Stories from Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

A Night at the Park, sponsored by Manila First Baptist Church, will be held at the city park from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23. There will be free food, blow ups, puppets, live music, and games. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend...

Monette Youth Association is hosting a fall ball league. Play is Tuesday and Thursday nights in September. For more information contact Jon Carmichael at 870-819-1915.

Police department and water department expenses were among topics of discussion at a meeting of the Caraway City Council held Thursday, Aug. 8. After a review of finances prepared by city recorder Rick Stevens, aldermen Mitchell Tipton and Bo James asked about police salaries exceeding the budgeted amount...

Buffalo Island Central School District worked through a long agenda on Monday evening, Aug. 12, with President Todd Edwards presiding. All board members were present except for Scott Colbert. Following the approval of the minutes and the review of the financial statements, The board unanimously voted in favor of a resolution authorizing a lease purchase agreement for a 2014 International 71 passenger bus and a 2014 Ford F350 4X4 crew cab truck; designating the lease purchase agreement as a qualified tax exempt obligation; and authorizing and prescribing other related matters.. ...

The second annual Buffalo Island Benefit Tournament will be held at the Monette Ball Field, Saturday, Sept. 7. All proceeds will be divided between Heather Nance of Monette and Gary Bunch of Manila. Both are going through cancer treatments...

Mississippi county Farm Bureau held its annual Resolutions committee meeting at the Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Farm Bureau Vice President John Tipton welcomed everyone, recognized guests and introduced Randy Veach, Farm Bureau State President...

Police Chief Keith Evans recognized State Trooper Tony Austin, Leachville Policeman Mitchell Lasater and First Responder Mark Johnson with commemorative plaques from the City of Leachville Monday, Aug. 12, during the regular council meeting...

Buffalo Island Museum in Monette was the recipient of a quilt made to honor area World War II veterans. The quilt was donated to the museum by Fred and Beverly Dowless. Mr. and Mrs. Dowless have had the quilt for several years. Mrs. Dowless purchased it from the Hodges estate sale...

Monette Housing Authority has been chosen as a winner of the prestigious National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) Awards of Merit for addressing the challenge of hunger that presently exists in the Buffalo Island area...

Mr. Oscar Lee Woods Sr., 75, of Blytheville, died Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013, in Jonesboro.

Mr. Bill Stuart, 75 of Cherokee Village, died Sunday, August 18, 2013, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Mr. Adam Michael Cherry, 27, of Blytheville, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, in Blytheville.

Mr. Brandon Elton Batchelor, 38, of Springdale, Arkansas, died Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013.

When I was a child back in the Jurassic Period, going back to school meant you got to see your friends again after a long summer of not seeing or hearing from most of them at all.

The Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems Board is considering furloughing employees a deferring payroll as it grapples with growing financial difficulties that are threatening to close the Hayti hospital.

The Blytheville Youth Sportsplex is the latest park hit by a rash of vandalism.

The Mississippi County Quorum Court's Finance Committee denied a request Monday by Circuit Court Clerk Donna Hart to assist with funding for an additional employee in her office.

Monette will host the annual Night at the Park from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. There will be music, games, inflatables, prizes, food and more. The community is invited to come out and enjoy the community event...

Soybeans The stage of soybean development across the county varies from fields just now reaching R-2 (or early R-3) to fields that are approaching R-6. Several of the early planted soybeans are getting close to R-6 while many of the double crop soybeans are just starting to flower...

The rain stopped on Tuesday and the first annual Buffalo Island Relay for Life Golf Tournament was held on schedule at the Big Lake Country Club in Manila. All proceeds from the tournament go to the American Cancer Society...

John Mixon, architect with Cromwell, addressed Manila School Board Thursday on bids for a concession stand and restroom facility on the football field. "It looks like it will cost an estimated $165,000," he said...

Kolby Dan Gyngard, 13, of Caraway, passed away Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, at St Bernards Medical Center. Kolby was born April 12, 2000, in Jonesboro. He was a student at Manila Junior High School and was an avid baseball and basketball player. ...