Bono Bridge

BONO, AR (KAIT) -The Bono bridge has been around since 1882.
If you grew up around Bono or Jonesboro, chances are you have driven over the bridge at least once.
But now the old bridge is showing its age and a recent 2 vehicle accident has forced the county and the Burlington Northern Santa Se railroad to jointly close the bridge.
Now I have to admit I have sat on the bridge and dangled my feet over as a train roared underneath...very cool.
There is a lot of nostalgia connected to this bridge.
Shelly Williams lives about 50 yards from the bridge. "It's been here a hundred years. It's a piece of history. I'd like to see it stay, I know it needs a lot of work but I'd like to see it stay."
Technically it's 127 years old, being built in 1882 and now owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.
Even being relatively isolated the bridge sees a lot of traffic, necessary or otherwise.
The bridge links CR 352, 353. Craighead County Road Superintendent L.M. Duncan watched as cars slowed then passed on seeing the bridge was closed.
"A lot of people use this road for cutting through going over to Highway 63 to keep from driving all way round. It's about 4 miles further if you have to drive all way round."
But now everybody must drive around. Just off 63 South of Bono, the "Road Closed" and "Bridge Out" signs on 352 tells the story.
But if you still insist on driving down the road the steel beam on the West side or the concrete block on the East will certainly stop you.
A couple of vehicle accidents prompted this closing as evidenced by this stack of parts and the broken railing hanging down from the South side of the bridge.
Duncan, "A couple of cars, one missed the road and run down in there but another car went up on the side and knocked the banister down but it also hit the pier that holds the bridge up."
Even though one of the vehicles landed upside down on the tracks, nobody was seriously injured; but the damage forced the railroad to close the bridge.
Since it's owned by the railroad the county cannot work on the bridge.
County Road Superintendent L.M. Duncan has had a meeting with the BNSF in regards to the bridge. This meeting has set the bridge's fate.
"The railroad has agreed that they are gonna repair this bridge and hopefully have it open within a month."
But could it take longer? There is a lot of rotten wood around the base of the bridge and a couple of places where somebody has even tried to burn the support beams.
But people who live around the bridge say they don't want steel and concrete.
Williams, "Just fix it up. It's got to stay old looking like that though."
Duncan says the prognosis looks good but there will have to be some changes in the future.
"They're gonna keep this bridge just the way it is. In the future somewhere down the road we'll probably wind up building a new concrete bridge in a different location."

In Remembrance

Farewell My Friend
It was beautiful as long as it lasted
The journey of my life.
I have no regrets whatsoever
save the pain I'll leave behind.
Those dear hearts who love and care...
And the strings pulling at the heart and soul...
The strong arms that held me up
When my own strength let me down.
At every turning of my life I came across good friends,
Friends who stood by me,
Even when the time raced me by.
Farewell, farewell my friends
I smile and bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears for I need them not
All I need is your smile.
If you feel sad do think of me
for that's what I'll like when you live in the hearts
of those you love, remember then
you never die.



Cook

Funeral services for Randy Gene Cook, 41, of Jonesboro who died Tuesday, Sept. 2, at St. Bernard's Medical Center will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Gregg Funeral Home.

John P. Morgan will officiate and burial will follow in Markham Cemetery at Egypt.

Active pallbearers will be Jimmy Mitchell, Ricky Wooten, Darrell Anderson, Pete Eastep, Justin Warren and John Ivy.

Born at Walnut Ridge, he lived in Jonesboro most of his life. He was a member of the Church of Christ and was a machine operator for Quebecor.

Survivors include two sons, JUSTIN COOK of Bono and Matt Cook of Little Rock; his parents, Bobby Cook of Jonesboro and Barbara Cook of Walcott; one brother, Mike Cook of Hoxie; and his maternal grandmother, Nova Kinder of Walnut Ridge.

He was preceded in death by one brother and his grandparents, Jake and Mary Cook and Manual Kinder.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Sad News

Michael Edward GRADDY

BLACK OAK — Michael Edward GRADDY, 47, died Monday in Newport.

Survivors include a son, Derek GRADDY; two sisters, Doris (Terry) Bayman and Tina (Rodney) Wagner; two brothers, Bill GRADDY and Olden Luke GRADDY; four nephews and three nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Billy and Ruby GRADDY.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Gregg Funeral Home at Monette with the Rev. Jerry Reed officiating. Burial will follow in Monette Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the funeral home on tonight from 6-8.

Personal condolences may be sent to www.gregg
funerals.com.

Long Lost Pic Found

I would like to thank Kim Caples Dresbach and Keith Livesay for their contributions in finding the pics of the Bono basketball team.

Walcott has been booked

Saturday April 24th Pavilion 2 @ Crowley's Ridge State Park. We have the Pavilion from 8 AM till 10 PM. I also booked a cabin for the night and Ken Hudspeth was going to book another just in case anybody wants to layover. Let everybody know that you can. Thanks

Class Reunion Meeting after party.

Tamolly's Lunch

Today's luncheon was great and a few couldn't make it from last week but we had Debbie Fielder and Janie Kirby show up this week. Thanks guys

Try this chat

http://www.everywherechat.com/chatnow.php?defaultRoom=1980_Warriors_Chat

Register a nickname/username and a password if it ask you too and enter. This is only a backup chat room for now. Just copy and paste the address into Internet Explorer.

Walcott Pics

I drove thru and checked it out just in case ya'll decide to have the reunion there. Tooks some pics of the pavilion and some cabins.

Chef's Inn Luncheon

Had a great time at Chef's Inn for lunch. Jamie, Lisa, Stacy, Renae, Ann, Kay, Bunny, and myself showed up. We expect more the next time.

Thanks
Randy Baugh

Class Reunion Meeting

We will be having the meeting to make plans for our 30 year reunion @ 2:00 Saturday 26 @ Lisa Slaven's house. We would like as many of you as possible to attend. Thank you.

OK for those of you who don't know.. I live almost the same place I did all thru school. My mom still lives in the same place and I live down the street that runs south beside here house. It was gravel back then. It black top now and it is called Purnell Lane. I live at 210.

I thought everyone knew where I lived back then. But in case you are like Randy B. and don't know.. Both Google Maps and Yahoo Maps pinpoint it really well. Google even has a pic taken where you would turn off 91 onto Purnell.

Hope to see you all there!! Lisa

Chat Room

1980 Warriors Chat - Fullscreen

This is for members only of the Class of 1980 Westside Warriors. Sign up to enter the chat room. You can make this fullscreen by clicking below. Bear with me on this because I am new to running a chat room. I thought ya'll might like this. I hope so. Keep it clean. I don't want to ban anyone. LOL. Warning some adult content is allowed. Do not bash any classmate or it will be deleted and could lead to banning.

Randy

Facebook Thread

Was it my imagination or did the thread quit working last night. Facebook is getting screwy lately.

Pictures?

I need more pics. Where are they?

1980 Westside Warriors Class Reunion

When and where do we want to have it? Any ideas? Let's hear them now.

Bono School

Where are the Guys Now

We need to find all the guys of 1980 now so start looking and searching. So if any of you know where they are start telling them about the reunion and get them on here.

Class Pictures?

This is while I was in the Marine Corps in California.

If anyone has any, send them to me and I will be happy to post them.