Stories from Tuesday, July 8, 2014

This gardening season has been plagued with more problems than usual. First, it was the fact that there was ice on the ground in large amounts when we should have been planting potatoes, onions and peas.

The Arts Council of Mississippi County kicked off the first of its summer workshops this week with a photography workshop.

The Hardy Sales and Service Casons knocked off Pemiscot County, 9-5, Monday in Senior American Legion action. Justin Mann earned the win, tossing four innings for the Casons. Mann helped his cause with three hits, including a double, while teammate Jamal Washington also chipped in three hits. Also getting hits for the Casons were Ricky Gable (single, double), Chad Wright, Jon Mark Hutton, Andrew Scott (two singles), Will Camp (triple) and Brady Jones (two doubles)...

Billy Wayne Sneed, 78, of Cherokee Village passed away Sunday, July 6, 2014, at White River Health Systems in Batesville. Mr. Sneed was born June 15, 1936, in Caraway to the late Jake and Ruth Haney Sneed. He was the owner and operator of the Phillips 66 Station in Caraway for over 50 years. He enjoyed woodworking, drag racing and spending time with his family...

Steven Wayne Sheppard, 16, died Tuesday night, July 1, from apparent injuries from a lightning strike. Etowah police and first responders went to 887 Arkansas 136 about 8:15 p.m. Etowah Chief of Police Joe Riney said the teen along with his mother and others were working at a church near his home when a storm came up. Steven, along with another boy, were running from the church to the house...

In the medical area of the Buffalo Island Museum is a doctor's medicine cabinet that was once in Harper's Clinic at Monette. The clinic was operated by Dr. B.R. Harper and his father before him, Dr. T.P. Harper...

Caraway leaders have had a difficult year as the community has been hit by storms twice destroying most of the main street and several other properties. In spite of the problems, the community came together to host the 68th annual Fourth of July Celebration on Friday in the Caraway tradition...

The Cave Dweller's eighth annual fireworks display held at the Leachville City Park drew a large crowd on the Fourth of July. The Cave Dwellers are made of up of members of the fire department, police department and first responders who collect donations and do fundraisers throughout the year to pay for the fireworks. ...

The first cotton bloom reported to the Town Crier came from the Holden farm one mile south of Highway 18 on Highway 139. The ST4946 GL/B2 was planted on April 26. The first bloom was found July 1 and several more were found July 2. ...

Members of the Manila Lions Club presented a rose from District 7 in memory of Alien Jaco at the Wednesday, July 2, meeting. On hand to accept the rose were her son, Larry Perkins, and granddaughter, Samantha Woods. Making the presentation were Lion President Terry Carr and outgoing President Wendell Poteet...

A special called meeting of the Manila City Council was held on Thursday for the purpose of finalizing the lease/purchase of a loader truck. A quorum was present with Larry "Whiz" Davis, Linda Donovan, Donnie Wagner and Tony Hawkins, present. Council members unanimously voted to pass the resolution for the lease/purchase...

The parents of Kimberly Hope Wise of Manila would like to announce her marriage to John Thomas Mayberry of Hot Springs at 4 p.m. Aug. 2, 2014. The wedding will be held at Manley Chapel on the campus of Williams Baptist College (WBC) in Walnut Ridge...

Rising Blytheville High School sophomore Brooke Childs is the Arts Council of Mississippi County's featured artist for the month of July.

Collier Ministries will host a southern gospel concert featuring "His Voice" of Stanton, Tenn., starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Melody Theater in downtown Leachville. Also singing will be Vickie Hill, Paul T. Ross, Sheila Collier of "Three in One" and other area artists...

Nancy Fergus, of the TRIO program, will be at the Arkansas Northeastern College campus in Leachville to help prospective college students fill out their financial aid forms for fall 2014from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4. To schedule an appointment call the Osceola campus, 870-563-3236...

Manila Police Officer and school resource officer Captain James Skinner was the guest speaker at the Manila Senior Citizen center on Wednesday morning discussing options on what to do in the event of an active shooter incident...

The 28th annual Cousins & Friends Reunion will be held Saturday, July 12, starting at 10 a.m. at the Family Life Center of the First Baptist Church of Cherokee Village (south entrance, 175 Spur). All descendents and friends of Moore, Estes, Short, Duke, Manry, Orr, Coggins, McCord, Godwin, Martin, Kent, Evans, Humphries, Williams, Roberts, and other extended family members are encouraged to attend.. ...

Ten nursing and healthcare professions students have been selected to receive scholarships for the fall semester which represent a total value of $20,000 from the St. Bernards Auxiliary. They include (from left) Amber Jones of Batesville, Michael Anderson of Jonesboro, Sheri Duncan of Osceola, Lauren Jetton of Paragould, Angela Hammill of Memphis and Latoya Rucker of Wynne. ...

An attorney for Freddie Sharp filed new paperwork Tuesday at the Mississippi County courthouse in relation to the case.

With only two council members present, July's regularly scheduled Gosnell City Council meeting was canceled Tuesday night due to the lack of a quorum. Council members David Blount and Eric Blount were the only two members present during Tuesday's meeting, along with Gosnell Mayor Don Marshall. Although there was only one action item on the agenda the lack of a quorum could cost the city $100,000 in grant funding that would be used for the walking track project...