Stories from Wednesday, January 14, 2015

So, I need a little help from all of you. For maybe only the second time since becoming a father, I find myself in a situation where I have absolutely no idea what to do. I've needed help before but I've never felt as lost as I do now.

GOSNELL --The Gosnell Pirates dropped their third conference game of the year after a 68-54 loss to the Pocahontas Redskins Tuesday night at the Gosnell Physical Education Center. The Redskins came into Tuesday night's game winners of 13 out of their first 14 contests and highly ranked in most 4A state polls. They showed why they will be a team to contend with in the postseason with a deadly inside out attack led by point guard Nick Smith and 6-foot-6 swingman Clark Brewington...

PARAGOULD --The Blytheville Chickasaws are still searching for their first 5A-East win after a 56-40 loss to the Paragould Rams. Led by Brandon Clifford's 20 first half points, the Rams were ahead 26-20 at halftime. Clifford hit four first half three pointers and five for the game. Paragould outscored the Chicks, 15-7, in the third period to extend their lead to 41-27 by the start of the fourth period...

Both the Gosnell and Armorel school districts are looking to play postseason games closer to home this year. Representatives from both districts will be in Little Rock Thursday to bid for postseason tournaments. Armorel is bidding to host the 1A Region 2 basketball tournament this February as well as the 1A Region 2 baseball and softball tournaments and the 1A state baseball and softball tournaments...

Arthur Lynn Lee, 68, of Manila, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center in Little Rock. Born Feb. 12, 1946, in Manila, he was the son of the late Youl and Evelyn Turner Lee and had been a lifelong area resident...

State Rep. Monte Hodges, D-Blytheville, has been named Assistant Speaker Pro Tem for Congressional District 1. Legislators from the 1st Congressional district will report any issue or concerns to Hodges, who will meet with the speaker over the matters...

Blytheville Middle School 7th grader Robert McCone won the 2015 Mississippi County Spelling Bee Tuesday after correctly spelling the word "pursuit." Thirty-one students from schools across the county participated in the bee, which was held at the Adams/Vines Recital Hall at Arkansas Northeastern College. ...

Christopher Sowell, who is being charged with the 2013 murder of 11-year-old Jessica Williams, has had his plea date in Circuit Court rescheduled again. Sowell was set to appear in January, but was rescheduled for a plea date on April 1. Sowell was arrested in September of 2013 in connection with Williams' death, and was released from county custody in January on a $25,000 bond payment...

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department: Officers were dispatched to Dixie Street in reference to Residential Burglary. Stolen were a 50-inch Sanyo television valued at $600, a black 15-inch laptop valued at $300, and an Amazon Fire phone valued at $450...

-- Jason Beasley, 35, Blytheville - failure to appear (2) -- Jennifer Booth, 36, Vallejo - public intoxication, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct -- Quarneisha Brimlett, 19, Blytheville - terroristic act -- Brodrick Brown, 23, Joiner - reckless driving...

Betty Askue, 73, of Gosnell, departed this life, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 in Gosnell. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Cobb Funeral Home.

Arthur Lynn Lee, age 68, of Manila, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center in Little Rock. Born in Manila, he was the son of the late Youl and Evelyn Turner Lee and had been a lifelong area resident...

Phyllis possessed a great talent of making quilts. She would make quilts and give to family and friends and those in need. She was a member of the Belle Point Quilters Guild, an organization which was formed to promote the appreciation of the rich heritage of quilting, to enhance each member's own quilting skills and to enrich the art of quilting for future generations...

Former Osceola High School and University of Arkansas football standout Korliss Marshall has enrolled at Eastern Illinois University. It is expected Marshall will be a member of the Panthers football team which competes in the Football Championship Subdivision next season...

Freida L. Bright, 87, of Manila passed from this life Wednesday, Jan.14, 2015 at her residence. Born in Parma, Missouri to Hyson and Bertha Hodge O'Neal, she was homemaker and a member of the Manila United Methodist Church. Freida enjoyed playing cards, traveling and spending time with her family and friends...

Freida L. Bright, 87, of Manila, passed from this life Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, at her residence. Born in Parma, Mo., to Hyson and Bertha Hodge O'Neal, she was a homemaker and a member of the Manila United Methodist Church. Freida enjoyed playing cards, traveling and spending time with her family and friends...