Stories from Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Mr. Leroy Swanigan, 74, of Blytheville passed away Sunday, December 3, 2017 at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Born August 5, 1943 in Haynes, Arkansas Leroy was the son of Leroy and Mae Willie Tolbert Swanigan. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and was a past employee of Phillips Construction Company...

Buffalo Island Central stampeded past Cross County 60-35 Tuesday night at Cherry Valley. The Mustangs romped to a 22-9 lead after the first quarter and took a 38-20 advantage into intermission. BIC led 46-27 after three periods of play. Andrew McFarlin led BIC with 14 points while Devin Pemberton followed with 12. Jackson Henderson scored a game high 19 to pace the Thunderbirds...

Manila seemed sluggish at times, but had its way with Riverside, posting a 67-51 victory over the Rebels Tuesday night at Lake City. The Lions raced to a 25-13 lead after the first quarter, and took a 41-23 advantage into the locker room at the half. Manila maintained its 18-point lead, 55-37, entering the fourth quarter...

Riverside remained unbeaten with a convincing 74-28 victory over Manila Monday night at Lion Gym. The Lady Rebels used a suffocating full court press, forcing the Lady Lions into a whopping 37 turnovers on the night. Riverside jumped to a 17-8 lead after the first quarter as six different players put points on the board. ...

Doris Marie Lorren, 88, of Jonesboro, widow of Clarence Lorren, passed from this life Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville, Tenn. Born in Potts Camp, Miss., she was the daughter of the late Hollis and Carrie Newsom Johnson and had been a longtime Manila area resident before making her home in Jonesboro 10 years ago. ...

Mr. Hubert Ray, Sr. was born March 13, 1948 in Brownsville, Tennessee to the late Walter Jones and the late Lacy Ball Jones. He was a retired factory worker and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Ray passed away on December 1, 2017 at his home in Osceola at the age of 69...

Mr. Allen Scott, 43, of Marion passed away November 27, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was born August 31, 1974 to Samuel Scott and Dorothy Stevens Wight in Blytheville. He was an insurance agent, a part-time mental healthcare case manager, and a Member of World Overcomers in Memphis, Tennessee...

It was with mixed emotions the Caraway City Council voted (5-1) to sell the newly acquired Masonic Lodge property to a medical group. Owners of Access Medical Clinic are looking to build a clinic in Caraway. The special called meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30, had only the one item on the agenda. Mayor Barry Riley opened the meeting and Councilman Mitchell Tipton went on to kick off the discussion on the sale of the Masonic Lodge property...

Andrew Fleeman of Manila addressed the Manila City Council Monday, Nov. 27, about a variance for a building project on the corner of Walnut and Dixon Streets. Fleeman said he has purchased a 50x90' lot and plans to build a home. With the building plans he has chosen, it will have about 10-1/2' on each side just short of the required 15'. Fleeman said a local builder had purchased the eight lots near his and he had talked to him about his building plans and received no objections...

Manila School Board met in regular session Monday, Nov. 27. Business included the consideration of a resolution to request a waiver from the State Board of Education to start school on Aug. 13 next year. Superintendent Pam Castor explained the law currently mandates school starts on Aug. 14 or later. Aug. 14, 2018, will fall on a Tuesday. Starting on Aug. 13 will allow the first day of school to be on Monday. The state board will consider the request in December...

Monette City Council discussed funds set aside for the veterans monument at the Nov. 30 meeting. Mayor Chub Qualls told the council Larry Rolland, Monette American Legion member, could not be at the meeting but asked Mayor Qualls to bring up the subject...

Ms. Becky Ragan Saint Gibson, 70, of Marked Tree passed away December 1, 2017 at her residence. She was born April 27, 1947 to J. P. and Sarah Gregg Ragan in Wynne. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. She is survived by one son, Bruce (Brenda) Saint of Marked Tree; three daughters, Teresa (Rocky) Carr of Wilson, Vickie (Ray) Morgan of Bassett, and Brandie (Chris) Baker of Marked Tree; two brothers, John Ragan and Gary Ragan, both of Bassett; one sister, Debbie Parks of Marked Tree; ten grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.. ...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. — Police took a theft report. The victim was defrauded of $700 from a transaction on Craigslist. The offender sent the victim a $3,800 check for the items that she was selling, and asked the victim to send $700 of the money to a mover, which she did. ...

Santa made an appearance at the 2016 Blytheville Christmas parade, as he does each year. The 2017 Christmas Parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on Main Street. The theme is Storybook Christmas.

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church’s Annual Christmas Dinner will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the church. Tickets for the traditional Christmas dinner are available at the Parish Office or from any parishioner. The cost is $12 for adults, $5 for children and free for 5 and under. For more information call 762-2506...

The Blytheville Chickasaws never trailed in their home opener against the 5A/6A blended conference opponent Marion Patriots Tuesday as they came away with a 67-52 victory. The Chickasaws lead 13-9 after the first quarter; they would be beaten in the second quarter but held a two-point lead after sophomore guard Detric Reed hit a Patriot three-pointer at the buzzer...

LEPANTO— The Gosnell Pirates (3-2, 0-1) were narrowly defeated in the first round of the Gerald Jennings Invitational by the host EPC Warriors, 56-52. The Pirates led 28-22 at the halfway mark but were outscored in the second half by 10 points. Brandon Partee led the Pirates with a game- high 17 points. Mkylan Caruthers and Trajan Donnerson added 10 points apiece...

GOSNELL— The Gosnell Lady Pirates (4-2, 2-2) were defeated at home on Monday by unbeaten 3A powerhouse the Riverside Lady Rebels (12-0), 67-34. The Lady Pirates were only trailing by eight after the first but the Lady Rebels scored 32 points in the second quarter to take a 50-25 lead at the half...

ARMOREL— The Armorel Lady Tigers had dominant performances from senior captain Rachel McKuin and junior center Ayrielle Appleton, who led the Lady Tigers to a 56-26 win over the Senath-Hornersville Lady Lions on Monday. The Lady Tigers jumped out to an 18-5 lead over the Lady Lions and never looked back, leading 36-13 at the half...