Stories from Thursday, February 19, 2015

A little less than a year ago, after a winter storm left the area more or less paralyzed for several days, I wrote a column that was critical of the community's preparedness for the winter storm.

Well, once again, the weather is playing havoc on the high school basketball schedule. All across the state, district tournaments and conference schedules are being shuffled around as schools and coaches desperately try to get games played before any further weather disturbances...

The Blytheville Chickasaws will finally play their 5A-East matchup against the Nettleton Raiders Thursday night at Nettleton. The game was postponed twice because of the recent winter storm.

A police call to a home at Westminster Village Thursday afternoon turned out to be a false alarm.

Yet more Blytheville workers have found themselves without a job this week, as TMK IPSCO announced the layoff of 75 employees.

A Blytheville family lost their home to a fire on Thursday morning.

A new 4-H club, the Triple A (Armorel Awesome Achievers) 4-H Club, held its first meeting Feb. 7 at the home of Extension County Agent Torya Woods. Members built and painted birdhouses in recognition of the Great Backyard Bird Count, which took place Feb. 13-16. Anyone interested in joining 4-H should contact Woods at 870-762-2075...

Molly Marie Gardner of Little Rock and Clay Daniel Parker of Kilgali, Rwanda, formerly of Vilonia, were united in marriage on Jan. 31, 2015, at 5:30 in the evening. The bride is the daughter of Robby Gardner and Gwen Gardner of Little Rock, and the granddaughter of James and Geraldine Osborn of Jonesboro and Jerry Gardner of Memphis...

Monette -- Orrie "Tincy" Manus, 80, passed away Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. He was born Sept. 21, 1934, in Monette to the late Luther and Beatrice Manus, Sr. He had been a farmer and also worked at a cotton gin. He enjoyed flea markets and his family...