Stories from Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Manila Roosevelt J. Bennett, 81, of Manila, died Monday, June 16, 2014, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born March 15, 1933, in Manila, he was the son of the late Olen and Ruth Bennett and had been a lifelong area resident. ...

The 13th annual Buffalo Island Relay for Life was held Friday, June 13. Due to the threat of rain, the 2014 event was moved from the Leachville City Park to the Jimmy Sanders building in Leachville. This year's theme, "Rockin' and Rollin' for a Cure," brought out the poodle skirts and rolled up jeans for the 1950s look...

The Lake City High School Class of 1964 celebrated their 50th graduation anniversary with a reunion on June 14 at the old school library on Catfish Drive. Twenty classmates returned to their old alma mater to celebrate their class's golden anniversary year. ...

Lake City City Council adopted two resolutions at the regular meeting held June 16. Resolution No. 2014-06-16, Rescue Equipment Grant, is a grant through the Rural Development GIF Fire Protection Grant, to purchase a Gator with trailer and a Ranger 870 and med skid...

A two vehicle accident early Wednesday morning, June 18, resulted in the death of Michael Inman, 23, of Leachville. The second vehicle involved in the head-on collision was driven by James E. Hill, 39, of Manila, who was airlifted to the Med in Memphis with serious injuries...

The students of Buffalo Island Central may have gotten out of school June 4, but teachers were just beginning as the district's professional development for certified staff kicked off June 10. Dr. Kima Stewart, West Elementary principal, and Nicole Stewart, East Elementary principal, both explained that Tuesday, June 10, Wednesday, June 11, and Thursday, 12 certified staff K-12 participated in the first scheduled professional development for the district. ...

Representatives from Main Street Arkansas met with Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner and citizens Calvnita Halfacre, Donna Jackson, Linda Donovan, Lisa Hitchcock and Iris Poteet to discuss possible ways to revitalize the downtown area...

Keith and Jill Forrester have been named the 2014 Mississippi County Farm Family of the Year and have been named the 2014 District Farm Family of the Year. The Forresters own and operate Whitton Farms in the Whitton Community near Tyronza...

Dorothy Payne, 73, of Warner Robbins, Ga., formerly of Blytheville, passed away early today, Tuesday, June 24, 2014.

Victor Hodge Jr., 51, of West Memphis, died of cancer on June 22, 2014, at his home.

Mr. Amos "Stick" Carpenter Jr., died Wednesday at South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center in Osceola.

r. Gene Cable, 79, of Steele, passed from this life on Monday, June 23, 2014, at Baptist Hospital East in Memphis.

The good: Blytheville has its share of good people, but do you hear much about the good? Do you hear about anyone? Write a note of appreciation to your mailman. Compliment a stranger sincerely. Write a thank-you note to someone. Look for something around you that can be fixed up, picked up or attended, ie, put shopping carts up, pick up some trash laying around, pick up something that has fallen over...

Recently I've noticed the phrase "found family" popping up in a lot of things I've been reading. The idea behind the phrase is that family is more than, or isn't necessarily, those who share your last name or a similar genetic makeup.

Well, I did it again. I blinked, and another week went by. And it went so fast, I did not have time to finish any of the books I am reading in order to do a book review. So here I am again posting random thoughts about a busy week.

The Blytheville Hardy Sales and Service Casons finished second in a 14-team wooden bat tournament over the weekend. losing Sunday in the championship game to St. Genevieve, 5-1.

The Blytheville Chickasaws have a new head basketball coach. The Blytheville School Board approved the hiring of Jason James Monday night during its monthly meeting.

Though it has dropped in population over recent years, Mississippi County has long been one of the physically largest counties in Arkansas, with approximately 920 square miles of land area.

After a statewide teacher health insurance debacle was weathered last year, school district's are in similar shape again this year, and it could leave a significant number of Blytheville employees without any health coverage through the school district.