Stories from Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Without saying how much money is expected, Dr. Bruce Daniels, superintendent of Blytheville Schools, told members of the school board Monday evening about projects that could be funded with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "Our goal is to spend that money wisely," Daniels told the board. The district also plans to spend all that is available to the district, he added...

No foul play in death By RICK HARRIS Blytheville Courier News GOSNELL -- Gosnell authorities investigated the death of an infant on Monday, according to Gosnell Police Chief Fred Roberts. Roberts reports that a Mississippi County EMS ambulance was called to the 1200 block of South Airbase Highway, at 9 p.m. for a report of an infant not breathing...

A light Blytheville City Council agenda tonight includes an ordinance that would amend the 2009 budget to create a separate department for the city attorney's office. Under the proposed ordinance, the city attorney's office would operate independently from any other department and receive up to $600 per month for expenses retroactive to March 1, 2009...

The major downturn in the economy, both locally and nationally, over the past year has had an impact over local charities and churches. According to research from The Chronicle on Philanthropy, a 3-5 percent drop in charitable giving is expected across the nation in 2009. While this is not as high as the 12 percent drop experienced in 2002, each percentage point is equal to millions of dollars lost...

W.C. Earnest, 83, of Manila died Monday, May 11, 2009, at the home of his son in Manila. Born Dec. 5, 1925, in Okolona, Miss., the son of the late Robert Earnest, Sr., and Beatrice Lewis Earnest, he was a lifelong area resident, a retired press operator for the Randall Co., and member of Crossroads Baptist Church. ...

Jacqueline "Polly" Chipman Archer Johnson, 75, of Drasco died Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at her residence. Mrs. Johnson was born July 10, 1933, in Manila to the late John D. Chipman and Ethel L. (Meadows) Chipman. ...

Billy Joe Marshall, 79, died Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at his residence. He was born May 15, 1929 in Pittsburg, Texas, to the late Lawrence and Myrtle Marshall. He was a retired farmer and carpenter and a member of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church...

Helen Louise McDaniel, 76, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at the Harris Hospital in Newport.She was born April 7, 1933, in Monette to the late James and Ina Battles. She was a homemaker and she loved when she worked as a switch board operator for...

Alma Lee Williams, 82 of Jonesboro, formerly of Manila died Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at her home. She was the widow of Thomas Edward "Ed" Williams and had lived in Jonesboro for the past 12 years. Born at Senath, she was the daughter of the late B.O. ...

The Buffalo Island Central School board voted to hire a new elementary principal and two new teachers at the regular board meeting Tuesday, May 12. Nicole Stewart was chosen as BIC East Elementary Principal, filling the vacancy left by retiring principal Shirley Cato. ...

Tracey Yates of Buffalo Island Central High School has achieved Certified Journalism Educator status from the Journalism Education Association (JEA). Yates was honored April 18 at the spring JEA/NSPA national convention in Phoenix...

Manila School Board members held the regular meeting Friday evening prior to the 2009 graduation ceremony. The board reviewed the minutes and financials. Superintendent Pam Castor said she plans to have a separate report for stimulus money as it becomes available. ...

Manila Athletic Booster Club hosted the 2008-09 senior high sports banquet honoring basketball, baseball, softball, football, cheerleading, and golf participants. The event was held on Monday, May 11, in the school cafeteria...

Buffalo Island Museum will host open house at its new location, 207 West Drew Street, at Highway 139 and Highway 18 intersection (the former First National Bank building) from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30, and 1-3 p.m. ...

Riverside captured the 2A-2 senior girls conference track meet May 8 at Heber Springs, outlasting rival Buffalo Island Central 131-123 behind freshman sensation Bekah Frayer, who led the Lady Rebels with three individual first place finishes...

Freshman flash Rebekah Frayer opened eyes around the state of Arkansas, winning the 100 Meter Dash at the Class 2A State Track Meet Wednesday afternoon at Texarkana. Frayer's winning time of 12.996 seconds makes her the fastest girl trackster in the state of Arkansas at the AA level...

In their first year of competitive track, the Buffalo Island Central Lady Mustangs took home runner-up honors in the 2A-2 conference meet May 8 at Heber Springs. Ashley Jines scored points in six individual events to lead the Lady Mustangs, who finished just eight points behind conference champion Riverside. ...

Manila fifth and sixth grade students attended a program on Herman Davis at the Herman Davis Memorial Park in Manila on Wednesday afternoon. Rachel Miller, education outreach coordinator with the State Agency of Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of Arkansas Department of Heritage, presented the program offering a brief history on how and why the monument was erected in memory of Davis.. ...

Members of the planning committee for the Wayne Taylor Memorial Golf Tournament met on Friday, May 8, to finalize plans for the upcoming tournament. This will be the 11th year for the Wayne Taylor Memorial Golf Tournament which benefits students attending Arkansas Northeastern College from the Buffalo Island and Bootheel of Missouri areas...

Plans for the Buffalo Island Veterans' Memorial Park are moving forward. It will be located in Leachville, on the corner lot across from Heritage Bank. The 75x105' lot will soon be transformed into a tribute to veterans throughout the area who have served or who are serving their country in the Armed Forces...