Stories from Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Resolution to separate facilities falls in 10-2 vote

Sharing holiday cheer by driving drunk or under the influence of drugs will come with heightened risks during the coming weeks for drivers who choose to violate Arkansas impaired driving laws. The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office is joining state and local law enforcement agencies in a national enforcement campaign known as "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest."...

Nine Pemiscot County residents are behind bars, facing with drug-related charges after a five-month investigation conducted by the Bootheel Drug Task Force, the Pemiscot County Sheriffs Department the ATF and the Steele Police Department, according to BDTF supervising agent John Higgins...

A Blytheville businessman reported to Blytheville Police the theft of money from his business, according to a report filed with detectives. David Abernathy of Abernathy Motors located at 1200 West Main, came to the Blytheville Police Department on Monday at 3:20 p.m. to report the theft of $8,750...

Sharron Kay Barker, 63, of Manila, widow of C.L. Barker, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at the NEA/Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born at Manila, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Lillie Mae Williams Carter and had been a lifelong Manila resident. ...

Ernest Page Clark, 75, died on Monday, Dec. 14, 2009 at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center after a battle with cancer. Mr. Clark was born Dec. 8, 1934 to the late Connie Grady Clark and Minta Barber Clark in Raleigh, N.C. ...

Ladon Halsey, 86, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009 at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Monette on August 10, 1923 to the late Chester and Myrte Bray, she was a homemaker and a member of the Monette Church of Christ. She was also a member of the Home Demonstration Club, Monette Church of Christ Ladies Class, Monette P.T.A., and room mother for many years at Monette Schools...

Jessie Leonard Johnson, 73, of Leachville, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, at his home. Born at Leachville, he was the son of the late Rudy and Lola Bishop Johnson and was a lifelong resident. He was a 1954 graduate of Leachville High School and was retired form the agriculture industry...

Eugene "Gene" Loven of Jonesboro, formally of Trumann, 78, died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., after a brief illness. Mr. Loven was born June 11, 1931 to the late Frank Loven and Carrie Black Loven in Old Weona, Arkansas. ...

Mark West, Jr., 72, died on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 at St. Bernards Hospice House after an extensive illness. Mr. West was born Aug. 8, 1937 to the late Mark West, Sr. and Bertha Mae Walker West in Collier Township, Greene County, Ark. ...

Several student transfers were approved at the Dec. 14 Buffalo Island Central School Board meeting. Michelle Whalen, Wallace Davis and Phillip Davis transferred from Riverside to Buffalo Island Central. Janna Whitlock transferred from BIC to Jonesboro...

Manila swept through the 3A-3 conference with a pair of victories over Rivercrest and Piggott last week. The Lady Lions gunned down the Lady Colts 56-46 Monday night at Wilson before manhandling Piggott 49-36 Thursday night at Manila...

Lions roar to pair of conference wins Manila Head Coach Bill Taylor reached yet another milestone, picking up victory number 600 as the Lions ran over Rivercrest 74-62 in 3A-3 conference action Friday night at Wilson...

Bay jumped to a 23-6 first period lead and went on to a convincing 71-29 victory over Buffalo Island Central Tuesday night at Bay. Gunner Freeman scored 13 first quarter points, including three treys, as the Yellowjackets built a commanding 32-13 halftime lead. By the end of the third quarter, Bay held a 55-16 advantage as the 'Jackets improved to 16-4 on the season...

Riverside improved to 5-10 overall and picked up its first league win of the year with a 58-55 victory over Marked Tree Friday night at Caraway. Jake Love pumped in 16 points to lead the Rebels while Cole Winford also hit double digits with 11 points. The Rebels led 18-13 after the first quarter, 33-22 at the half and 45-39 entering the fourth quarter...