Stories from Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Buffalo Island Central School Directors met Thursday, Aug. 23, and reviewed new programs, staffing and construction overviews. Ralph and Paula Ruby, ASU professors in the Department of Computer and Information Technology, presented information about new technology developed to earn scholarships and improve note-taking skills. ...

Lake City Council members voted to add two volunteers to the fire department at the Aug. 20 meeting. Mayor Jon Milligan requested the council approve two nominees, Brad Smithmier and Gunner Tyler. Council members present were Tommy Eakins, Harold Barker, Brenda Hutcheson, Mike George and Danny Dunigan...

Buffalo Island Central administrators, High School Principal Randy Rose and Elementary Principal Dr. Kima Stewart, addressed Leachville City Council at the Aug. 20 meeting to discuss partnering with the city to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO)...

Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner welcomed and introduced guests, Jason Evers and John Parrish, at the Aug. 20 city council meeting. Mr. Evers is the new superintendent for the Manila School District and Mr. Parrish is the new high school principal and assistant superintendent...

Rex Farmer, 11, a sixth grade student at Manila Middle School, recently completed his summer golf season. Farmer competed as part of the Professional Golf Association Junior League Program South Central Section. As part of the program, Farmer competed with other young men, ages nine -11, at country clubs across Northeast Arkansas. Farmer and his fellow competitors competed in tournaments at Ridgepoint C.C., Jonesboro C.C., Paragould C.C., Sage Meadows C.C. and Blytheville C.C...

Kirsten Adcock of Manila spent two months on a missionary trip to Kenya during her summer break from Arkansas State University. The experience has inspired her in numerous ways. She said she definitely left a piece of her heart in Kenya and hopes to some day be able to return...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. — Police investigated a breaking or entering to a vehicle in the 1100 block of Ward. A phone was stolen. — Officers arrested Lavia Blankenship on charges of possession of a firearm by certain persons and possession of drug paraphernalia in the 1500 block of West Walnut. ...

Mary Virginia Forsythe Franklin, 75, of Tyler, Missouri, passed from this life into her most glorious eternal life on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at her home. Mary was born in Blytheville to Holford “Buddy” and Ruby (Lumdsen) Forsythe. As a homemaker Mary gladly took on the daily challenges of being a housewife and mother. ...

Mary Webb, 96, of Judsonia, Arkansas and formerly of Blytheville, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2018 at her home. Mary was born in Russellville, Arkansas to George and Myrtle (Chronister) Montgomery. She was a homemaker and a former seamstress for City Cleaners. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Searcy and a former member of North Tenth Street Baptist Church. Mary loved to travel and shop. She enjoyed growing flower and vegetable gardens and bird watching...

GOSNELL — Gosnell High School underwent a major renovation over the summer. Students returned from summer break to new HVAC units, freshly painted walls, new lighting, new wiring, a restroom remodel, 29 security cameras, new exterior doors and other upgrades to the school...

Melvis Ellis, 97, of Blytheville, passed away Monday, August 27, 2018 at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Melvis was born in Vardaman, Mississippi to Joseph and Leona (Easley) Ellis. He was a farmer until 1969 when he went to work for M-G Transports. ...