Stories from Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Esther Lee Barker, 82, of Jonesboro, former longtime Manila resident and widow of Mr. Bobby Barker, passed from this life Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, at the Craighead Nursing Center in Jonesboro. Born in Leachville, she was the daughter of the late Aven and Ellen Poe Hodges and a 1954 graduate of Manila High School. She was a retired medical transcriptionist for the former George W. ...

William Christopher (Chris) Clark was born Dec. 13, 1968. He graduated from North Arizona University in 1993. He is survived by his father, Dr. William Clark; his mother, Dona Sanders; his brother, Jason Clark (January); his sister, Carrie Spanagel (Dan) and Leigh Nyman; his grandmother, Helen Miller of Blytheville (where his mother was raised); one nephew; three nieces and many extended family members and friends...

Blytheville’s hospitality was on display Monday as several Blackhawk helicopters stopped for fuel at the Arkansas Aeroplex. Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority officials fed the Army crews from Kentucky a nice breakfast and thanked them for their service...

Terri “Chrissy” Dampier Askue, 45, of Blytheville, passed away Jan. 13, 2019, at her home. Terri was born in Blytheville to Hoyt Dampier and Shelia (Brothers) Dampier. She was the special education instructor at Gosnell Junior High and was a member of Mary’s Chapel Baptist Church. ...

Archie Edward Ohler passed away Jan. 13, 2019, in Osceola, at the age of 55. He retired at American Greetings where he was a machine specialist for 23 years. He was born Sept. 14, 1963 in Wilson to Clinton Darrell Ohler and Marie Smithey Spence. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Denna Michelle Hurst and Melody Ohler...

Manila placed four players in double figures and blasted Rivercrest 71-41 in senior boys basketball action Friday night at Lion Gymnasium. Manila roared to a 15-6 lead after the first break and took a 38-21 advantage into intermission. The Lions increased their lead to 55-33 after three quarters...

OSCEOLA — The Osceola Seminoles held off a late Manila rally to claim a 61-57 Region 3-3A victory Saturday at Seminole Arena. Osceola improved to 9-1 overall and 8-1 in region play. The loss was the first in region play for Coach Lee Wimberley’s Lions (15-4, 9-1)...

Cale Hardin and Adam Romine pumped in 17 points apiece to help Rector defeat Riverside 44-30 in 2A-3 conference basketball action Friday night at Rector. The Cougars jumped to an 11-4 lead after the first break before taking a 21-11 advantage into the dressing room at the half. Rector led 33-19 after three periods of play...

GOSNELL — The Gosnell Lady Pirates kept things close until the Lady Bobcats of Walnut Ridge pulled away down the stretch to defeat the Lady Pirates, 46-38, Monday night in the 3A-3 conference matchup. WRHS led 9-6 after the first quarter and tied the game at 17 towards the end of the second quarter but a Lady Bobcat layup with 31 seconds remaining in the half gave them a two-point lead...

Despite placing three players in double figures, Manila came up short against Rivercrest, losing 44-40 to the Lady Colts Thursday night at Lion Gymnasium in senior girls basketball action. Amber Blagg and Tatiunna Burks scored 10 points apiece to pace Rivercrest...

Melbourne flexed their muscles Monday night on their home court by running over Buffalo Island Central 76-30 in senior girls 2A-3 basketball action. Sophomore guard Reagan Rapert led four Lady Bearkatz in double figures, scoring a game high 14 points. Josie Roark finished with 13, Nancy Wann had 12 while Danni Hardaway chipped in 10 points...

Bay completed the regular season sweep over Buffalo Island Central, defeating the Mustangs 57-38 in Friday night 2A-3 conference action at the Mustang Athletic Complex in Monette. The Yellowjackets took a 16-11 lead after the first quarter before shutting out BIC 14-0 in the second period to take a commanding 30-11 advantage at intermission. Bay held a 43-24 lead entering the final frame...

Riverside’s smothering defense kept Trumann off balance most of the night as the Lady Rebels went on to capture the George Kell Classic with a 42-29 victory over the Lady Wildcats Saturday night at Swifton. Riverside held Trumann’s high scoring all-state forward Mallory Hartley to just nine points on the evening...

The Gosnell Pirates lost a nail-biter to Walnut Ridge 60-59, Tuesday night, on the road. Walnut Ridge (7-7, 5-6 3A-3) outscored the Pirates (10-7, 7-4 3A-3) 28-19 in the fourth quarter with Brighton Brand and Nash Gill combining for 21 in the period. Gill knocked down three three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Brand and Gill scored a game-high 23 points apiece...

The Blytheville Chickasaws (12-4, 7-2 4A-3) avenged their loss earlier in the season to 4A-3 conference foe the Valley View Blazers, 60-53, Tuesday night at Chickasaw Gymnasium. “I was happy. I was very pleased and you know when it’s over you kind of look back and in the heat of the moment I didn’t enjoy everything that was going on but I look back now that it’s over because I saw growth,” said Chicks head coach McKenzie Pierce. ...