North Korean envoy delivers letter to China’s president
BEIJING — A top North Korean envoy delivered a letter from leader Kim Jong Un to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and told him Pyongyang would take steps to rejoin stalled nuclear disarmament talks, in an apparent victory for Beijing’s efforts to coax its unruly ally into lowering tensions.
North Korean Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae’s three- day visit was seen as a fence- mending mission after Pyongyang angered Beijing with recent snubs and moves to develop its nuclear program. Choe returned to North Korea late Friday.
The official China News Service said Choe delivered the handwritten letter from Kim to Xi at an afternoon meeting at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing. It gave no details about the letter’s contents.
North Korea is willing to work with all sides to “appropriately resolve the relevant questions through the six- party talks and other forms,” Choe was quoted as saying by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. He said Pyongyang was “willing to take active measures in this regard.”
Choe offered no details on how North Korea planned to resume talks. North Korea walked away from the six- party nuclear disarmament talks in 2009 over disagreements on how to verify steps the North was meant to take to end its nuclear programs. Foreign observers often claim that North Korea has a history of raising tensions in an attempt to push its adversaries to negotiations meant to win aid.
Since its third nuclear test, in February, North Korea has repeatedly said that any future diplomatic talks would have to recognize it as a nuclear power. That’s at odds with the basis of the six- party talks and puts Pyongyang at loggerheads with Washington, which says it won’t accept North Korea as an atomic power and demands that talks be based on past commitments by the North to abandon its nuclear programs.
Still, Choe’s remarks seem to indicate an easing of tensions between North Korea and its communist neighbor.
John Delury, a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul who specializes in China and North Korea, said the fact that Kim’s envoy “is being quoted as saying that North Korea is open to China’s suggestions already is a strong signal of kiss and make up.”
“This trip is moving things back to strategic dialogue,” he said.
China has been under intense pressure from Washington to push North Korea into lowering tensions and resuming dialogue.
Xi reaffirmed longstanding ties between the communist neighbors, and urged all sides to “keep cool and exercise restraint.”
The six- party talks, which include the Koreas, the U. S., Japan, China and Russia, should aim to end North Korea’s nuclear programs and “maintain lasting peace and stability on the peninsula and in northeast Asia,” Xi was quoted as saying.
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William H. Glover II
William “Bill” Harrison Glover II, 48, passed unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.
He was born on Aug. 7, 1964, the son of Dorsey and Elaine Glover. Bill grew up in Magnet Cove and graduated from Magnet Cove High School in 1982. He attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and University of the Ozarks at Clarksville. He was a member of the United States Army National Guard. He always said that he had been employed by Stihl Southwest since birth. Bill was involved in real estate locally, was a member of Ouachita River Fellowship and Gideon International. Bill also supported civic and charitable causes in Malvern.
Bill is predeceased by his paternal and maternal grandparents, William H. “Bill” and Bertha Glover, and Arch and Louise Brewster. Bill leaves behind many who loved him including his wife, Fay Tugwell Glover, whom he married Nov. 10, 1995; parents, Dorsey and Elaine Glover; children, Chad Burrow ( Johanna) and Brad Burrow; sisters, Susan Glover Brittain ( Bruce) and Nancy Glover Womack ( David) and their families; grandchildren, Kiley and Konner Branch; nieces, Ashleigh and Paige Womack, Sarah and Rachel Brittain; nephew, Riley Jones; father- and mother- in- law, Tommy and Janet Tugwell, sisterinlaw, Becky Jones ( Eldon); a special friend and business partner, Thomy Green; his church family, and the entire staff of Stihl Southwest.
There will be a private graveside service.
A memorial service will be at 11 a. m. Monday, May 27, at First Baptist Church with Brother Thomy Green officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be Bruce Brittain, Brian Coston, Eldon Jones, David Womack, and all the men of Stihl.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Cup of Water Ministry, P. O. Box 69, Malvern, AR 72104, HSC Medical Center Foundation, 1001 Schneider Drive, Malvern, AR 72104, or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by Regency Funeral Home. You may sign the guestbook at http:// www. regencyfuneralhome. com.
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — A memorial service for Linda Jorgensen, 63, of Hot Springs Village, who died May 6, 2013, will be at 2 p. m. today at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Interlochen Arts Camp Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 199, Interlochen, MI 49643 or Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at UAMS.
Arrangements are by Caruth Village Funeral Home.
Sandra Meyer, 44, Springs, died Thursday, 2013.
Arrangements will be announced by Caruth- Hale Funeral Home. of Hot May 23,
BISMARCK — Virginia Mae Bowman McClenahan, 77, of Bismarck, died May 10, 2013.
Johnnie Lee Newton, 92, of Hot Springs, passed away May 23, 2013, at National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs. He was born Nov. 8, 1920, in Little Rock to the late Ben Andrew and Dixie Lee Newton. He is preceded in death by his children, Margaret Sue Newton and Robert Lee Newton Sr.
