Stories from Wednesday, May 31, 2023

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier “I am powerful! I am smart! I am intelligent! I got it going on! And I’m going beast mode!” These words echoed throughout Chickasaw Arena on last Thursday to finish off the EOC Leadership Conference at Blytheville High...

By DAVID PIERCE NEA Town Courier An icon, legend, a maker of men… Nuh uh, Charlie Brown ain’t having it. The former Armorel High School educator and coach clasps those big ole hands as he shakes his head side to side; almost embarrassed to hear others heap that hefty praise on him...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times ENID, OK - The seventh seeded South Arkansas Stars baseball team has been impressive thus far in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series in Enid, Oklahoma. The Stars have won both their games going into Monday’s game again Southeastern by run rule...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times WILSON – The Rivercrest Colts wrapped up spring practice with an intrasquad scrimmage May 22. The team was divided into two squads – Team Koby (Turner) and Team Marcus (Slayton). That pair of seniors is expected to be among the top returners from the 2022 squad which finished 9-4 which included two playoff victories...

Jason Durham, Riverside Athletic Director, welcomed athletes, parents and fans to the 2023 awards presentation on Tuesday, May 16. He commended all of the teams for an outstanding year. Girls basketball: Sr. Girls: Girls basketball Coach Tyler Timms, assisted by TJ Eakins, recognized the team for a 31-9 season. They were conference and regional champions and made the state quarter finals...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times Rivercrest High School hosted its annual athletic awards ceremony Tuesday, May 16 at the school’s auditorium. Student-athletes in nine sports were recognized for their achievements on the field and in the classroom. Karsyn Graham, one of eight nominees, was selected as the recipient of the Colt Award – the school’s high honor for student athletes...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune EPC's Keegan McCorkle was selected to the Class 2A All-State softball team for the third year in a row after help leading the Lady Warriors to a 30-7 season and advancing to the state semi-finals. McCorkle shined at the plate and in the circle for EPC this past season as she posted a 30-7 record while pitching 217 innings. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune BIC's Nicholas Patterson has been named to the Class 2A All-State baseball team for the second year in a row. Patterson helped lead the Mustangs to a 13-10 record finishing second in the Class 2A-3 conference, fourth in the 2A North Regional tournament and a state tournament berth where they lost to eventual state champion Woodlawn in the first round...

By STEVE KNOX The Osceola Times Joey and Deanna Carr were both new college graduates when they moved from Central Arkansas to Blytheville in July of 1993. Joey had accepted a position as a teacher and girls basketball coach at the Armorel School District...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times The Farm Bureau Foundation will host “Aiming for the Future of Agriculture” Trap Shoot fundraiser, Friday, June 9, 2023 at the AGFC Foundation Shooting Sports Complex, 2800 Graham Road, Jacksonville, Ark. The entry fee is $500 for a 5 man team. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. with registration and breakfast. The Trap Shoot begins at 9 a.m. and the event concludes with lunch at 12 p.m...

James Earl Ward, 91, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Leachville, passed from this life Monday, May 29, 2023, at the Methodist Hospice Residence in Memphis. Born in the Pawheen community near Leachville, he was the son of the late Ode and Bea Woods Ward and had been a longtime area resident before making his home in Memphis in 1966...

David Allen Jacques, 73, of Hot Springs, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2023, at his home. He was born May 27, 1950, in Blytheville, to Robert Edward Jacques and Katie Louise Lambert Jacques. His favorite hobby was homing pigeons which he began at a young age. He continued to enjoy his pigeons into adulthood. David was a proud graduate of the Blytheville High School Class of 1968. He was also part of the first graduating class of Mississippi County Community College...

James Antonio Banks, Jr., 53, passed away May 20, 2023, at SMC Medical Center in Osceola. He was born Dec. 14, 1969, in Osceola to James Banks, Sr. and Theodora Quinn Jackson. He was a U.S. Army veteran and employed at American Greetings in Osceola. He was preceded in death by his parents...

Brenda Permenter East, 78, of Jonesboro passed away May 28, 2023, at Arkansas Continued Care in Jonesboro. She was born April 29, 1945, in Luxora to Junior Permenter and Doris Ellis. She was a homemaker and a member of Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Robert Harris...

David Joe Ball, 62, of Cardwell, Mo., passed from this life Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at his home. Born in Cardwell, he was the son of Billy Joe and Gloria Jean Gibson Ball. David was raised in the Buckeye community and attended Leachville and Manila Public Schools. ...

Letters of reprimand were issued to the Mississippi County election commission on May 25 regarding the 2022 General Election in November.