If you read this in time, the County Commodities truck will be at the New Edinburg Community Center Thursday starting at 9am.
Enjoy the slightly cooler weather coming down the pipe. You've earned it.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.