Stories from Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Donovan Moore, 9, is glad to be back at school and has received a warm welcome from his friends, teachers, and staff at Buffalo Island Central East Elementary. His mother, Tammy Moore, who works in the school cafeteria at BIC East, is also glad to be back...

With an annual salary more than $137,000, Dr. Bruce Daniels tops superintendents in many similar-sized school districts.

"We have requests from just about every city department," Harrison said. The mayor pointed out the city does not know yet how much funding it will receive for the projects, some of which still must be bid on. There was no estimated total cost of all the projects submitted...

Debris removal should begin Thursday in the city of Blytheville, Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison told the City Council Tuesday night, after the city's governing body picked DRC Emergency Services to do the work. Harrison said the city will sign a contract with a monitoring company today...

The 2009 March for Babies Kick-Off Celebration will be held at noon Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Mississippi County library. Anyone who is interested in serving as a team captain to organize a team is encouraged to contact Sherry Lamb, community director with the March of Dimes at 870-932-0300 or by e-mail at slamb@marchofdimes.com to RSVP for the Kick-Off Celebration...

In his annual state of the city address, Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison said he may have more anxiety going into 2009 than he did stepping in as a new mayor 10 years ago because of current economic conditions. "I may be more frightened about 2009 than I was 1999, my first year," Harrison told the Blytheville City Council Tuesday night. ...

A Blytheville woman who is charged in the stabbing of her husband Saturday, appeared in Blytheville District Court Tuesday before Judge Shannon Langston. Demetrice Bell, 41, was bound over to Circuit Court with a trial date of March 27, and her bond was set at $20,000. Bell is charged with domestic battery first-degree...

A Blytheville man was arraigned in Blytheville District Court Tuesday on drug charges, after allegedly trying to pick up a package containing approximately 10 pounds of marijuana at the Blytheville Post Office. Adam Michael Cherry, 22, is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and was bound over to Circuit Court with a trial date set of March 27. Judge Shannon Langston set his bond at $15,000...

All Buffalo Island Central building principal's contracts were renewed at the Feb. 9 meeting. Principals are Shirley Cato, east elementary; Dr. Kima Stewart, west elementary; Roland Wells, junior high school; and Randy Rose, high school...

Caraway City Council met on Feb. 12 and discussed hiring of new police officer, approved park commission resignation and paid tribute to recent ice storm workers. After a brief discussion about potentially hiring a third full-time policeman, the council decided to delay filling the position and to make use of part time and auxiliary policeman instead...

Elvie Diane Berry, 76, died Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Monette Manor. She was born Feb. 7, 1933, in Monette to the late A.D. and Pearl Lucille Hensely. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist belief...

Vernon Leroy "Roy" Henry, 89, died Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, at Monette Manor. He was born May 2, 1919, in Strawberry to the late I.P. and Cora Henry and lived in the Jonesboro area most of his life. He retired from working for Craighead County and was of the Church of Christ belief. He served in the United States Army during World War II...

Marguerite Henrietta Hunnicutt, 96, of Blytheville died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. She leaves a son, Alan Hunnicutt and wife, Tina, of Berryville; two grandsons, Matthew Alan and Kyle Evan Hunnicutt; and a niece, JoAnn Hughes, of Blytheville...

Ronnie Loven, 53, of Lake City died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, at Lakeside Nursing Center and Rehab. He was born Aug. 29, 1953, the son of Floyd and Betty Jane Rodgers Loven. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Garrison Loven; son, Daniel Loven and wife, Nikki; daughter Tracy Reese and husband, John; brothers, Lawrence, Gary and Lester Loven; sisters, Sandy Sartin and Donis Pope; and grandchildren, Chloe, Jaden and Electa.. ...

Charles Clifton McCoy, Sr., 72 of Monette, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. Born at Childress, he was the son of the late Jack and Dollie Conner McCoy and had been a longtime Monette resident. ...

Terry Wayne Pyland, 49, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Feb. 26, 1959 in Jonesboro. A lifetime resident of Caraway, he was a carpenter and was a member of Community of Christ Church...

Regina Kay Selby, 53 of Leachville, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, at the Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. Born at Leachville, she was the daughter of the late Jimmy Selby and had been a lifelong Leachville resident. She was a 1973 Leachville High School graduate and a longtime member of Second Baptist Church in Leachville...

Naomi Lynn Whitehead, 52, of Leachville, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, at her home. Born at Monette, she was the daughter of the late Richard Chesley and Eugenia Hautence Fortson Roberts and had lived most of her life in the Leachville area. She was a retired convenience store manager and was of the Pentecostal faith...

Sue Workman, 78, of Manila, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at her home. She was born Feb. 11, 1931, in the Lost Cane Community near Manila, to the late Walter David and Lillie Bell Lane Vastbinder. She was a homemaker, a member of the Little River Missionary Baptist Church, and an active participant in the Manila Alumni Association...

Buffalo Island Central and East Poinsett County went into Thursday night's 2A-3 battle at the Mustang Athletic Complex with the conference championship on the line, but when the dust had settled it was the Warriors who took home the crown, beating the host Mustangs 70-58 behind a balanced scoring attack and a tenacious defense...

Riverside traveled to Brookland Friday night, hoping to end the regular season on a winning note, but shot a miserable 36 percent from the free throw line, making just 15 of 41 attempts in losing a 73-64 decision to the Bearcats. Meanwhile, Brookland hit 27 of their 35 attempts for a 77 percent clip to secure the win...

Buffalo Island Central closed out the regular season with a 63-52 victory over Turrell in 2A-3 senior girls basketball action Tuesday night at the Mustang Athletic Complex in Monette. Jordon Miller pumped in 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Lady Mustangs, who finished the regular season with a 12-14 record while evening their conference slate with a 7-7 mark. ...

Manila High School Booster Club honored senior basketball players on Tuesday night before the last home basketball game of the 2008-09 season. Basketball players and their parents were recognized. Each senior received a plaque and presented their mothers with a bouquet of flowers...

Manila closed the regular season, dropping a pair of conference games last week with losses against Earle and Hoxie. The Bulldogs got 18 points from Roy Marshall en route to a 60-32 victory Tuesday night over the Lions. The Lions traveled to Hoxie Thursday night and came away with a 59-43 loss to the Mustangs...

Number one seeded Buffalo Island Central rolled to a 39-7 romp over eighth seeded Cross County in the opening round of the 2A-3 District Tournament Saturday morning at Caraway in junior girls basketball action. ...

Residents at Monette Manor were honored with a Valentine's Day party on Friday. Cake, cookies and punch were served. Each resident received a trinket basket filled with Hershey kisses and a balloon. The staff voted on the 2009 King and Queen. Crowned were Jimmy Pyland and Glina Gammill. Runners-up were L.C. Austin and Birtha Clowers. They received boxes of candy and flowers...