Stories from Tuesday, December 19, 2017

East Poinsett County stunned Buffalo Island Central, scoring the game’s first 19 points en route to a 62-39 victory over the Mustangs Tuesday night at Lepanto. Trailing 19-0, BIC got its first basket of the game on a short jumper by Andrew McFarlin with just seven seconds left in the first period. ...

In a prelude to their first round NEA Tournament matchup Tuesday at First National Bank Arena, Buffalo Island Central slipped past East Poinsett County 54-50 in senior girls basketball action Monday night at Lepanto. The Lady Warriors led 9-8 after the first quarter before BIC rallied to take a 25-20 edge into the dressing room at intermission. EPC fought back and grabbed a 40-37 lead entering the final frame, but the Lady Mustangs put together one final rally to pull out the win...

Three Manila players garnered 3A-3 All-Conference honors while three other Lions picked up honorable mention nods based on their performance during the 2017 football season. All-Conference players include quarterback Layne Sims, running back/linebacker Brett Carter, and lineman Rowdy Rosebrock. Honorable mention honorees were running back/punter Logan Hamilton, lineman Trey Hicks and tight end/kick returner Ethan Navarro...

Trumann put together a furious fourth quarter rally to post a 57-51 victory over Manila Monday night at Trumann. The Lady Lions held a 17-10 lead after the first quarter behind the scoring of Brailey Hampton and Madison Bibbs. Manila upped its advantage to as many as 10 points in the second period, and after back to back three pointers from Andi Baker, the Lady Lions took a 30-21 lead into the dressing room at intermission...

Riverside fell twice last week, losing 71-25 Tuesday night at Westside before dropping a 70-55 decision Friday at Harrisburg. Avery Felts scored 13 points while Cullen Felkins added 12 more to lead the Warriors past Riverside. Westside jumped to a 28-6 lead after the first quarter and held a whopping 50-9 halftime advantage. Westside took a 61-19 lead into the final frame...

Riverside’s Lady Rebels picked up four more victories last week, running their record to a perfect 18-0. The Lady Rebels doubled up Westside 56-29 Monday night, trashed Harrisburg 59-40 Thursday night, blitzed Clinton 67-34 in the Pangburn Invitational Tournament on Friday and closed the week by hammering White Hall 86-43 Saturday to finish off the Pangburn Tournament...

Lake City Mayor Jon Milligan asked the City Council to approve a $250 end of the year bonus for part-time employee Lisa Sitz at the Dec. 12 meeting. She has been with the city for 90 days and has passed her probation period. The council approved the bonus for Sitz by a unanimous vote...

Monette council held their last regular meeting of 2017 on Thursday, Dec. 14, approving the purchase of dumpsters and trash cans, increase in manpower for the fire department, passing the 2018 proposed budget, and discussing other city issues. Mayor Jerry “Chub” Qualls presided at the meeting held at the Buffalo Island Museum with all council members, Tom Carroll, Brandon Decker, Bob Blankenship, Kristian Nuckles, Mark Rolland and Aaron Uthoff, present. ...

Mr. Earl Vester Griffin, 90, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, December 16, 2017 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Earl was born in Lepanto, Arkansas to James and Esther (Culberson) Griffin. After his father’s death at an early age, he was raised by his step-father, Rev. ...

Buffalo Island Central School Board voted unanimously to hire Johnny Boatman for the position of deaf interrupter for as long as needed. The December board meeting was held Thursday, Dec. 14. Superintendent Gaylon Taylor reviewed the financial statement giving a breakdown on the activity fund and athletic expenditures...

Mr. Harry Allen Boswell, 82, went to be with his Heavenly Father on December 16, 2017 in Bartlett, Tennessee. He was born on Jan 10, 1935 in Heber Springs Arkansas. He was a veteran of the USAF and served for twenty years. After retirement from the Air Force he went to work for Borg Warner in Blytheville and also ran a Tom’s snack route until he moved to Memphis, Tenn. to be near his family. He enjoyed hunting, especially with his beagles and fishing for trout on the Spring River...

Ms. Brandi Nichole Hendrix was born November 30, 1984 in Osceola to Carl Hendrix and Marie Campbell. She was a homemaker. Miss Hendrix passed away December 17, 2017 in Lepanto at the age of 33. She is survived by her mother, Marie Tucker of Lepanto; three sons, Dillon Rowland, Dewayne Roach and Robert Roach, all of Lepanto; one daughter, Destiny Rowland of Lepanto; one brother, Bradley Tucker of Lepanto; one sister, Annah Denise Tucker of Lepanto and her grandmother, Marie Campbell of Lepanto...

The Blytheville School Board voted 5-1, after first going into executive session, to accept the resignation of District Superintendent Richard Atwill. His resignation will be effective upon the end of the current school year (June 30, 2018). Board members Barbara Wells and Billy Fair were not in attendance at this special board meeting...

Ms. Quanisha Monya Taylor, of Blytheville, departed this life on December 11, 2017 at Lexington Place in Jonesboro. She was born January 10, 1996 to Cynthia Snead and Michael Smith. She died at the age of 21. Quanisha graduated form Blytheville High school with honors in 2014. Quanisha loved God and attended church regularly. Her smile would light up a room and although her asthma was severe, she was always upbeat, cheerful and loved her family...