Stories from Friday, September 26, 2014

Mrs. Nancy Summitt, 72, of Blytheville, departed this life, Friday morning, Sept. 26, 2014, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Mrs. Idabell Reeves Pollard died Friday, Sept. 19. 2014, in Lubbock, Texas.

Mr. James Harold Ford, 37, of Marked Tree, died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, in Marked Tree.

The Blytheville School Board recognized the Blytheville Chickasaw Marching band during Monday night's regular monthly school board meeting. The 86-member marching ensemble was represented by drum majors Jocelynn Moore and Quantae McNeal, who told board members about what goes into organizing the band's routine. This year's halftime show is titled "Letters From a Prisoner of War" and features three original songs composed for the Marching Chicks...

Charlevoix Chapter DAR member Mary Gay Shipley gave a review of the book, "Navaho Code Talkers," at the Sept. 16 meeting to members and their guests, winners of the Junior American Citizens national awards and their teachers and parents. Shipley provided a riveting narrative portraying the history of the little-known Navajo code and its role in the U.S. ...

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) created the Junior American Citizens (JAC) Committee to promote good citizenshsip and appreciation of American heritage and history among every school-age child in the United States. The JAC Committee offers contests in art, creative expression and community service. The 2013-14 contest theme was "Honoring Our Heritage."...

Dr. Keith Hearnsberger (left) was installed Sept. 14 as senior transitional pastor for the First Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church in Blytheville. Hearnsberger was installed by the Rev. Kevin Robbins, representative of the Commission on Ministry of the Christian Church in the Great River Region. ...

Prescription drug abuse continues to be a problem among Arkansas teens. By the time Arkansas high school students have reached their senior year, nearly 1 in 5 have abused prescription drugs. Most teens obtain the drugs they abuse from the medicine cabinets in their own homes, or the homes of friends and relatives. ...

It's election time again, and I'm becoming increasingly aggravated with the tactics used by some candidates. I know politics is not pretty, but when a candidate feels the need to interrupt God's worship service to campaign using God's platform for his own purpose, it is an abomination to me...

Mr. Charles Loyd Giles, 85, of Gosnell, passed away Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at the Manila Nursing Center.

The Drug Take Back Day is scheduled for today (Saturday), when citizens are encouraged to drop off unused prescription medication at the Blytheville Police Department.

The Mississippi County Democratic Central Committee voted to replace Democratic committee member Bobbie Hampton on Tuesday during what Democratic Party Chairman Gary Phillips called a "rather lopsided" vote.

Charles Loyd Giles, 85, of Gosnell passed away Sept. 25, 2014, at the Manila Nursing Center. Born Feb. 8, 1929 in Manila, he was the son of the late Leonard Vaden and Iva Lee Jolliff Giles. Mr. ...

At times Friday night, the host Blytheville Chickasaws moved the ball, but they couldn't find the end zone against the Class 5A top-ranked Wynne Yellowjackets. The Chicks suffered their first loss of the year in the 5A-East opener, falling to the Yellowjackets, 35-0...

BROOKLAND -- The Gosnell Pirates began their defense of their 3-4A title without starting quarterback Dwight Griffin and leading rusher Carlos Blackman. It didn't matter as the Pirates made short work of the host, Brookland Bearcats, Friday night in a 40-16 rout...

Here are the statewide prep scores from Friday night.

Mr. Danny L. Davis, 46, of Blytheville, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville.