Stories from Tuesday, September 4, 2018

A benefit auction will be held in Caraway on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Riverside East Gymnasium. Live music will be played from 6-7 p.m. with the auction starting at 7 p.m. All proceeds from this auction will go to create a scholarship in memory of Emmalei Utley, a senior who lost her life in an accident just before graduation in 2018...

The Bill Clark 2018 three-person scramble golf tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8-9, at Big Lake County Club in Manila. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. and noon Saturday. Shotgun start will begin at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Calcutta will be 6 p.m. Saturday...

Monette City Council discussed painting of the old water tower, supplying a Buffalo Island Central resource officer, and upcoming Night Out at the Park during the Aug. 27 council meeting. Mayor Chub Qualls asked city engineer Wayne Menley to review regulations for painting the old water tower. ...

The Manila Fire Department received a 2012 Freightliner from the Forestry Commission which will be converted into a tanker truck. The truck was provided through a grant and the department had to pay $1,350 for repairs. Fire Chief Tracey Reinhart said the department has six months to get the work done and have it in service. Representatives from the Forestry Commission will visit in six months and then again in a year...

Riverside Elementary East students now have a new playground area to enjoy. The former playground was located behind the old elementary building which is scheduled to be torn down in the near future. The play area was not close to the new building and thanks to many man hours the new playground is not only convenient for the students and teachers, it is much safer with new equipment...

Manila Depot Museum and Manila Community Garden hosted the first Homegrown Homemade Market in Manila on Thursday evening. The outdoor market, held in front of the Manila Depot Center, featured homegrown and homemade food and craft items. Several vendors had homemade jellies, jams, lemonade, cupcakes, a variety of crafts including woodwork (signs), tee shirts and more...

Mississippi County Farm Bureau annual meeting was held Monday, Aug. 27, at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville. County President Russ Thomason welcomed Farm Bureau members introducing State Representative Monte Hodges; state officer Sherry Felts and Joe Christian; Jeremy Wesson, district director; and State Farm Bureau President Randy Veach...

Big Lake Country Club in Manila hosted the second annual Thrilla in Manila XC Meet on Tuesday, Aug. 28, with over 200 junior and senior high runners from 11 schools. Runners came from Manila, Hoxie, West Memphis, Valley View, Greene County Tech, Crowley's Ridge Academy, Marion, Westside, Gosnell, Harrisburg and Riverside...

Rev. Rickey Lynn Russell, Sr., 63 of Lepanto, AR died Saturday, September 1, 2018. He was a Fed -Ex employee, a member of First Pentecostal Church in Lepanto and a minister out of First Pentecostal Church for over 35 years. Mr. Russell was born August 5, 1955 in Lepanto, AR to L.V. ...

Viola Elizabeth Boozy, 74, of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, September 2, 2018 at her home. Viola was born in Blytheville to Gaston and Viola (Yarbrough) Allmon. She worked at Milwaukee Tool as a quality control technician. Viola was a member of Gosnell Baptist Church, and enjoyed going to Sunday school and listening to preaching. She loved to be outdoors working in her flower beds or in her garden. She enjoyed sewing, reading and spend time with her family...

Melvin Ransom, 85, of Osceola died September 2, 2018 at Osceola Therapy and Living in Osceola. He was a retired gin worker, a member, deacon, trustee and choir member at St. John Full Gospel in Osceola. Mr. Ransom was born October 16, 1932 in Indianola, MS to Arthur Ransom and Lizzie Jackson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jessie Mae Ransom, two brothers Frank Ransom and Arthur Ransom, Jr., one sister Blanchie Elliott...

Elder Nathaniel (Buster) Smith, Sr. was born and raised in Blytheville to the District Elder James and Mother Katherine Smith May 2 1955. He departed this life September 2 2018 in Jonesboro at NEA Hospital. He leaves to cherish his loving memories his wife Evangelist Elizabeth Smith of 42 years, two daughters Rochelle Smith of Georgia, and Monica (Sammy) Yankaway of North Carolina. ...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. — Police arrested Michael Trammell on possession of a controlled substance charges after a traffic stop on Highway 18. — Police took a theft report (scrap metal) in the 200 block of North 21st...

Main Street Blytheville is still looking for a director after an applicant turned the position down earlier this summer. MSB board member Matt Perrin told the CN that when the board began its search for a new director early this year, they discussed that should the interview process not work, they needed to go back and review certain details about the position...