Stories from Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Mayor Kennemore irked by committee's inaction

To honor veterans on Veteran's Day, the Courier News spoke with a few veterans who are active members of the scene at the Mississippi County Veterans Center. All veterans listed served during World War II. Here are some of their stories: LeRoy Ross, 88, of Blytheville, was the pilot of a P38 Fighter plane during the war. A member of the Army Air Corps, he flew 150 millions and shot down three enemy planes...

The Dud Cason Post No. 24 of the American Legion will host Clarence Hill, national commander of the American Legion, and Gene McVay, commander of the American Legion of Arkansas from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18. The post is located at 232 N. Second Street in Blytheville...

Fred Smith had a 56-inch vertical jump and basketball talent that allowed him to travel around the world. He starred for the former Mississippi County Community College Suns under Bill Tyer, before moving on to Oral Roberts University, then to the famed Harlem Globetrotters...

Amos Dean Cherry, Jr., 80, of Manila, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Born at Blytheville, he was the son of the late Amos Dean and Ellis Ford Cherry and was a lifelong Manila resident. ...

Funeral services for Mrs. Ethel Otreal Griggs Edington, 89, were Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Springhill, La., with Rev. Ronald Morgan officiating. Burial was under the direction of Bailey Mortuary in the Western Cemetery, Emerson, Ark...

William Darrell Johnson, 61, of Leachville, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, at his home. Born at Manila, he was the son of the late R.V. and Ada Southern Johnson and had been a Manila and Leachville area resident for most of his life. ...

Viola "Connie" Jones, 66, of Manila, died Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Mrs. Jones was born at the Lost Cane Community near Manila and was the daughter of the late Eber and Velma Sisson Robinson. She had been a lifelong Manila area resident and was a member of Fairview Church of God...

Bob Blankenship of Monette has announced his intent to run for the upcoming Craighead County Quorum Court position. The Blankenship name is among the early settlers of Craighead County. Blankenship and his wife, the former Doris Stewart, have been married for 43 years are both lifelong Monette residents...

Lucian "Jiggs" Layne and Billy Jack Richardson Layne recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple married Oct. 21, 1949, in Jonesboro at the home of Mr. Layne's sister and brother-in-law, Jewell and Bill Hutchison...

After operating in Manila for 85 years, Barton's is consolidating the sales territory that includes the city with that of the Osceola store. The consolidation was effective Friday, Nov. 6, according to Vice President of Operations Kevin Pierce, and is being performed to continue delivering quality building materials at affordable prices...

Skip Layne, area operations manager for CenturyTel, said the recent merger with CenturyTel and EMBARQ forming CenturyLink is a major merger for CenturyTel. "The merger has over tripled our size covering a 33-state service area," Layne said...

Leroy Meadows Memorial Highway was formally dedicated Thursday, Nov. 5, in honor of the veteran Mississippi County Sheriff, who passed away in March of this year. "Leroy committed his life to serving the public," Mississippi County Judge Steve McGuire said. ...

Riverside improved to 4-1 on the season with a pair of non-conference wins in senior girls basketball action last week. The Lady Rebels began the week with a 53-38 victory over the Lady Bearcats Monday night at Brookland before taking a 56-43 win Friday night at Armorel...

Rivercrest clinched a share of the 3A-3 conference championship, as the Colts raced past the Lions 56-13 Thursday night at Manila. Thirteen Manila seniors played their final game in front of an overflow crowd who came to show their appreciation for a group of players who laid the foundation for the Lion's young football program...