Stories from Thursday, October 18, 2012

We all have these events in our lives that change us forever. They mold us, shape us, turn us into who we are, and these events are different for each of us.

As each of you are probably aware, on Aug. 16, 2012, I filed a civil lawsuit in the Pulaski County Circuit Court challenging the qualifications of Mr. Wes Wagner to seek the state representative seat for District 54 located in Mississippi and Poinsett Counties, Ark. ...

Mrs. Linda Christine Benham, 40, of Manila, died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, at her home. Mrs. Benham was born Sept. 22, 1972, in Blytheville, to the late Linda Kay Eddings. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Manila, collected angels and porcelain dolls, enjoyed keeping up with events on Facebook, and she loved spending time with her family and friends...

Mrs. Mildred Louise Berry, 79, of Manila, passed from this life Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born at Manila she was the daughter of the late Ed Brown and Juanita Bullock and had lived most of her life in Manila. ...

Jimmie Sherwood, 64, of Manila, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at the Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. Born in Ardmore, Okla., he had been a Manila resident the past 20 years. He was a retired truck driver, of the Baptist faith, and a member of the Herman Davis American Legion Post 197, having served in the U.S. Navy...

Clifford Franklin Still, 75, of Bradford, formerly of Manila, passed from this life Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, at his home. Born at Manila, he was the son of the late William and Mary Jane Bennett Still and had lived in Bradford for the past 19 years. Mr. Still was retired from Brake Manufacturing, Inc and was a member of Velvet Ridge Church of God...

Fullback Dustin Sirmon is this week's Town Crier Offensive Player of the Week. Sirmon scored on a 14-yard touchdown run and had a 63-yard touchdown romp called back on a penalty. Kyle Joyner is the Town Crier Defensive Player of the Week. ...

Hoxie's Gunner Cook ran for four touchdowns while teammate Jacob Henson scored two more to lead the Mustangs to a 48-14 victory over Manila in 3A-3 senior high conference football action Friday night at Lion Field...

Buffalo Island Central School Board members approved issuance and delivery of $685,000 refunding bonds at the regular school board meeting held Monday, Oct. 8. Marshall Hughes with First Security Beardsley Public Finance presented the board with the closing documents associated with refinancing the bonds issued December 2006...

Caraway's 12th annual harvest fest is planned for 12:30-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27. Featured will be an antique car and old tractor display, kids scavenger hunt and music by Ronnie Presley and Straight Shooter. There will also be lots of family fun with games, concessions, arts and crafts...

Leachville City Council worked through a short agenda Monday, Oct. 8, including reports and upcoming events. Mayor Sheila Spurlock said four dumpsters were filled with trash during the annual clean-up day...

Veterans and guests are invited to the Veterans Day program: A Thank You and A Promise, on Friday, November 9th at 2:00 p./m. in the elementary cafeteria in Monette...

It was Shirley Adams' Day Thursday, as family, friends and customers dropped by to wish her well. Adams has been part of General Insurance in Leachville for 40 years. She started her career Aug. 1, 1972, received her agent license in 1977 in property and casualty and met the insurance needs of her customers for 40 years...

"It is for all the kids," said Steve Cobb, grandfather of Scout Lyerly, a patient of St. Jude Research Hospital. Scout is the three-year-old daughter of Erick and Leslie Lyerly of Black Oak. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Cobb and Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lyerly...

Gosnell is licking its wounds following its first conference loss of the season, a 58-22 defeat at the hands of 3-4A leader and undefeated Highland. But the Pirates still have plenty to play for heading into Friday's game at Pocahontas. Gosnell (3-4, 3-1 3-4A) and Pocahontas (6-1, 3-1 3-4A) have solidified playoff spots, along with the other two teams in a logjam for second -- Valley View (4-3, 3-1 3-4A) and Jonesboro Westside (4-3, 3-1), who also square off Friday night...

The Blytheville Chickasaws head to Batesville Friday night to take on the Pioneers. Blytheville (3-4, 2-2 5A-East) is coming off a gut-wrenching, 27-26, homecoming loss to Beebe last week, breaking a two-game win streak for the Chicks. Prior to their matchup, the Badgers had not won a game...

The Mississippi County Quorum Court will receive recommendations next Tuesday night to appropriate $260,000 in economic development tax funds to two small businesses in Mississippi County. Members of the court's planning and development committee met Wednesday to hear proposals from county economic developer Cliff Chitwood about the two companies...

During a recent meeting of the Mississippi County Quorum Court's finance committee, the possibility was discussed that economic development tax funds might be used to fund the necessary construction of a new landfill cell next year, thus freeing up around $1.2 million in county general funds. ...

ARMOREL -- Armorel is having "Paint the Gym Pink" night Friday night for the Armorel vs. Riverside basketball games. The junior and senior high boys and girls teams will take on the Rebels beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear pink clothing in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

The Arts Council of Mississippi County is opening the doors at The Ritz Theater for its annual The Haunted Theater fundraiser -- and this year it's all about the scare. Tagged "Blytheville's scariest haunted house," The Haunted Theater is guarantee to provide thrills, chills and scares galore, according to Arts Council assistant director Ken Jackson, thanks to the all-new room designs...

Arkansas Northeastern College interim president June Walters informed the board of trustees that the school has been notified that it has been awarded more than $1,220,000 in grant funding for five of its career and adult education programs for the 2012-13 year...

The Mississippi County Sheriff Department intake report for Oct. 8-14, 2012 Wendy Atterberry, 38, Blytheville, POCS, no proof of insurance, drove left of center and careless driving Veronica Bailey, 23, Blytheville, failure to appear Michael Bell, 31, Joiner, alias bench warrant...

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department: 10/17 Willie Love was arrested and charged with Drinking in Public, Tampering with Physical Evidence and possession of a controlled substance after an officer noticed Love drinking a beer as he walked north on North Franklin. ...

Mr. Robert "Bobby" Welch Brewer, 75, of Blytheville passed from this life Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, at Great River Medical Center. Born in Amory, Miss., to Claude "Hap" and Ruth Welch Brewer, he was a member of First Baptist Church and retired owner of Brewer Wholesale for over 35 years. ...

Mrs. Lula Lewis, 89, of Blytheville, entered into rest Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, in Blytheville. She was born June 15, 1923, in Macon, Miss., to William and Emma Brewer Lawson. She was a homemaker and member of New Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville...

Mrs. Pansy Frances Wilson, 87, of Leachville, the widow of Mr. Delmar Gene Wilson, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Harrisburg, she was the daughter of the late William Henry and Mandy Hamblin Newberry and was a Leachville resident since 1945...