Stories from Friday, February 5, 2010

Jinks R. Smith, 71, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Feb. 23, 1938, in Monette to Leroy and Mrytle Cornish Smith. He retired from Darling Store Fixtures after 35 years and was a member of the Monette Baptist Church. Jinks served his country proudly in the United States Army. He was a member of Monette Masonic Lodge #558 and the American...

Mabel Opal Pitts, 93, of Marble Hill, Mo., formerly of Leachville, died Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, at the Woodland Hills Nursing Center in Marble Hill. Born near Bethesda, Ark., she was the daughter of the late George and Myrtle Reddell Keller and had been a longtime Leachville area resident before making her home in Marble Hill, Mo., 23 years ago. ...

Buffalo Island Central suffered a pair of 2A-3 conference losses last week, losing 61-52 Friday night to Turrell after dropping a 69-42 decision to East Poinsett County Tuesday night at Monette. Rashad Madden drilled six three pointers en route to a 29 point performance in EPC's 27 point victory over BIC. ...

Manila bounced back after suffering their first conference loss of the season at the hands of Harrisburg with a convincing 80-49 victory over Hoxie on the road Monday night. Kam Ashabranner pumped in a game high 23 points while Levi Wallace added 20 more to lead the Lions, who improved to 20-3 overall and 12-1 in 3A-3 conference play...

Manila's Lady Lions split a pair of 3A-3 conference games last week, defeating Hoxie 52-46 Thursday night at Manila after dropping a 63-48 decision at Corning on Monday night. Manila and Hoxie battled to a 34-34 tie after three quarters before the Lady Lions outscored the Lady Mustangs 18-12 in the final period to pull out the win. ...

Riverside's senior boys and girls were limited to only one game due to last week's snow storm, but picked up a pair of victories as the Rebels downed Marked Tree 52-43 while the Lady Rebels routed the Lady Indians 68-47 Monday night at Marked Tree...

The Monette City Council accepted the resignation of two councilmen, redefined city wards, and gave merit raise for policeman at the city council meeting held Monday, Jan. 25. The council accepted the resignations of two councilmen, Jamie Strickland, who moved out of his ward, and Martha Jane Hout, for health reasons...

Rick Hinson, president and owner of Hinson Auction & Real Estate Inc., was inducted into the Tennessee Auctioneer Association Hall of Fame at the annual convention in Nashville. This honor is bestowed upon a member of the Tennessee Auctioneer Association that has served the auction profession for many years and is an example to others...

The Buffalo Island Central West second grade classes, under the direction of teachers Terri Cobb and Regina Welch, have collected several hundred items to be sent to the children in Haiti. The "Have a Heart" help Haiti project started after the students had read "The Quilt Story."...

In conjunction with state school board recognition week, Manila Superintendent Pam Castor presented School Board President Tony Crowell with a certificate of appreciation for his dedicated service. The award was presented on Thursday, Jan. 28...

Buffalo Island Central West elementary was one of seven area schools recognized by the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) at the Just for Kids award event held Jan. 27 at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock...

The Buffalo Island Regional Water District will soon have its own treatment plant, well, and storage tanks to service their customers. Buffalo Island Water has approximately 1,100 active meters in three counties including Mississippi Poinsett and Craighead...

Movie Gallery Inc. will close 760 stores after announcing this week that the company and all of its subsidiaries, with the exception of its Canadian subsidiary, filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to address the company's capital structure and reorganize its business operations...

HUD-funded agencies build Consolidated Plan

During a brief meeting of the Blytheville City Council's Finance Committee Thursday afternoon, Delta Gateway Museum Committee chairwoman Ruth Hale said the organization is in the process of hiring a museum director. Hale said the Delta Gateway Museum is waiting to hire the director until it knows for certain the funding won't be cut from the city of Blytheville's 2010 budget, which was passed last month...

Although it's his first year as principal of Blytheville High School, Bobby Ashley is by no means a rookie administrator. Ashley, a native of Dyess, is actually in his 28th year of education. He spoke to the Blytheville Rotary Club Thursday. Starting out as a girls basketball coach, Ashley has coached at several area schools, including Turrell, Tyronza, EPC and West Memphis. He's been school superintendent at McGehee and Booneville prior to coming to Blytheville...

In recognition of Black History Month, the Courier News is shining the spotlight on some of the many African-Americans who have played a leading role in our community. A different individual will be featured in each edition of the newspaper during the month of February...

The Spot Community Center, set to open Saturday, will be home to The Spotlight Grill and an after school program called the Renaissance Center. The Spot is located in the former Blytheville Bowling Alley across from Blytheville High School at 539 N. 10th Street. The new business will provided a new restaurant, which will open for lunch beginning Monday and The Renaissance Center, an after-school enrichment program for Mississippi County Students grades Kindergarten through 12th grade...