Stories from Saturday, October 20, 2012

POCAHONTAS -- Gosnell head coach Gary Moody challenged his defense, and the Pirates responded in a big way Friday night against the bigger Pocahontas Redskins. Gosnell forced six turnovers and held the Redskins to just one score until garbage time, rolling to a 34-12 win and handing the host team only its second loss of the season...

BATESVILLE -- Led by a stingy defense and the passing of senior quarterback Jacob Hardin, the Batesville Pioneers defeated the Blytheville Chickasaws 50-7 in a 5A-East District high school football game here Friday night. The Pioneer defense limited the Chickasaws to 24 total yards on 30 plays in the first half. ...

Blytheville School District will be holding a public hearing Monday to announce its plans to seek a district conversion charter for Blytheville High School. The conversion charter for the high school will allow the district to implement the New Tech Network, a non-profit organization designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in whatever they choose to do after high school. ...

Blytheville Middle School music teacher MiChele Green had an opportunity of a lifetime over the summer. A gifted musician, Green recorded a Gospel CD at the famed Dark Horse Studio in Nashville, Tenn., and now the project, "My God," is available at local stores...

Early voting for the Nov. 6 election begins Monday at the Greyhound Station/Main Street office on North Fifth St. Voting hours will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and from 10 a.m-4 p.m. on Saturdays. There are several local municipal and county races. Here are those involving Blytheville, Gosnell and the Mississippi County Quorum Court...

Runners and walkers got off to a fast start during Saturday's United Way Chili Cookoff 5K, held at the Arkansas Aeroplex.

Mr. Billy Earl Conley, 55, of Memphis, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at the Veterans Hospital in Memphis. He was born in the Blytheville, the son of the late Sonny Young and Mrs. Ora Conley. He was a Blytheville High School graduate and a Vietnam veteran...

Memorial services for Tommy Joe Shelton will be held Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator with the Rev. Dr. Helen Tester officiating. Interment will be in the church columbarium with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements...

AROMREL--The Riverside Rebels were not the most polite guests as they completed a four-game sweep over the host Armorel Tigers Friday night. The senior boys lost, 61-38, while the senior girls fell 52-42. The Rebels opened up a commanding lead early, withstood a third quarter spark from the Tigers and distanced themselves in the fourth as Armorel dropped to 1-2 on the year...

Local residents enjoyed a variety of chili recipes at Saturday's Chili Cookoff.