Johnnie loved his country and served in the United States Air Force during World War II. He had a true passion for going fishing, sports and all things Arkansas Razorbacks, GO HOGS!!
Johnnie is survived by his grandchildren Robert Lee Newton Jr. and Christa Bontrager; great- grandchildren, Leah Newton, Logan Newton and Mia Bontrager. He leaves many close family and friends who loved him dearly.
The funeral service will be at 2 p. m. Sunday, May 26, 2013, at the Roller- Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72211, with burial to follow at Morgan Cemetery in Little Rock. Visitation will be at 1 p. m. Sunday, May 26, 2013, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to your favorite charity.
Online guestbook: http:// www. rollerfuneralhomes. com/ chenal.
DETROIT — The service for Barbara Oretha Flint Smith, 68, of Detroit, Mich., formerly of Hot Springs, who died Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Detroit, will be at 1 p. m. today at Eureka Baptist Church with Pastor Steve Lake officiating.
Entombment will be in Crestview Memorial Park Mausoleum, Hot Springs, with services provided by Brandon’s Mortuary Inc.
Barbara was born Oct. 5, 1944, in Hot Springs, and was a member of Eureka Baptist Church and a graduate of Langston High School. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Lee and Ora Rosanna Flint. Siblings are Corine Flint White and Paul Flint.
Survivors are four daughters: Elecia Smith, of Hot Springs, Sharon Loggins ( Glenn), of Strong, Martiese Lindsey ( Mike), of Houston, Texas, and Nicole Smith, of Detroit; two sons: Percy Smith ( Donna), of Pine Bluff, and Kaycee Smith, of Detroit; sister, Vickie Flint, of Hot Springs; one brother, Charles Brandon Flint ( Ollie), of Detroit; one uncle, Eli Arnold ( Catherine), of Chicago, Ill., and one aunt Freda ( L. T.) Hopson, of Chicago; goddaughters Beshon and Sabrina, of Detroit; special friend, Neil Bunton, of Detroit; 27 grandchildren and
BISMARCK — Gifford Alvin Thornton, 81, of Bismarck, passed from this life on Friday, May 24, 2013, at Garland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hot Springs. He was born Jan. 16, 1932, in Hot Spring County, the son of Arlie and Inez Whitley Thornton. Gifford was retired from Reynolds Metals Plant at Jones Mill and a member of DeRoche Missionary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by one sister, Wilma Wilson.
Gifford is survived by his wife, Marcille Estep Thornton; three sons, Gary ( Theresa) Thornton, Bruce ( Tina) Thornton and Dennis ( Glorie) Thornton, all of Bismarck; five grandchildren, Keith ( Kim) Thornton, Lisa ( Barry) Benning, Brittany ( John) Clement, Tyler ( Whitney) Thornton and Ryan ( Nikki) Thornton, all of Bismarck; seven greatgrandchildren, Miranda, Kenda, Breana, Aaron, Wyatt, Reid and Park; one sister, Ella ( Charles) Porterfield, of Malvern; three brothers, Lloyd ( Judy) Thornton, of Malvern, Wayne ( Becky) Thornton and Paul ( Carolyn) Thornton, both of Bismarck, and one brother- in- law, Artimus Wilson, of Bismarck.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Monday, May 27, 2013, at DeRoche Missionary Baptist Church with Brother Chris Morrison, Brother Troy Bray, Brother Alan Cansler, Brother Mark Thornton and Brother Chris Morrison officiating. Interment will be in Hickory Grove Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5- 7 p. m. Sunday at Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.
Pallbearers will be Tyler, Ryan, Alan and Keith Thornton, John Clement and Barry Benning.
Memorials may be made to DeRoche Missionary Baptist Church, 939 Highway 128, Bismarck, AR 71929.
The family would like to thank Garland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Dierkson Hospice for their loving care of Mr. Thornton.
Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.
Visit http:// www. welchfh. net to sign the guest book and view the video tribute.
GRAPEVINE — Nellie Mae Willis, 74, of Grapevine, died Wednesday, May 22, 2013.
She was born Feb. 15, 1939, at Sikes, La., the daughter of Arthur F. Donaldson and Willie Mae Sutton Donaldson.
Survivors include two sons, Cecil ( Laura) Willis, of Mena and Roy ( Pam) Willis, of Grapevine; one daughter, Nelda ( Lynn) Curry, of Mena; six grandchildren, Sean Curry, Jami ( Troy) Hedgepeth, Matt ( Jessica) Willis, Carmen Willis, Joe Murphy and J. R. Willis; two great- grandchildren, D. J. Murphy and Wayne Hedgepeth; one brother, and one sister.
The service will be at 2 p. m. today in Athens Cemetery under the direction of Davis- Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood.
Visitation will be noon to 2 p. m. today at the cemetery.
Guest registry is at http:// www. davis- smith. com.