Stories from Friday, March 11, 2011

Freshman Tobias Harris scored 20 points and Tennessee recovered after blowing a 16-point lead to beat Arkansas 74-68 on Thursday night in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

University of Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long issued a statement Friday regarding a photograph indicating Arkansas Razorbacks basketball coach John Pelphrey could have had contact with two 2012 recruits in violation of NCAA rules.

EPC and Bay won their respective state championships Thursday.

The host Armorel Lady Tigers won a 17-16 slugfest over the Gosnell Lady Pirates Thursday afternoon.

The Gosnell Pirates dropped to 1-1 on the season after an 11-6 loss in five innings to the 5A Paragould Rams Thursday.

Armorel is still trying to get the bats going in the young season, but the Tigers found enough offense to defeat Osceola, 4-1, Thursday in high school baseball action.

Mr. Tex Turner, 68, of Byhalia, Miss., formerly of Blytheville, passed away Thursday, March 10, 2011, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis.

Marsha Lynn Rushing, 43, of Leachville, died Thursday, March 10, 2011, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Mr. Bruce Riley, 48, of Denver, Col., died Tuesday, March 8, 2011, in Denver.

Barrett Harrison, president of the Blytheville/Gosnell Regional Airport Authority, was the guest speaker Thursday morning at the community coffee at Westminster Village.

More than $600,000 in additional revenue is expected to be received by the Blytheville/Gosnell Regional Airport Authority over the next few years, President Barrett Harrison told the group's Board of Directors Thursday.

The Blytheville City Council's Parks and Recreation Committee is discussing whether the city should allow a rodeo church event at Cypress Park next month.

The news of the devastating earthquakes in the north of Japan had some local residents paying attention to the island nation Friday morning.

The time has come to set those clocks ahead an hour as we leap forward into spring. Let the sighs and grumblings begin as the hour we received last fall is taken away from us again.

Having been married for almost 35 years now (I hope I got that right) I have learned to deal with the occasional extended absence of my Dear Sweet Sainted Wife, so don't let this column's headline make you feel too sorry for me.

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department.