Stories from Wednesday, December 27, 2017

The Blytheville Baseball Softball Boosters Board of Directors (BBSB) have delivered a letter to Mayor James Sanders, but addressed to the Blytheville City Council, announcing that after 66-years of existence, they have decided they “will not be operating the local league for the 2018 season at the Youth Sportsplex.” The BBSB has had sole control of the program since well before the Sportsplex opened in 2002. ...

Like a master craftsman, County Judge Terri Brassfield has been helping build and rebuild lives in our community for many years and in her new appointed position she sees it as her responsibility to continue that work. She does not see her job as merely that of a caretaker, but rather her vision is that of a craftsman, determined to repair and strengthen the county’s foundations in anticipation of better days and growth (which she believes will soon arrive)...

Monette -- Bobby Gene Gathright, 87, passed away Dec. 25, 2017 at NEA Baptist Hospital. He was born April 9, 1930, to Clyde Gathright and Rella Lamb Gathright in Monette. He was a 1949 graduate of Childress High School. Mr. Gathright farmed most of his life. ...

Manila -- Franklin E. Byrd (80) graduated from his earthbound life moving onto his eternal home early Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., to the late Elvis and Ethel Byrd. He is a lifetime resident of Manila, Ark. Frank met, fell in love with, and married a young German girl who moved to the Manila area. They shared over 56 years of marriage together. Frank completed not only a Bachelor’s Degree, but also a Masters in Biology from Arkansas State University...

Remanda "Kaye" Lawrence, 49, of Manila, passed from this life Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017. Born at Blytheville on Dec. 11, 1968, she was the daughter of Wanda Mae (Hurley) Counts Estes and William Edward Counts. She was a lifelong resident of Manila. Kaye was a 1987 graduate of Manila High School and a member of First Baptist Church of Manila. She was preceded in death by her father...

Joe Paschal Baker, of Pauls Valley, Okla., passed away Dec. 23, 2017, in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the age of 60 years. Joe was born April 5, 1957, in Paragould, Ark., to Lee Allen and Berniece (Holsclaw) Baker. He was raised in Manila, and is a graduate of Manila High School. ...