Stories from Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Ms. Deborah L. Whiteside, formerly of Osceola, died Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, in Tampa, Fla.

Mr. Chester Cooper Huffman, 79, of the Huffman Community, passed from this life Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at Methodist Hospital in Memphis.

Mr. James Harris went home to be with his Lord Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011.

Mrs. Patricia Davis, 72, of Manila, widow of Ben Davis, died early Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at her home.

Mr. Paul Wayne Carter, 74, of Cardwell, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at his home.

Mr. Nathan Campbell III, 52, of Osceola, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at Manila Nursing Center.

Mr. John Louis Bedford, 54, of Blytheville, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, in Blytheville.

I read your article in Sunday's paper about the proposed 1 cent sales tax and have some questions that should be publicly answered before voters are expected to vote on the ordinance. The money is to be used "to pay and remit past due federal and state income tax withholdings, employer and employee FICA and Medicare payroll tax contributions, federal and state unemployment tax contributions for periods prior to January 1, 2011."...

I truly hope all of you are having a great Christmas season, and of course that Santa brings you everything on your list.

Mae Glanton got together with her neighbor to decorate a tree in her yard to honor those in the armed forces.

The Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual holiday open house Monday night at the historic Taylor House on Main Street.

The Blytheville Police Department recently made an arrest and began investigation regarding several incidents which occurred over the weekend.

Blytheville's Lights of the Delta is billed as a place to "make a memory," and the holiday display did just that Monday night for an area couple.

County officials are looking at the implementation of a purchase order system as a means to track spending in 2012.

Frances A. Braden Berk, 79, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. She was born March 31, 1932, near Caraway to the late Robert Lee Braden and Ruth V. Hamilton Braden. ...

Paul Wayne Carter, 74, of Cardwell, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at his home. Born in Cardwell, he was the son of the late Paul Alley and Amy Iva Lee Burcham Carter, was a 1955 graduate of Cardwell High School, and served in the U.S. Army. He was a retired manager of MFA Agri Service in Bernie, Mo., and a longtime member of the Antioch Church of Christ near Cardwell...

Patricia "Pat" Davis, age 72 of Manila, went to be with her heavenly father Saturday morning, Dec. 17, 2011. She was born to Viola and Wade Owens of Lost Cane on Sept. 25, 1939...

Buffalo Island Central came away with a pair of senior boys victories last week, defeating Marked Tree 63-58 in 2A-3 conference action before completing the sweep with a 48-30 non-conference win over Ridgefield Christian Friday night at Monette...

Riverside's senior girls split a pair of conference games last week, losing 48-40 Monday night at Walnut Ridge before bouncing back to defeat Cross County 41-28 Thursday night at Caraway...

Scott Eubanks poured in a game high 21 points to lead the Manila Lions to a 60-48 3A-3 conference victory over Rivercrest Friday night at Wilson. Brady Jones also hit double digits, scoring 15 points, while Zack Day added nine more for the Lions, who upped their overall record to 8-3 and conference mark to 5-1...

Riverside celebrated its 2011 Homecoming with a 57-28 victory over Cross County, and in the process picked up its first 2A-3 conference win of the season Friday night at Lake City...

Monette City Council employees were treated to a luncheon at the Buffalo Island Museum following a short business meeting by the City Council on Tuesday, Dec. 13. The council suspended the rules and declared an emergency to pass Ordinance 2011-3 on the third and final reading, for approval of flood plain insurance...

Members of the Manila School Board viewed a presentation on the Common Core curriculum at the Dec. 19 meeting. Manila District's technology coordinator Jason Baltimore offered an informative power point presentation on Common Core. ...

Caraway voters passed a one-cent sales city tax proposal by a vote of 119-34 Tuesday, Dec. 13. "I am so proud of our Caraway residents," Mayor Barry Riley said. "This shows they are supportive of the vision the mayor and council has for the city. ...

Local, county and state officials, along with other guests were on hand Thursday, Dec. 15, at the West Mississippi County Senior Activity Center located at 855 Airport Road in Manila, for the dedication of the new senior activity center...

The Buffalo Island Classic Cruiser Car Club (BICC) enjoyed their Christmas gathering on Thursday at the Eat A Bite Restaurant in Monette. Each year the club chooses a family going through health issues and helps them to have a better Christmas...

Members of the Masonic Lodge #558 purchased 50 large hams as part of their Christmas gift giving project for Monette Leachville, and Black Oak residents. "When we mailed out membership letters this year we asked for donations for this special Christmas project," Larry Bibb said. ...

The Buffalo Island Central School Board held a short meeting Dec. 12. President Scott Colbert called the meeting to order with all present except Todd Edwards and Darrin McFall. Following the approval of the November minutes and review of the financial statements, board members completed statements of financial interest...

Buffalo Island Central Athletic Department was recognized Friday evening at the MAC for their Relay Madness free throw fund raiser. The young athletes of BIC participated in a free throw competition raising money for the Buffalo Island Relay for Life...

Leachville AC PEO sponsored their annual Toys for Tots toy drive. PEO members, along with Dollar General of Leachville and Post Cereal, collected items to be distributed to local families. Volunteers to help deliver and give out the Goodfellow baskets and toys are Tommy Eldried, Marvin Brown, and Robert and Rebecca Clowers...

Members of the Manila Lions Club and the Southworth employees partnered to insure area children have a great Christmas. Employees of Southworth collected toys for all ages to be included in the Goodfellow basket distribution...

Ms. Donna Lynn Bressler Harris, 44, of Blytheville, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011.

Blytheville topped Hickory Flat, Miss., 60-51, Tuesday afternoon in the GCT Christmas Classic, being played this week at Greene County Tech High School in Paragould.