Stories from Tuesday, February 10, 2015

New businesses are starting to pop up but, if new residents are to follow, Blytheville leaders must get a handle on the elephant in the room -- crime.

A change in speed limits on Airbase Highway between Blytheville and Gosnell has drivers confused, and representatives from the Arkansas Highway Department say the confusion is likely because of a glitch in the system followed for replacing speed limit signs.

Houston and Jillian Key Buck of Lilbourn, Mo., announce the birth of their son, William Huston Leyton Buck. William was born at 6:11 p.m. Jan. 23, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He weighed 6 pounds and 6-1/2 ounces. He measured 20 inches...

Dustin and Ashley Lasater of Manila announce the birth of their son, Brody Reese. Brody was born Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. He weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce and measured 22 inches...

Robert Lee Meacham, Sr., 55, of Manila, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at his home. Born Nov. 12, 1959, in Osceola, he was the son of the late Charles Robert Meacham and had been a lifelong Manila resident. ...

Mustangs close conference season with win at Rector Bay's Colton Watson lit up the scoreboard Tuesday night, pumping in a game high 50 points to lead the Yellowjackets to a 78-62 victory over Buffalo Island Central in senior boys nonconference basketball action...

Riverside closed the conference season with a two game split last week, defeating Cross County 65-50 Tuesday night at Lake City before falling to East Poinsett County 71-45 Friday night at Lepanto...

Rivercrest completed the 3A-3 conference regular season with an undefeated slate, holding off archrival Manila 64-56 Friday night at Wilson. Marcus Chew pumped in a game high 25 points, including a pair of buzzer beating three pointers to close out the first and third periods, sparking the Colts to the victory...

Members of the BIC journalism staff have earned eight awards in the Quill and Scroll International Honor Society for High School Journalists' 2014 Yearbook Excellence Contest. Over 1,600 entries were received in the competition, and only 217 national winners were named...

A construction update was presented when the Riverside School Board met Monday, Feb. 2. Larson Tate, project manager, and architect Mark Cahoon with Cahoon Steiling Studio reported work had begun on the new elementary building on the east campus in Caraway...

The Leachville Foundation Inc. held its grand opening Saturday, Feb. 7, giving community members a chance to see first hand the new food pantry as well as discuss future projects with organization members...

Clay F. Turner, young author of Leachville, has been sharing his experience throughout the area as he has been the guest speaker at 10 appearances since his book "Lodesyia" was published in November...

Manila basketball senior night was held Feb. 3 with senior basketball players, managers and cheerleaders recognized. The ceremony was held between the junior and senior high ballgames...

Riverside senior athletes in the basketball program were recognized on senior night Tuesday, Feb. 3, with Riverside boys hosting Cross County. Seniors and family members were honored for the years they have been part of the basketball program at Riverside. Seniors were presented appreciation gifts...

Jeff Butler, 29, of Blytheville, passed from this life Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015.

Andrew King recently celebrated his 6th birthday. For the celebration, Andrew asked people to bring him gifts for Arms of Hope. Arms of Hope is a local pregnancy and childbirth service that seeks to change lives "by offering justice to the innocent, mercy to the hurting and hope in hopeless circumstances."...

Residents of Westminster Village recently went on a Mississippi County road trip to Dyess to see the Historic Dyess Colony Museum and childhood home of Johnny Cash. To learn more, visit the Arkansas State University site online at http://dyesscash.astate.edu/...

For those looking for reasons to feel good about Blytheville, the recent growth in the community's retail sector ought to be something that gets your attention.