Stories from Saturday, September 6, 2014

So mostly what I do around here (and by around here I mean in this column) is funny. Maybe not knee-slapping funny, but sort of chuckle funny, observations-about-life kind of funny, and wow-so-many-strange-things-happen-to-that-rather-odd-girl-kind-of funny.

September is Attendance Awareness Month and Blytheville School District is partnering with the Grade Level Reading Campaign and Attendance Works to promote an awareness of the importance of school attendance from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

The Blytheville Courier News launched its TxtAlert program today, which will utilize the latest technology to bring instant news and information to local citizens.

Here are the scores from Friday night's high school football games.

SEARCY -- Less than a minute into the 2014 season, the Gosnell Pirates made a huge statement with one play. On the first snap from scrimmage, Pirate running back Carlos Blackman took a handoff from quarterback Dwight Griffin around the corner, 65 yards to the house giving the Pirates a 7-0 lead over the Harding Academy Wildcats. It was a lead they would never relinquish on their way to a convincing, 40-15 win over the 3A powerhouse at First Security Stadium in Searcy...

The Blytheville Chickasaws treated the large home crowd to one of their most dominating second halves in recent years, Friday night, when entertaining county rival Osceola. Clinging to a six-point halftime lead, the Chicks exploded for 29 points in the first eight minutes of the third quarter on their way to clobbering the thin-rostered Seminoles, 47-12, in the season opener for both teams...

FAYETTEVILLE - The Arkansas Razorbacks' 10-game losing streak became as easy to shatter as it was difficult for them experiencing it prolonged. With the overmatched Nicholls State Colonels of the Southland Conference as the obliging adversary, Arkansas registered a Razorbacks record 56 points in a half, including a Razorbacks record fif3 1-play touchdown drives in that 56-0 first half, en route to a 73-7 rout on a surprisingly cool September Saturday afternoon before an announced 63,108 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.. ...