Stories from Thursday, February 11, 2016

By AARON FITZPATRICK Blytheville Courier News PARAGOULD-The Blytheville Chickasaws cut a 22-plus fourth period Paragould Ram lead down to 10 in a matter of minutes Tuesday night but could get no closer as the Rams held off the late push for a 69-53 win over the Chicks in 5A-East competition...

Blytheville Courier News TRUMANN-The Gosnell Pirates dropped their final game of the 3-4A conference regular season losing in overtime to the Trumann Wildcats, 78-74. The Pirates (18-6, 10-4) had a 14 point advantage but could not hold on. Gosnell led 18-12 after the first period, 37-27 at halftime before the Wildcats (9-13, 6-8) came back and took a 49-46 lead into the fourth period...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Wilson - All-state running back Cecil Langston signed a letter of intent Monday to continue his football career at the collegiate level at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ark. Langston, the all-time career rushing leader at Rivercrest and the state single-season rushing yards record holder, had considered signing with Ouachita Baptist, but decided to become a "Reddie" instead. ...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. Thursday, Feb. 11 -- Police took a harassment report in the 800 block of Delmar. The victim told police that the offender attempted multiple times to force his way through the front door. He also allegedly walked around her house, banging on the windows and saying "I know she is in there with another dude." The offender also allegedly opened and slammed the driver side door of "a disabled" vehicle in the front yard...

Blytheville residents will immerse themselves in ice-cold water for a good cause on Saturday. The Blytheville Polar Plunge, benefiting the Arkansas Special Olympics, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hampton Inn, 301 North Service Road...

The Blytheville Finance Committee met Wednesday to discuss a proposal to increase efficiency in city owned vehicles through GPS and tracking software, suggestions for freeing up general funds in order to avoid the layoff of four city firemen and even a suggestion of possibly taking away group insurance from city council members...

I have never been one to see tons of things in my life about which to gloat..except for this one thing (okay and some other things too, but there's only this one that I want to talk about right now)...how well my kid has slept since she was born. It took hard work from pretty much the day we brought her home from the hospital, but within a few months she was sleeping like a champ for eight solid hours, and then 12...