Stories from Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Mr. Jack Presley Wagner, 88, of Manila, died Friday, May 10, 2013, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born at Earle, he was the son of the late Nolan and Grace Evelyn Cokenour Wagner and had lived most of his life in Manila. ...

Mrs. Flora Jean Covey, 85, of Tomball, Texas, former Leachville resident and widow of Mr. Norman Covey, died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Lawrence Street Health Care Center in Tomball, Texas. Born at Cardwell, Mo., she was the daughter of the late O.E. ...

Kenneth Henry Ashabranner, 79, of Jonesboro, died Saturday morning, May 11, 2013, at his home of natural causes. Born in Manila, Kenneth lived several years in Michigan where he worked for Chrysler Motors. ...

Mr. Terry Lee Rich, 68, of Manila, died Sunday, May 12, 2013, at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Born at Manila, he was the son of the late James Virgil and Thelma Pauline Mansell Rich and had lived most of his life in Manila. Terry was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and was a retired truck driver...

Manila suffered a quick exit from the Class 3A State Baseball Tournament Thursday night at Harding Academy in Searcy, losing a tough 1-0 decision to Episcopal Collegiate despite a strong pitching performance from senior right hander Brady Jones...

Buffalo Island Central faced off in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A State Softball Tournament in a rematch of last year's championship game against Junction City won by the Lady Dragons. ...

Manila Lions basketball camp for boys and girls will be held May 29-31. Boys and girls entering grades 2 through 4 will be 8:30-11:30 a.m. Boys and girls entering grades 5 through 8 will meet from 1-4 p.m...

Riverside bowed out of the Class 2A State Baseball Tournament, dropping a 4-0 decision to Hazen Thursday afternoon at Parkers Chapel. The Rebels, who finished the season 15-10, were making their first state tournament appearance since 2008...

The Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation is proud to announce the 15th Annual Wayne Taylor Memorial Golf Tournament, which is scheduled to be held at the Big Lake Country Club in Manila on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. This tournament is open to everyone who wishes to enter...

Winning a state championship is a great accomplishment, and one not easily attained on any level. Bringing home back-to-back titles is even rarer, but duplicating the feat twice at the same school and by brothers nonetheless, becomes magical, if not miraculous. For Buffalo Island Central, it became a reality...

I'm writing this letter as a concerned citizen, because my home was burglarized a few weeks ago and I didn't get any response or feedback from the Blytheville Police Department. And I do not appreciate some of the comments mentioned by one of the officers who responded to the my home...

This week I'm going to do something I don't often do, I'm going to brag about my weekend. Now, it's not like I don't usually enjoy my weekends, because I do, they are just tend to be a little dull and not worth talking about.

This past Sunday, May 12, was Mother's Day, and I hope all of you at least called dear old mom on the phone, or better yet, took her flowers or out to lunch or dinner

Mrs. Patsy Ann Zimmerman, 60, of Morris, Ill., formerly of Dwight, Ill., passed away at Joliet Area Community Hospice Saturday, May 11, 2013, at 9:18 p.m.

Mrs. Selma M. Washington, 70, of Blytheville, died Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville.

Mrs. Jeneva Tucker, 91, longtime resident of Manila and widow of Mr. Joe Bill Tucker, died earlier today at her home.

Ms. Wanda Sue Stevens, 77, of Lepanto, died Sunday, May 12, 2013, in Lepanto.

Mr. Willie B. Robinson, 59, of Luxora, died Friday, May 10, 2013, in Little Rock.

Mr. Terry Lee Rich, 68, of Manila, died Sunday, May 12, 2013, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville.

Mrs. Flora Jean Covey, 85, of Tomball, Texas, former Leachville resident and widow of Mr. Norman Covey, died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Lawrence Street Health Care Center in Tomball, Texas.

Monday night, the Blytheville City Council's Health and Sanitation Committee continued work on a proposed renegotiated contract with Knight's Disposal Service.

The Blytheville Police Department has begun a new type of training.

Animal Control Officer Terrie Gaines was bitten by a loose dog Monday, but fortunately the injury wasn't severe, according to Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson.

Arkansas' chief economic development official expects construction on the proposed $1.1 billion Big River Steel plant near Osceola to begin by the fall -- though a portion of its financing and final permissions from state regulators are still pending.

The Arts Council of Mississippi County is gearing up for its summer youth theater workshops. Participation in both workshops is free, and pre-registration is required.

A fire which caused extensive damage to a grouping of buildings on the Arkansas Aeroplex over the weekend is still under investigation, according to Blytheville Fire Chief Mike Carney.

Here's a wrap up of Monday night's action from the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. SOFTBALL 16U Lions 5, Denso 4 Lions scored five runs in the first two at bats and held on for the 5-4 win over Denso. Ciara Watson was the pitcher of record pitching a no-hitter for Lions and Lauri Beth Childers, Kristen Betts, Watson and Hailey Jode collected hits for the team in the win...

PINE BLUFF-- Armorel's quest for a third straight trip to the 1A state championship game came up one run short as the Taylor Tigers came back from a three-run seventh inning deficit to beat Armorel, 5-4, in extra innings. Taylor's Drew Sessions and Tyler Honeycut converted a textbook suicide squeeze with one out in the bottom of the eighth. ...

For the fourth consecutive year Manila fifth and sixth grade students learned about early settlers of the community through the Tales from the Cemetery. Fifth grade students gathered at the Manila Depot Center Thursday morning to hear the story of early settlers of the Manila area. ...

Members of the Buffalo Island Central School board met Monday, May 6, to interview candidates for the position of superintendent. Superintendent George Edd Holland announced earlier in the year his plans to retire at the end of the 2012-2013 school year...

Lake City aldermen voted unanimously to appoint Linda Stone to fill the vacant position for Ward I, Position 1 at the May 6 meeting. The position was vacant since February due to the resignation of Bill Snyder...

The Manila Business Women will sell homemade fried pies Saturday morning. Plans are to have the pies and coffee available at the Airport Center during the fly-in at the Manila Municipal Airport. In case of inclement weather and the fly-in is postponed, the pies will be sold Saturday morning at the Manila Depot Center...

Journalism students at Buffalo Island Central High School not only attended the national convention, they won awards for their writing and photography...

A group of Caraway residents have organized and started a campaign to fund a monument to honor veterans from all branches of the military who call Caraway home. The committee chair is Shirley Redding. Other committee members include Jean Jeffers, Gail Ramsey, Kim Kelton, and Jerry and Ann Vaughn...

Fire Chief Scotty Browning addressed the Caraway City Council May 9 and expressed his concern for Craighead County officers who were involved in a recent shooting. "Our policemen need trauma kits in each police car to have in case of emergency," Browning said...

Steve and Teri Tingle of Manila announce the birth of their son Gage Stevenson Tingle. He was born March 22, 2013, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Gage weighed eight pounds and one ounce and measured 20 inches...