Stories from Friday, May 13, 2011

Cal Ripken League, Junior Babe Ruth League and youth softball action continued Thursday night at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. CAL RIPKEN ROOKIE LEAGUE Heritage Square 16, Miss. Co. EMS 14 Down 14-12 in the top of the sixth inning, Heritage Square scored four runs and held on to beat Mississippi County EMS, 16-14...

Mr. Leyon B. Trucks, 80, of Hope passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at St. Michael's Hospital in Texarkana.

Mae Lean Horner Taylor, 63, died Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Bonnie Mae Lendennie, 86, of Blytheville, died Thursday, May 13, 2011, at Great River Medical Center.

Mrs. Debbie Finch's kindergarten class performs during a Patriotic Program Thursday at Gosnell Elementary School. The class sung songs, heard poems about Sept. 11 and heard songs from guest singers. Finch is retiring next month after a long tenure at the school...

Blytheville Middle School students seem intrigued, but not quite trusting of getting very close to "Baxter," who was part of Bob Tarter's assembly Thursday afternoon at the school about wildlife animals. Tarter, a wildlife biologist with the National History Education Company of the Midsouth, talked to the seventh- and eighth-graders about the six animals that were a part of his program, and he gave the students opportunities to view the creatures up-close. ...

The Blytheville City Council's Parks and Recreation Committee is considering the hiring of a city parks and recreation director.

Alarm systems have been installed in several buildings on the Arkansas Aeroplex, President Barrett Harrison told members of the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority Thursday afternoon.

Technology in the county's District Courtrooms has been upgraded with video conferencing equipment that allows the judges to hear and see prisoners in other locations.

For those friggatriskaidekaphobics out there, beware ... as Friday the 13th is upon us.

According to Newberry medal-winning author Kate DiCamillo, saying which of her books is her favorite would be like a parent choosing one child as a favorite above others -- it just isn't possible.

It will be another few weeks before Alexandra and Leah-Bo's mother picks up a new schedule at the hospital, so this being the "every" of the "every-other-week" work schedule, My Dear Sweet Sainted Wife is headed north as I write this, wearing, I'm sure, her babysitting shoes, ready for a weekend with the granddaughters...

This week's Pet of the Week at the Blytheville Humane Society is Astro, a young male border collie/cattle dog mix. Astro is friendly and well-behaved with children and adults. He loves to play with the other dogs in the group and does not meet a stranger. He is up-to-date with routine shots. For more information, call the Humane Society at 870-838-5512 or send e-mail to humanesociety1@earthlink.net.

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department.