Stories from Friday, July 18, 2014

Ricky Daniel Parsley, 46, of Manila, died Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at his home. Born in Osceola he was the son of the late Randall and Glenda Holt Parsley and had been a lifelong Manila resident and was retired from Stone's Construction Company in Manila...

The Armorel School District PTO group recently donated a $1,000 scholarship to Catilynn Paige Smith. Pictured are (from left) Victoria Blain, Caitlynn Smith and Tamala Sellers.

The Blytheville Library closed out its summer reading program July 11 with a pizza party and prize drawing. Reece Green, 7, of Blytheville, won a Kindle Fire HD.

Dr. Jim Shemwell, president of Arkansas Northeastern College (left), talked to members of the Blytheville Kiwanis Club at their July 9 meeting about what is happening involving the college, such as programs having to do with career coaches and the Workforce Orientation and Retraining Keys...

Blytheville Mayor James Sanders (left) proclaimed Friday, July 18, as "Stop the Violence Day."

Nucor-Yamato Steel and Nucor Steel Arkansas recently provided generous annual support to CASA of the 2nd Judicial District. CASA volunteers are advocates for abused and neglected children in foster care until they reach safe and permanent homes. CASA serves Clay, Craighead, Greene, Mississippi and Poinsett Counties...

Mr. J.L. Westbrook Jr., 87, of Blytheville, passed from this life on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in Memphis.

I am writing in regard to the stray dog problem that Blytheville has. This last weekend, I let my dog outside to go to the bathroom, in my yard. Only 5 minutes later, I heard a deafening growl followed by a loud cry. I ran to my dog's aid, only to find that the huge stray dog had him in his mouth. I threw something at the dog and he stopped and looked at me like he was going to attack me. My dog ran under my house where he died soon after because I could not get him out...

I find myself with a little extra time on my hands here this last Friday afternoon with me still in the working world, so here comes one last (and I promise, final) column.

Famers Bank and Trust is holding its annual school supply drive now through Aug. 8. Supplies, as well as monetary donations, can be made at any Famers Bank location. All proceeds will go to The Foster Children of Mississippi County and The Haven.

Significant rainfall and higher than expected river levels have again delayed construction crews working on the Highway 18 overpass and Highway 61 connection projects.

JONESBORO--The Hardy Sales and Service Casons dropped the opening game of the Zone 2 Tournament, 7-1, to the host Jonesboro Ricemen Friday night. Jonesboro scored three in the second and two more in each of the seventh and eighth innings. Brady Jones picked up the loss for the Casons. Jones gave up five runs in seven innings of work...