Stories from Friday, February 26, 2010

Man charged in child's death

Proposed alignment revealed at public meeting

Coming from Amory, Miss. -- population, 7,000 -- Sam Haskell held true to his small town Southern roots as his career ascended from the mail room to head of worldwide television at the renowned William Morris Agency. Haskell's mother ingrained principles he took with him to Hollywood, known for the cut-throat entertainment industry...

The Blytheville City Council voted 4-0 Thursday afternoon to settle a lawsuit with former Blytheville police officer Dewayne Lindsey. Reluctant Council members agreed to pay Lindsey $2,000, with the Arkansas Municipal League paying $1,000 of that money...

In recognition of Black History Month, the Courier News is shining the spotlight on some of the many African-Americans who have played a leading role in our community. A different individual will be featured in each edition of the newspaper during the month of February...

Edna Barcom, 90, formerly of Manila, died Feb. 21, 2010, in Payson, Ariz. She was born in Parma, Mo., on Jan. 6, 1920. She was preceded in death by her husband Louis E. Barcom and daughter Linda Kay Barcom...

Roxie Opal Dunkin, 91, of Greers Ferry, formerly of Carroll's Corner (near Manila) died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, in Heber Springs. Born at Wappapello, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Roger and Addie Wilson Morgan...

Omer L. "Rusty" Dunn, 69, of Manila, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, at St. Bernards Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born at Salisbury, Md., he had been a Manila resident for the past 30 years. He had served in the United States Marine Corps, was a retired painter, and was of the Baptist faith...

Mabel Grace Healey, 78, of Manila, died Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, at her home. Born at Heber Springs, she was the daughter of the late Harvey and Alice Hackworth Rabey and had lived most of her life in Manila. She was a retired employee of the former Magnatek Manufacturing in Blytheville and was of the Baptist faith...

Jean Meeker, 89, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 at Monette Manor. She was born July 4, 1920, in Monette to the late Oscar and Olan Davidson. She was a cook with Lane's Nursing Home and a member of the Leachville Second Baptist Church...

Brother Don Trammel, 67, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at his residence in the Pratts Community after an extended illness. He was born Sept. 1, 1942, in Monette, to Mason and Willene Cason Trammel. A graduate of Monette High School, he then went on to Arkansas State University and Southern Seminary. ...

The 12th Manila FFA Alumni dinner/auction was dedicated in the memory of Dale Poag, long time Manila FFA Adviser and supporter of the alumni association. Poag died in a farming accident in August of 2009. Poag served as FFA Adviser at Manila High School for over 30 years...

Marked Tree proved to be a poor host, ending both Riverside's boys and girls basketball seasons with a pair of victories in the 2A-3 junior high district tournament. The Indians stopped the junior Rebels with a 41-33 win Wednesday night, Feb. 10, while the Lady Indians downed the Lady Rebels 46-35 Thursday night...

Manila's junior boys and girls teams ended their seasons with losses in the 3A-3 District Tournament at Brookland. The Junior Lions dropped a 58-36 decision to Tuckerman while the Lady Lions lost a tough 25-19 game to Harrisburg, both on Thursday night, Feb. 11...

Jammar Sturdivant and Everett Thomas combined for 36 points to lead top seeded Turrell to a 58-37 victory over Buffalo Island Central Wednesday night, Feb. 10, in the 2A-3 Junior High District Tournament at Marked Tree...

Riverside broke the century mark to pick up its 10th win of the season on senior night as they pounded out a 102-82 victory over Brookland Friday, Feb. 12, at Lake City. Sophomore Cole Winford poured in a career high 33 points while pulling down 16 rebounds to lead Riverside's onslaught. ...

Kimberly Wise celebrated senior night by pouring in a game high 36 points to lead the Lady Lions to a 58-46 win over Rector Friday night, Feb. 12, at Manila. Wise drained five three pointers on the night and was a perfect seven for seven from the free throw line as Manila improved to 18-7 on the year...

Cassidy Qualls' three pointer at the buzzer lifted Buffalo Island Central to a thrilling 46-43 victory over host Marked Tree Saturday afternoon in the 2A-3 Junior High District Tournament finals. The Lady Mustangs led throughout the entire game, until Marked Tree fought back and tied the score when Gel Burns scored on a driving lay-up with 1:55 left in the game. ...

Manila tuned up for this week's 3A-3 District Tournament with a 70-42 rout of Buffalo Island Central on senior night Friday, Feb. 12, at Manila. The Lions, who improved to 23-4 on the season, watched BIC take a 17-12 lead after the first period before exploding in the second quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 27-3 to take a 39-20 halftime advantage. ...

Riverside senior athletes were recognized Friday night, Feb. 12, during senior night at the last home basketball game of the season. Seniors honored were Ashley Calvert, Michelle Cobb, Blaine McClung and Bryan Poe...

Deante Williams poured in 25 points to power Earle to a convincing 75-57 victory over the Manila Lions in the finals of the 3A-3 District Tournament Championship Saturday night, Feb. 20, at Earle. The two teams battled back and forth throughout much of the first half, with the Bulldogs holding a 17-15 edge after the opening period before breaking away late in the second stanza to take a 35-25 halftime lead.. ...

Earle held Manila to only one point in the pivotal third quarter to break open a close game en route to a 69-63 victory in the semifinals of the 3A-3 District Tournament Friday night, Feb. 19, at Earle...

Marmaduke raced past Riverside in the second half of Tuesday night's 2A-3 district tournament at Rector to post a 53-44 victory, ending the Rebel's season while sending the Greyhounds to next week's regional tournament at Midland...

The NEA Ballhog fourth grade team won the Hoopfestusa basketball tournament in Conway held Feb. 13-14. The team finished 3-0 for the weekend and outscored their opponents 112 to 53 beating the Cabot Lakers in the finals...

Riverside's Kyley Campbell scored 13 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter to fuel the Lady Rebels to a 64-59 come-from-behind victory over Turrell Tuesday night, Feb. 16, in 2A-3 district tournament action at Rector. The win propels Riverside into this week's regional tournament at Midland...

East Poinsett County put on a furious second half rally to post a 59-56 victory over Buffalo Island Central in the semifinals of the 2A-3 District Tournament Wednesday night, Feb. 17, at Rector. The top seeded Mustangs held a commanding 33-18 lead at intermission, but were outscored 41-23 in the second half to rally for the victory. ...

The Caraway City Council worked through a short agenda, which included discussion on two state grants, at the regular council meeting held Thursday, Feb. 11. "We have received a grant of $4,600 from Disaster Relief funds to replace roofs at the wastewater plant and water plant," Mayor Barry Riley said. ...

LAKE CITY - Lake City Council welcomed representatives of the Lake City Senior Citizens group, voted to support the DARE program for services, passed an ordinance establishing new voter wards and reviewed information on a one cent sales tax at the Monday, Feb. 15, meeting...

The Buffalo Island Central School Board met Monday, Feb. 15, and accepted bids on Administration Building, renewed contracts and hired a new junior high principal. Contracts were renewed for high school principal, East Elementary principal and West Elementary principal...

Manila Mayor Clifford Veach presented the annual State of the City address at the Feb. 15 meeting calling 2009 a good year. "The city of Manila is financially sound," Mayor Veach said. "We started the year with the ice storm in January. It was a terrible experience we hope to never experience again. Clean-up work lasted through April or May."...

Following an executive session at the regular Feb. 18 school board meeting, President Tony Crowell read two letters of resignation from principals. Manila High School Principal Pam Chipman and Middle School Principal Diane Wagner submitted letters to the board announcing plans for retirement at the end of their contract, June 30, 2010...