Stories from Wednesday, September 30, 2009

A $125,000 bond was set Monday in Blytheville District Court for Roger Smith, 28, of Blytheville, who is charged with attempting to burn his wife with rubbing alcohol and a lighter, according to court documents. Smith was arrested at 5:30 a.m. Friday, when police were called to a residence at the 300 block of Pittman for a report of a domestic disturbance...

The first stage of the Delta Gateway Museum is nearly complete, commissioner Claudine Payne told the Blytheville City Council's Parks and Recreation Committee Tuesday night. "We are very close to being finished with the first stage that we've been working on," Payne said of the Kress Building renovations. "We just have a few more things we have to do."...

The final of the six 2008 FEMA-funded sewer jobs is expected to be completed by the end of this week. For a little over a week, the city of Blytheville has been laying approximately 800 feet of sewer pipe, 11 feet into the ground, along an easement on Lockard Street. There will also be a manhole buried 3 feet in the ground...

GOSNELL -- Members of the Gosnell School Board heard from school principals and administrators Monday evening for their Annual School Report. Assistant Superintendent Bonard Mace told the board that the past school year was successful and that continued success is anticipated for the current year...

GOSNELL -- The deadline is fast approaching for entry into the Little Mr. and Miss Cotton Festival pageant, said Denise Ingram, this year's chairman. The pageant will be 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 in the Gosnell High School Auditorium and will include age divisions for children up to age 5...

The Lake City Council met Sept. 21 and approved a variance request that had been tabled on Aug. 17. Homeowner Billy Rand of 300 Catfish Drive requested a variance from the seven foot city ordinance during the council meeting last month. City Code Enforcer Terry Chisnall said there was nothing in writing concerning a variance difference as to "old town or new town" description...

Leachville Mayor Sheila Spurlock addressed the city council Sept. 21 concerning staggering city council terms. She suggested Position 1 serve two years and Position 2 serve four years until four year terms could be implemented...

Manila advanced to the state tournament for the third year in a row with a third place finish in regional boy's competition Sept. 23 at Sage Meadows Golf Course in Jonesboro. The Lions shot a team score of 271, finishing 30 strokes behind champion Brookland, who fired a winning score of 241. ...

Stynes Floyd Brown, 84, of Caraway, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, at the Manila Nursing Center. Born at Black Oak, he was the son of the late Ed and Pearl Austin Brown and had lived most of his life in the Milligan Ridge Community. He was a retired cotton ginner, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Milligan Ridge Baptist Church...

Rosie Macon Lutz, 84, of Manila, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, at her home. Born at Manila, she was the daughter of the late General and Annie Martin May and was a lifelong Manila resident. She was of the Pentecostal faith, a homemaker and loving mother of nine children...

Patricia Ann Stone, 54, of Caraway, died on Sept. 23, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born March 6, 1955, to Leo Stallings and Louise Shasteen in Caraway. She was a lifelong resident of Caraway, of the Baptist faith, worked for Basler Electric in Caraway, enjoyed crocheting, reading and spending time with family and friends...

Shirley Ann Bray Taylor, 69, of Manila formerly of Blytheville, the widow of Luther Justin Taylor, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at the NEA/Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in Manila, she was the daughter of the late William Enoch and Mary Lucille Wright Bray and had been a lifelong resident of Northeast Arkansas...

Nell Dean Whitehead, 77, of Leachville, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, of injuries suffered in an auto accident near Leachville. Born at Manila she was the daughter of the late Edward and Elsie Vera Burrow and was a lifelong Leachville and Manila resident. ...

Senior fullback Dillon Williamson bulled his way for 101 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead the Hoxie Mustangs to a convincing 42-6 victory over the Lions Friday night in senior high football action at Manila...

Manila had more than one opportunity for victory in Thursday night's home opener against Harrisburg, but couldn't find the end zone when it counted most, allowing the Junior Hornets to leave town with a hard fought 18-12 win...