Stories from Tuesday, September 23, 2014

A reader, who wished to remain anonymous, offered a pretty good suggestion on how the city of Blytheville should handle repaying the unpaid trash and sanitation excises taxes.

Students and teachers in the Blytheville School District are taking advantage of a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will give them fresh fruit and vegetables a couple of times each week.

KIPP Blytheville is looking for a physical education teacher who will also serve as the school's football program director, with expectations of a 2015 inaugural season.

The city of Gosnell is gearing up for its annual Cotton Festival, which is scheduled to take place this weekend in the parking lot adjacent to the Gosnell Police Department.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Buffalo Island School District patrons voted down a proposed 9 mill tax to build a new combined campus on Highway 18 at the Craighead/Mississippi County line, but the district's first effort will not be its last...

Heather and Christopher Clark of Manila announce the birth of their son, Caleb Landen Clark. Caleb was born Sept. 2, 2014, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro. He weighed three pounds and five ounces...

Manila Lions Club has a new meeting place. Club members meet at noon each Wednesday in the former coaches' office located at the northwest corner of the junior high gymnasium at Manila School...

It was the summer of 1954 and excitement was in the air. After four years of bake sales and car washes, the Leachville graduating class was about to embark on their senior trip. Sunshine, blue water and sandy beaches -- Florida, here we come!...

Ryan Stuck fired an even par 36, helping Buffalo Island Central defeat Truman 121-144 in high school golf action Monday afternoon at the Trumann Country Club. Stuck's sparkling round shared medalist honors with Rector's Kade Scott, who also shot a 36 on the afternoon. Rector finished third with a team total of 150...

Thursday night's 3A-3 junior high conference opener between Manila and Hoxie turned into a shootout. When the dust finally settled, it was Manila who came out on top in a fun filled 34-24 victory at Lion Field...

Manila's senior Lions looked to be on the verge of gaining their first victory since the 2012 season when they took an 8-0 lead over Brookland midway through the third quarter of play. ...

Thirty-six person teams gathered at the Blytheville Country Club Monday, Sept. 15, for the 24th Annual Yamato Kogyo/ANC Foundation Scholarship Golf Tournament. This year's tournament had the rare distinction of producing a "hole-in-one" prize of $2,000 to one lucky golfer. Tad Inami, of Arkansas Steel Newport, scored the ace on hole 16 of the BCC course...

Over 300 visitors from Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri took a step back in time as they attended the fourth annual Sorghum Festival held at Poor Boy's Garden near Caraway on Saturday Sept. 20...

Wendell Poteet announces for Manila City Council seat Wendell Poteet announces plans to run for Ward 3, Position 2 of the Manila City Council. Poteet said he wants to work for the people of Manila. "Though I am not a native, I have lived here for 12 years," he said. ...

Caraway City Council members reviewed the Water and Sewer Department audit and discussed sidewalks at a special called meeting Thursday, Sept. 18. Mayor Barry Riley gave a report on the audit done by Despain, Luther & Short & Company of Jonesboro. The audit passed unanimously 5-0...

The Leachville City Council reached a settlement agreement with former police chief Keith Evans during its regular meeting Sept. 15. Evans retired from the Leachville Police Department last month and at that time some council members wanted to pay Evans the sick pay he had accumulated. ...

Murel Rice, longtime Manila resident and World War II veteran, will turn 100 years old on Oct. 4. He is the oldest of six children born to Ben and Ida Bell Rice. He has lived from the wagon days to the modern times of today and has seen many changes. He said some of those changes are good and some not so good...

Dan Gamble provided a pizza lunch Tuesday and presented a gift to the Manila Senior Citizens in honor of Dorothy Crouch. Mrs. Crouch thanked Gamble and expressed her appreciation for the senior center. She enjoys attending the center most every day...

Bernice Emery was the guest of honor for two parties held in recognition of her 100th birthday. She celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 13, and again on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Mrs. Emery, a lifelong Paragould resident, has lived at Monette Manor for a year and a half...

Manila city council members and Mayor Wayne Wagner met at the city park Monday, Sept. 15, prior to the council meeting to view work underway on a 2,800 foot walking trail. The new walking trail will connect the pool and park area. Connecting to part of the existing walking trail, walkers will have a total of 3,200 feet of track...

Mildred Jeanette Wells, 81, of Paragould, formerly of Leachville, the widow of Charles Edward Wells, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born in Tupelo, Miss., she was the daughter of the late Amory and Louise Ramsey Williams and had been a longtime Paragould resident. ...

Clarence "Herbert" Lucas, 83, of Jonesboro, passed away on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House.

Mildred Jeanette Wells, 81, of Paragould, formerly of Leachville, the widow of Mr. Charles Edward Wells, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould.

By a unanimous vote, the Mississippi County Quorum Court passed a resolution Tuesday night to begin explorations into switching to a single county seat system.

The Blytheville Police Department is looking for information on two male suspects who might have been involved in an armed robbery on Saturday.