Stories from Wednesday, November 14, 2001

by David McNeal The gorgeous, and long-lasting, fall weather has been a blessing for those of us who ride motorcycles. Cool, crisp mornings, followed by clear, sunny and warm afternoons. And then there are the weekends, of which I haven't had many lately...

A Green Forest seventh-grader put on a world-class performance last weekend at the big CASA Classic Tournament in Little Rock, leading the Arkansas Comets Under-14s to second-place. Meanwhile, the local recreational Central Ozarks Soccer League finished off its season Saturday with 32 games played on five fields at the Huntsville Jamboree...

Casey Poff, a senior cheerleader at Berryville High School, will be attending the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Nov. 22. Poff, the captain of the cheerleading squad, was also named an All Star Cheerleader at a UCA Cheer Camp this past summer...

In a rematch from an early season jamboree, the Eureka Springs senior boys hit the shots they needed in the fourth quarter last Friday night and kept their season record unblemished at 5-0 with a 74-62 win over the visiting Bergman Panthers. "Every kid I played tonight did a great job," Coach Josh Hill said...

Minnie E. Howe, 74, of Berryville, died Nov. 8, 2001, in Berryville. She was born June 21, 1927, in Bismarck, N.D., a daughter of Enozan and Celestina (Matz) Koch. A homemaker, she was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church for 35 years. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Ann Howe, of Summers; a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Chris Bodine, of Centerton; two brothers, Charles A. ...

Peter Cornelis "Cory" Verhaagan, 30, of Burleson, Texas, died Oct. 28, 2001. He was born. Feb. 12, 1971, in San Gabriel, Calif. He attended Green Forest High School for two years. He was vice president of Design Concepts Unlimited Inc., and was a former fire department volunteer for Briar Oaks, Texas. He enjoyed cooking, fishing and spending time with his family...

Edward L. (Dick) Matthews, 73, of Myrtle Creek, Ore., died Sept. 29, 2001. He was born Dec. 5, 1927, in Eureka Springs, to John and Letha (Cunningham) Matthews. He attended school in Eureka Springs. On June 29, 1946, in Eureka Springs, he married Veda Keizor, who was originally from the Concord area. ...

Quentin Kenneth Wolfe, 82, of Eureka Springs, died Nov. 9, 2001, in Fayetteville. He was born Aug. 5, 1919, in Pittsburgh, Pa., a son of Amby Kenneth and Martha Viola (Males) Wolfe. A veteran, Mr. Wolfe served for three years in Europe during World War II. He attended First Assembly of God in Eureka Springs and was an auto mechanic in Eureka Springs for many years...

Oleita Berdell Wright, 69, of Tulsa, Okla., died Nov. 8, 2001, in Tulsa. She was born Aug. 19, 1932, in Arkansas, to the Rev. Dan H. and Geneva Champlin. She was a homemaker and businesswoman. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Bob Tumilty, of Tulsa, Okla.; three grandchildren, Amanda, Emily and Douglas; a nephew, Terry Nash, his wife, Margaret, and their son, Ryan, all of Rockwall, Texas; and others relatives, Richard and Jim Kelley. ...

Helen Louise Corkran, 80, of Rector, Ark., died Saturday, Nov. 3, 2001, in Rector. She was born March 11, 1921, in Rector, to Floyd Winn and Lois Cox Winn. On Nov. 16, 1941, in Little Rock, she married Lexie E. Corkran. He preceded her in death in 1979. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and by a daughter, Cylvia Corkran, in 1957...

Jerri Denise Goins, 45, of Conway, formerly of Green Forest, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001. She was born July 23, 1956, in Harrison, a daughter of Jim (Sr.) and Ruth (Hoffman) Goins. Survivors include her parents, Jim and Ruth Goins of Green Forest; two sisters, Brenda Shealy and her husband Lance of Birmingham, Ala., and Melanie Blazer and her husband Daryl of Oak Grove; a brother, Jim Goins, Jr., and his wife Tammy of Oak Grove; four nieces, Amy Goins of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Mandy Goins, Sarah Goins and Melissa Blazer, all of Oak Grove; two nephews, Michael Goins and his wife Paula of Manhattan, Kan., and Jeffery Blazer of Oak Grove.. ...

Obie Fletcher, 34, of Eagle Rock, Mo., died Nov. 9, 2001, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, Mo. He was born April 24, 1967, in Lake Village, Ark., the son of Ray and Bonnie (Harrison) Fletcher. He was raised in Green Forest, where he received his education. He spent most of his life there, having resided at Eagle Rock for 13 months...