Stories from Wednesday, September 10, 2014

A judge on Wednesday gave Big River Steel more time to respond to a federal lawsuit filed by a rival company that hopes to stop the $1.3 billion project from moving forward in northeast Arkansas.

Dolores Orozco, 55, of Blytheville, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in Blytheville.

The Blytheville Leadership Institute kicks off its new class this week with the annual orientation retreat on Thursday and Friday, and this year I'll be participating.

First Baptist Church, 715 W. Walnut in Blytheville, will host the Living Proof Live Simulcast featuring Beth Moore from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $10 (lunch provided). For tickets, call the church office at 870-762-2432 or Donna at 870-776-0448...

Air Force Lt. Col. Clint Armani has assumed command of 746th Test Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., during a ceremony held June 19 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Armani entered the Air Force as a graduate of the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas in 1998, where he also earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. ...

Pauline Jones, 94, of Black Oak, was honored by a reception on Saturday, Sept. 6, to commemorate her 54 years with the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council. During Jones' years of service she worked 30 years for the Criaighead County Extension Service with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Educational Program. ...

Dr. Christian Vlautin will be leaving Big Lake this week after three months of serving with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's (FWS) Wilderness Fellow Program. Originally from California, Vlautin has been residing in the Mid-south for several years and accepted the six month fellowship in May. He will be going to St. Charles' White River National Wildlife Refuge to continue his work...

Siblings and cousins won numerous ribbons at the Blytheville Fair in August including blue ribbons for first place; red ribbons for second place; white ribbons for third place and purple for best of show...

Linda E. Simpson of Lake City has earned the designation of Master Municipal Clerk (MMC), which is awarded by the international institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), Inc. IMC grants the MMC designation only to those municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements and who have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community and state...

The Armorel girls golf team defeated Buffalo Island Central 159-170 Monday at Thunder Bayou Golf Links while the boys finished second out of four teams. Armorel's Lunden Stallings was a medalist shooting an eight over par 44. Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Tigers were Emma Haskins (57), Madison Harris (58), Brooke Kennon (67) and McKinley Carr (70)...

The Gosnell Pirates return home to J.W. Rea Field for the first time this season to take on their south county rival, Osceola Seminoles, Friday night. The Pirates (1-0) are coming off a huge, 40-15 road win over 3A power Harding Academy last week. Things don't get any easier this week with a longtime rival like Osceola coming to town...

Leszek (Les) J. Kulinski, 56, of Blytheville, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.

Mrs. Mary Lois Morgan, 43, of Trumann, died Tuesday at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Dorothy Lousie Carnell Wren Toombs, 91, of Blytheville, passed from this life on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2014, at her home.

Arms of Hope Pregnancy Care Center will be hosting a youth event at Blytheville High School's gym next week, and Director Stacey Harris said she feels the high-energy program will be a help to area teens.

Nell Moore Henson, 83, of North Little Rock, formerly of Blytheville, passed from this life on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at the Baptist Springhill Memorial Hospital in North Little Rock.