Stories from Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Palestine Wheatley put together an eight-run second inning rally and went on to defeat Buffalo Island Central 11-3, claiming the 2A North Regional Baseball Championship Saturday afternoon at Lepanto. Colton Burt slammed a double down the left field line and Garrett Wilson followed with a homerun over the left field fence, putting the Patriots on top, 2-0. ...

Buffalo Island Central could only muster two hits on the day as the Lady Mustangs fell 15-0 to Salem in three innings this past Thursday in the 2A-2 district tournament in Salem. BIC ends their season with a 5-13 record. Emma Grady struck out leading off for BIC as Hannah Carle followed by striking out. Olivia Cornish singled before Jaelynn Cates grounded out for the third out...

Two Manila seniors signed letters of intent with Crowley's Ridge College on Monday, April 30. Friends, family, coaches and teammates gathered to congratulate Joel Burrow and Sasha Pannells as they signed with the CRC Pioneers. Sasha, Lady Lion shortstop, signed to play softball, and Joel, Lion baseball, golf and basketball player, signed to play golf and baseball for CRC...

Manila’s Lady Lions fell short in their bid to gain a state softball tournament berth, losing 8-3 to Mountain View in the first round of 3A-3 Regional Tournament Friday at Harrison. Mountain View held a 1-0 edge over Manila entering the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Lady Yellowjackets erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-0 advantage. ...

Manila’s Connor Jackson placed second in the 1600 meters in last week’s Class 3A State Track Championship at Jessieville. Jackson had a time of 4:40.53, finishing second to Jessieville’s Noah Eskew. Jackson also came in third in the 3200 meters with a time of 10:39.85. Jackson helped Manila to a 15th place finish, as the Lions scored 14 points...

Senior righthander Joel Burrow threw five strong innings and Layne Sims blasted a grand slam homerun to propel Manila to an 11-2 victory over Piggott in the finals of the 3A-3 District Tournament Championship last Monday afternoon at Walnut Ridge. Burrow allowed just three hits and two earned runs while striking out four batters to claim the victory. Sims clobbered his second bases loaded homer of the season, highlighting an eight-run Lion fifth inning that broke open a one run game...

Manila scored seven runs in the first inning and went on to blitz Yellville Summit 12-1 in the first round of the 3A Region 3 Tournament Friday afternoon at Harrison. The victory earned the Lions a berth in this week’s Class 3A State Baseball Tournament at Smackover...

Buffalo Island Central EAST students, under the direction of facilitator Jill Sanders, recently presented a Readers Theater of Oral History from the Korean War. The presentation was the grand finale of months of hard work and dedication to record firsthand remembrances of the Korean War (sometimes called The Forgotten War) as told by local men who were there...

Elizabeth Easley embodies excellence in extension education programming and youth development in her 4-H Agent position in Mississippi County. In less than two years, Easley received the prestigious 2018 Arkansas Association of Extension 4-H Agents (AAE4-HA) Rookie of the Year Award...

Manila School Board met in a special called meeting Wednesday, May 2. Following an executive session, the board voted unanimously to hire Jason Evers as superintendent. Mr. Evers is presently serving as elementary principal in the district. Superintendent Pam Castor recently announced she would be leaving at the end of her contract. She is taking a position with the Crowley's Ridge Cooperative...

Larry Joe Reed, Jr., 29, of Chicago died April 30, 2018 at his home. He was a an employee of Old World Industrial and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Reed was born February 27, 1989 in Blytheville to Larry Joe and Nancy L. Scott Reed, Sr. He is survived by his parents Larry and Nancy Reed, Sr. ...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. — Police arrested Angela Walker, 34, on charges of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) during a traffic stop on South Division. — Police investigated a burglary in the 800 block of Delmar. Three gaming systems were stolen...

BROCKWELL, Ark. — The Armorel Tigers (15-12) captured their seventh straight 1A Region 2 title Monday night with an 11-1 victory over the Viola Longhorns. The Tigers punched their ticket to the state tournament Saturday with an 11-1 victory over the host Izard County Consolidated Cougars. Then, in the semifinal matchup, the Tigers crushed their rival Bay, 12-2...

BATESVILLE— The Gosnell Pirates (12-19) secured their spot in the 4A State tournament in Nashville later this week with a 5-1 victory over the Heber Spring Panthers Thursday. However, they were narrowly defeated Friday afternoon, 5-4, by the CAC Mustangs in the 4A East semifinal game. GHS also fell in the conciliation game to the Baptist Prep Eagles 16-3 Saturday afternoon...

Early voting began Monday and continued Tuesday at the Mississippi County Election Center. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, 539 voters have cast ballots in the county with 356 of those in Blytheville. There have been 416 Republican ballots and 123 Democratic ballots cast thus far. Early voting continues through Election Day on Tuesday, May 22...

Marco O. Fleming, 57, of Marion, died Wednesday, May 2 in his home. Visitation will be Friday, May 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Anthony Funeral Home South Chapel, West Memphis. Services are Saturday, May 12, at 11 a.m. in Mt. Beulah M. B. Church at Earle, with burial in Paradise Garden Cemetery. ...