Stories from Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Mississippi County Hospital System will need nearly $4 million to operate the county's two hospitals for the rest of the year, according to a financial report given by Paul Zuidema, chief financial officer of the hospital system and an employee of QHR, a company contracted by the county to operate the hospitals in Blytheville and Osceola...

The Mississippi County Quorum Court unanimously approved an appropriation ordinance that sends $1.2 million from the county general fund into the hospital fund. In a meeting Monday, the Board of Governors of the Mississippi County Hospital System learned that the hospitals need nearly $4 million to fund operations of the two county hospitals for the remainder of the year...

The Mississippi County Quorum Court unanimously approved an appropriation ordinance that sends $1.2 million from the county general fund into the hospital fund. In a meeting Monday, the Board of Governors of the Mississippi County Hospital System learned that the hospitals need nearly $4 million to fund operations of the two county hospitals for the remainder of the year...

The Blytheville Streets and Drainage Committee set solving the Lee Circle drainage problem and creating a schedule for ditch clean-outs as priorities, Tuesday night. Committee chairperson Carol White said there appears to be two options to fix the Lee Circle drainage issue...

Capt. Rick Ash of Code Enforcement is requesting the city of Blytheville change an ordinance that requires individuals to have a contractor's license for residential remodeling jobs more than $20,000. Tuesday night, Ash told the Blytheville City Council's Code Enforcement Committee that the ordinance is handcuffing quality workers, who can do jobs in the county and most of the state that they cannot do in Blytheville because of the law...

Blytheville Police are investigating several thefts that have occurred over the weekend, according to reports from the department. Sunday at 5 p.m., police were called to the 500 block of North 10th, where Roger Straubinger said while he was checking his property that was vacant because of a previous fire, he noticed that the air conditioning condenser unit had been disassembled and the copper coil removed from the unit. ...

Authorities were kept busy for hours on Monday investigating reports of a baby thrown in a dumpster. According to Chief of Police Chris Riggs, CPD officers responded to a tip that a newborn infant had been thrown away in a dumpster on Laurant, and officers began an investigation...

Two Caruthersville residents are in critical condition following a collision on the Mississippi River on Saturday. R.H. and Frances McCoin sustained serious injuries after the boat they were in apparently collided with a barge on the Tennessee side of the river on Saturday. ...

Police say a jail escapee from Louisiana who was also wanted in Oregon and Mexico has been captured in southeast Missouri. The suspect is 47-year-old Richard Laracuente of Oklahoma City, Okla. Police in Steele found him sleeping in a stolen pickup truck last Friday. Laracuente was arrested, and officers learned he had escaped from a jail in Cameron Parish, La. He faced charges there of burglary and theft of a motor vehicle...

Scott Barrett, 38, of Leachville died Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at his home. He was the son of the late Robert and Brenda Barrett and had been a Leachville resident most of his life. A 1988 graduate of Buffalo Island Central High School, he had worked as a roofer and carpenter, and was a member of the Second Baptist Church in Leachville...

Ann Dowell McGrath, 74, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2009, surrounded by family and friends at the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills. Ann was born Nov. 28, 1934, to the late Henry Jackson Dowell and Mary Mozelle Reed Dowell in Flat River, Mo...

Dale Edmond Poag, 60, of Manila died late Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, at The Med in Memphis. Born at Blytheville, he was the son of the late Charles Hughes Poag and was raised in the Milligan Ridge Community. He was a lifelong Manila area resident, a 1966 graduate of Manila High School and received a bachelor's degree in vocational agriculture from Arkansas State University in 1970...

John Ryan McVay, 19, of Manila, died Sunday morning, Aug. 16, 2009, at his home. Born in Houston, Texas, he had been a lifelong Manila resident and a 2008 graduate of Manila High School. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John Thomas and Shirley Frances McVay...

Henry Edgar "Eddie" Dunigan, 58, of Black Oak has announced plans to run for state representative in District 76 as a Democrat. Dunigan comes from a diversified background. He has taught school and driven a school bus for the past 36 years. He taught eight years at Lake City, one year at Lepanto and the last 27 years at Buffalo Island Central...

The Lake City Council met Monday evening, Aug. 17, and reviewed the 2009 city audit, purchased storm sirens, and confirmed the Employee Handbook. The 2009 Lake City Water and Sewer Audit Report was received from Auditor Scott Despain. ...

Longtime Manila agri teacher/FFA adviser Dale Poag died on Tuesday night, Aug. 18, from injuries sustained in a farming accident. According to the Mississippi County Sheriff's report, the emergency call came in at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday...

Manila returns virtually its entire roster from last season's 1-9 squad, with great expectations as the Lions enter their second year of Friday night football. Manila Head Coach Toby Doke is excited about his team's chances of winning several more games this season. ...

Manila's Junior Lions came within one victory of a winning season last year, and Head Coach Jason Durham's troops have high hopes of challenging for the 3A-3 conference title in only their third year of football...

Manila pitcher Tray Malone was busy on the baseball diamond this summer, preparing for his senior season with the Lions. Malone, who had a banner junior year, posting an 11-1 record with a sparkling 0.96 earned run average, received numerous honors for his accomplishments...

A retirement reception was held for Paul Wildy, Farm Bureau agent, at the Manila Farm Bureau office Tuesday, Aug. 18. Wildy has served as a Farm Bureau agent for 30 years, starting his career on Aug. 10, 1979...

Twenty-two golfing teams vied for a variety of prizes at the first annual Buffalo Island Veterans Memorial Park Golf Tournament held Saturday at the Big Lake County Club in Manila. Golfers from all over Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri participated in the tournament, with proceeds going to the Buffalo Island Veterans Memorial Park...

Manila City Council voted to change ambulance services at the regular August meeting held Thursday evening. Manila Mayor Clifford Veach recommended the city change ambulance services from Pafford to Emerson...

Gregg Funeral Home in Caraway held open house Sunday afternoon, Aug. 23, and welcomed guests from all across Northeast Arkansas. Owner Buddy Hebert and his full staff of employees were on hand to greet visitors and direct tours through the newly renovated facility on main street. Refreshments were served in the kitchen and hospitality area...

A special ribbon cutting was held Monday, Aug. 17, for the grand opening of "Vittles and More" in Caraway. Mayor Barry Riley presided over the ceremony with owners Eddie and Diane Davis. "We are proud to have the new cafe become a part of our Caraway business community," Riley said...