Stories from Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Town Crier News Staff The Leachville City Council set dates for the city's special celebrations and festivities at the regular meeting on Jan. 12. Mayor Sheila Spurlock announced the Buffalo Island American Cancer Relay for Life will be held June 26 at the city park. The annual Christmas parade will be held Dec. 12...

Kenneth "Buster" Bratten, 95, of Jonesboro died Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at St. Elizabeth's Place. Born May 12, 1913, at Tuckerman he moved to Monette as a teenager. He married Lola Sue Powell in 1934. ...

Freda Jane Sims Cooper, 53, died at her Blytheville home Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Born at Lepanto on July 22, 1955, she is the daughter of Arvil and Ruby Sims. She was a graduate of Rivercrest High School and recently retired from the offices of United Way in Memphis. She is a longtime resident of the Mississippi County area...

Wanda Deeds, 76, of Manila died Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. She was born May 26, 1932, in Heber Springs to the late Guy and Lucy Brady. She was a checker for American Greetings and a member of the Little River Baptist Church...

Mildred Dunigan, 82, of Black Oak died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center. She was born June 24, 1926 in Macey to the late James and Margaret Chambers. She retired from Buffalo Island Central School District, where she worked in the cafeteria. She was a member of the Black Oak Church of Christ...

Virgil Ray Healey, 73, of Leachville, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born at Leachville, he was the son of the late Claud W. and Maggie Lee Moore Healey and had lived most of his life in Texas. He was a United States Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War and returned to Leachville following his retirement in 2003...

Eddie Joe Henderson, 80, of Manila, formerly of Rector, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born Aug. 19, 1928, at Holland, Mo. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was a member of Purcell Church for many years...

Jim Stogsdill, 69, of Caraway, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center. He was born Aug. 6, 1939, in Paragould to the late Elmer and Elizabeth Stogsdill Sr. He was a 1957 graduate of Jonesboro High School. ...

Piggott spoiled Manila's homecoming with a 55-52 victory behind Rob Rice's 19 point performance Friday night in 3A-3 conference action at Manila. Sam Yates scored 12 and Daniel Baldwin added 10 more for the Mohawks, who broke an 18-18 first period tie to take a 32-28 lead into the dressing room at the half. ...

Blake Wheeler and Kam Ashabranner combined for 45 points to lead Buffalo Island Central to a 65-51 2A-3 conference victory at Rector Tuesday night. Wheeler poured in 24 points while Ashabranner added 21 more. ...

Rector outscored Buffalo Island Central 26-23 in the fourth quarter to pull out a 64-61 win over the Lady Mustangs Monday night at the Mustang Athletic Complex. Chrissy Crawford pumped in 17 points while Stephanie Dement drilled five three pointers to add 15 more to lead the Lady Cougars. Hillary Calhoun pitched in 14 points for Rector, who hit 17-32 free throws while draining seven treys...

Riverside jumped to a 32-3 first period lead on their way to a resounding 69-19 victory over Cross County Monday night at Cherry Valley. Katey Campbell drained four triples on her way to a 21 point performance to lead the Lady Rebels. Riverside led 46-10 at halftime and carried a 61-16 lead into the fourth quarter. The Lady Rebels also got 14 points from senior post player Brianna Driver...

Manila jumped to a 22-4 first period lead and never looked back in posting a 52-31 victory over Brookland Thursday night in 3A-3 conference action. The Lady Lions salvaged the much-needed victory after dropping two games earlier in the week...

Town Crier News Staff Architect Jerry Brackett with Brackett, Krenerch and Associates spoke to the Manila School Board members giving an overview of the different methods of construction available to the district. He spoke to them on the pros and cons of using construction management versus general contractor bids...

Manila Senior High Homecoming Royalty 2008-09 are, from left: Holly Braden, Caitlyn Scott, Natalie Marcus, Erin Flagg, Queen Kylle Scott, Lindsey Ellis, Kayla Houge, and Danielle Hicks. (Town Crier photo/Revis Blaylock)

Playing perhaps their best half of basketball this season, Riverside raced to a 46-22 halftime lead en rout to a convincing 81-64 victory over archrival Buffalo Island Central in senior girls basketball action Thursday night at Caraway...

Manila Junior High Homecoming Royalty 2008-09 are, from left: Mary Kathryn Farrow, Lauren Allensworth, Katie Watkins, Queen Brianna Stone, Savannah Towell, Lexie Allensworth, and Kelsen Watkins. (Town Crier photo/Revis Blaylock)

Buffalo Island Central produced the big plays when they needed them the most and came away with a hard fought 57-53 victory over archrival Riverside in a 2A-3 conference battle Friday night at the Mustang Athletic Complex...

Manila golfer Michael Shedd fulfilled a life-long dream Thursday afternoon at Manila, signing a letter of intent to play collegiate golf at Lyon College. "This is a great opportunity for me to get a quality education and play golf," said Shedd. ...

Pafford Emergency Medical Services located in Manila on Jan. 1. The first weeks have been busy with the company answering 52 calls the first 13 days. The ambulance service is located in the former library building next to the old fire station...