Stories from Thursday, January 7, 2010

Roy Arvel Clowers, 98, of Leachville, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at the Monette Manor Nursing Center. Born at Fairbanks, Ark., he was the son of the late Dan and Angie Payne Clowers and had been a Leachville area resident for most of his life. Mr. Clowers was a retired farmer and cotton ginner, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and was of the Baptist faith...

Dorothy "Dottie" Jeanette Cobbs, 69, of Leachville, passed away Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, at her home. Born Dec. 16, 1940, in Leachville to the late J.D. and Belle Edgin Connell, she had been a lifelong Leachville resident. She was a 1959 graduate of Leachville High School, a homemaker and a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Leachville...

Jack Howard Roberts, Sr., 82, of Gallatin, Tenn., passed away Monday, Dec. 28, 1009. Mr. Roberts was a resident of Leachville for 39 years, 1927-1966. The funeral was held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, at the Chapel of Alexander Funeral Home in Gallatin with Pastor Frank Whitaker officiating. ...

Wanda Lee Swedholm, 71, of Mineral Point, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, at the Washington County Memorial Hospital in Petosi, Mo. Born at Risco, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Orville and Meca Aters Perrigan and had lived much of her life in the Sikeston area. ...

Among the business conducted by Lake City Council members were ordinances and a resolution passed, new members were added to the fire department, the financial report reviewed, and Police Officer Steve Chamness was promoted to police sergeant. The meeting was held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, with Mayor Billy R. Anderson presiding...

BLYTHEVILLE -- On Tuesday, Mayor Barry Harrison announced he has formed an exploratory committee to seek the Democratic nomination for the Arkansas Legislature in Senate District 15. State Senator Steve Bryles is term-limited and cannot run for re-election...

Brenda Robins recently retired from the Leachville Post Office and purchased Annette's Consignment Shop in Leachville. Her new business will be named Leachville Consignment Shop. It is located in the former Wright's Grocery and later Chamber's Electric building...

Defending Northeast Arkansas Invitational Tournament champion Cave City jumped to a 20-4 first period lead and never looked back, defeating Buffalo Island Central 58-40 in last week's Monday afternoon 1-2A-3A semifinals at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro...

Manila placed four players on the All-NEA Tournament team in the A-AA-AAA division, chosen by the coaches. Blake Wheeler, Kam Ashabranner, Levi Wallace and J.J. Helton were all selected for the runner-up Lions. Riverside's Jake Love was also chosen...

Jordan Ferguson's clutch free throw with just four seconds left in the game dealt Manila a heartbreaking 72-71 loss to Bay in the semifinals of the NEA Tournament Monday afternoon, Dec. 31, at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro...

Manila hoped to avenge its only loss of the season when they faced East Poinsett County in the finals of the Northeast Arkansas Invitational Basketball Tournament Wednesday night at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, but the Warriors used a strong second half to pull away for a 53-40 victory, claiming the 1A-2A-3A championship...

Manila senior high boys basketball team came in as runner-up in the NEA Tournament finals held at the Convocation Center Wednesday, Dec. 30. The Lions lost 53-40 to East Poinsett County.

The Blytheville City Council's Finance Committee spent two hours Wednesday night going over the proposed Wastewater Department and Waterworks Department budgets. Among the topics was a 5 percent raise built into the proposed Wastewater Department budget, which has projected $466,000 for salaries, up from $440,000 a year ago...

The Armorel residents whose home burned in an alleged meth lab fire Monday appeared in Osceola Circuit Court Wednesday, to be arraigned on drug charges. Owen Coppedge, 36, and Catherine K. Crigger, 29, appeared late Wednesday afternoon before Circuit Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. to answer charges of possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture (methamphetamine). Wilson set bond for Coppedge at $100,000 and bond for Crigger at $50,000 on the charges...

Snow makes for slick driving, but deep freeze beneficial

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it. Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions...

Nonprofits in Mississippi County can go to arcf.org beginning Sunday to obtain grant applications for three types of grants available through Arkansas Community Foundation (ARCF). Applications for all three grant programs are due Feb. 15, and recipients will be announced no later than April 30...