Stories from Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Gerald Jennings Invitational Tournament will begin Tuesday night at Gosnell High School. The Armorel junior high team plays in the opening game at 5 p.m. against East Poinsett County. Gosnell senior boys are scheduled to play at 7:30 against Riverside. Action will continue on Wednesday and Thursday nights with the championship games on Saturday...

On Nov. 22, America observed the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Kennedy's death signified the end of an era for virtually every American and sent our nation into shock. Ironically, 1963 also marked the last time the two service academies, Army and Navy, played a significant game on the national scene...

Winter weather limited Manila to one game last week, as the Lions dropped their first game of the year, a 57-46 decision to the Nettleton Raiders Tuesday night in the Greyhound Classic at Newport...

Buffalo Island Central completed a four game sweep over Cross County with the Lady Mustangs winning junior and senior high contests Monday night, Dec. 2, in Cherry Valley before the boys duplicated the feat the next night on the road...

Riverside picked up a pair of wins last week before winter weather snuffed out the remainder of scheduled games. The Rebels began the week with a 69-65 2A-3 conference victory over Rector at Lake City before wrapping things up with a 72-46 win over Corning in first round play of the Williams Baptist Invitational Tournament at Walnut Ridge...

Mrs. Louella June Smith, 81 of Dell, passed from this life Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at Gosnell Therapy and Living Center.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "I am glad for my life," said Bill Nelson, who died Friday morning at age 68.

Buffalo Island Central high school students, elementary students and faculty celebrated another signing event on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Senior Lady Mustang #14, Taylor McKuin, signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Crowley's Ridge College...

Mr. Eddie Ray Bryeans, 76, of Luxora, entered into rest Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013.

Four Buffalo Island Central High School students recently placed in the North American International Livestock Exhibition (NAILE) with their entries. NAILE is the largest all breed purebred livestock exposition held...

LITTLE ROCK -- Craighead County is the state's top county Farm Bureau organization. Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach presented the President's Award Dec. 5 to County President Scott Gibson at the organization's 79th Annual Convention at the Marriott Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center...

I would like to start off by saying that it sickens me every time I read about our city government. What is it going to take to get it through to the people of Blytheville that the city government in our town is doing the same thing as the last? We the people need to vote the current clowns out of office. All of them must go! We cannot keep going down the road we are going. You can not spend your way to prosperity! Why is it our city council cannot say the word NO?...

Welcome back everyone. I hope you all managed to stay safe and warm, entertained and well-fed over these past few days as we dealt with a pretty significant amount of ice and some rather chilly temperatures.

The Christmas tree is up and decorated at the Lendennie homestead, topped off, as it always is, by an angel. Of all the stories, accounts and legends surrounding Christmas, those involving angels have always been the most special to me.

Tonight, the Blytheville Planning Commission is expected to hear a request to rename Marguerite Street "Gene Henton Drive."

While most county schools, including Blytheville and Gosnell, were still closed Tuesday, still dealing with slippery roads from the wintery weather over the weekend, the Armorel School District opened its doors today with a late start at 10 a.m.

Main Street Blytheville and the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce are gearing up to ring in the holidays with a number of events in the next week, starting with the tree-lighting ceremony scheduled for tonight (Tuesday).

A fatality has been reported in the Big Lake area Tuesday morning, after area first responders pulled a vehicle from the water.

Officers, seven state board members also elected LITTLE ROCK -- Randy Veach and Rich Hillman will continue as president and vice president, respectively, of Arkansas Farm Bureau following their re-election Friday. ...

The annual Monette Christmas parade was held Monday, Dec. 2, with antiques cars, trucks, ATVs, motorcycles, floats, horses and Santa arriving on Bertha Ray's float. Parade chairman Kay Staggs was named the grand marshal for the parade. Kay started being part of the parade in 1988 and has served as chairman since 1994...

The Farmers in the Dell Relay for Life team has rescheduled its 10th annual Christmas Tour of Homes from 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. The homes of Koehler and Pam Blankenship (1608 N. 6th Street), Ronny and Elaine Goff (612 Musie Lane) in Blytheville, and Tim and Genaya Ruddick(5088 NSH 312) in Armorel are the homes being featured this year. ...

Kyle and Hailey Vaughn of Caraway announce the birth of their daughter, Ensley Beth Vaughn. Ensley was born Oct. 8, 2013, at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro. She weighed nine pounds and six ounces. She has an older sister, Arden Vaughn, 4...

Manila veteran joins Honor Tour By REVIS BLAYLOCK Town Crier News Staff Frank Byrd of Manila was honored and humbled to be part of the three day Honor Tour to Washington, D.C., for veterans. He was one of 28 veterans making the tour in November...

Sally Archer Afflick, 53, of Memphis, formerly of Blytheville, passed from this life Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, at her home.