March 2025

Letter to the Editor

Friday evening (March 14th) into Saturday morning was a troubling time for all of us in this part of the state. It was especially scary for my wife and myself when channel eight in Jonesboro announced that the tornado had crossed highway 67 at Martin Road which is about 200’ from my businesses (Air-Flo and Hydro-Temp). I immediately drove to my business location expecting it to be heavily damaged or destroyed and was surprised to see it was still intact with no apparent damage. I later learned that the debris field, not the tornado, had crossed at our location. Unfortunately the Shannon area was not so lucky. There were several houses that sustained severe damage along with several businesses. It’s important to also mention that others in the county lost homes, chicken houses, livestock, barns and outbuildings. These homeowners and businesses will need our continued support to recover in the near future.

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What’s Happenning

City of Pocahontas, Outside Clean-Up Week. Your pick up day will be the day your trash is picked up. All items must be at curb side by 7 a.m. the day of your trash pick up. The cleanup will be for residential households only.

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RITA KATHERINE HEAD

Rita Katherine Head, 80, of Imboden, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Born on March 14, 1944, in Pocahontas, Arkansas, to the late Henry Sorg and Frances Pfeffer Sorg, Katherine was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Throughout her life, she remained dedicated to her family as a devoted homemaker and a constant source of love and laughter. Her caring nature and steadfast love for those around her left an indelible mark on everyone she met. Katherine was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold Head; her parents, Henry and Frances Sorg; her son, Harold (Rick) Head; her brother, Joseph Sorg; and sister, Anita (Graham) Kelly. She is survived by her two children, Kelley (David) Annette Williamson and Charles Joseph (Brianne) Head; four adored grandchildren, Nicholas (Mollie) Blackshear, Emily Williamson, Alec Williamson, Elliot Head; and her siblings, Lawrence Sorg, Gerald Sorg, Mary Lee Roods, Margaret Baltz, Carolyn Felts, Joan Burtman, and Judith Wurtz. Katherine is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends whose lives were enriched by her kindness and fun-loving spirit. Katherine will be remembered for her love of games, sewing beautiful quilts, and feeding everyone who came over. She touched the lives of many with her beautiful heart and will be profoundly missed by all who knew her. Memorial services will be held at St. John Catholic Church at 12:30 pm Saturday, March 29, 2025, with Father Stephen Elser officiating. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery. The family wishes to invite you to a meal in the St. John Fellowship Hall following the burial provided by the Good Neighbor Committee.

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JERRY CLYDE SULLIVAN

Jerry Clyde Sullivan, 81, from Pocahontas, AR, passed away on March 18, 2025, at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Born on March 14, 1944, in Maynard, Arkansas, Jerry dedicated his life to hard work and family. Following in his father’s footsteps, he built a successful career in the sawmill industry as the owner and operator of Sullivan’s Sawmill for over 30 years. After retiring from the timber business, he transitioned to agriculture, owning and operating Sullivan Farms, LLC until his retirement in 2004. After retirement, Jerry enjoyed his hobby of fishing and watching NASCAR Races from his chair at home. Jerry was a devoted husband to his wife, Shirley West Sullivan of 64 years, who survives, and a loving father to his 3 daughters, Vickie Smithson of Pocahontas, AR, Lisa (James) Cagle of Pocahontas, AR, and Donna (Rocky) Hill of Maynard, Ar. He cherished his grandchildren Seth (Regina) Hill of Maynard, AR, and Ashley (Cody) Lindsey of Pocahontas, AR, as well as his great-grandchildren Austin Carpenter of Maynard, AR, Breonna (Alex) Stowers of Imboden, AR, and Rhett Lindsey of Pocahontas, Ar. Jerry is also survived by his sister Erma Hill of Pocahontas, AR and many loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Normal Otto Sullivan and Mary Elizabeth Sullivan; his sisters Norma Hocking and Elizabeth Sullivan; and his son-in-law Dennis Smithson. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025, from 10:00 am to 12:00 PM at McNabb Funeral Home, located at 2129 N. Park St., Pocahontas, Arkansas. A service will immediately follow the visitation beginning at 12:00 pm. Cremation to follow with no graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Jerry felt strongly about supporting St. Jude’s. Jerry’s legacy of dedication and love will be remembered by all who knew him. His one true love was his family, and he was grateful for each one of them. He will be missed.

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Here & There

I lost a longtime friend recently in the passing of Perry Hite Stubblefield, whom I met more than 75 years ago when 1, being a “city girl” living in town, enjoyed being invited to travel to the rural community of Eleven Point to visit a few days or a week now and then with Perry Hite’s sister Iverne, who had joined my high school class in the ninth grade, having completed Concord School, which was only a brief walk from their home.

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